The second volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.

LETTER XIV.

To Bajazet Ali Hogia, Preacher to the Seraglio.

HERE are to be met with in these Western Parts, infinite Numbers of People, who not only despise and vilifie our Law, but their own, and openly scoff at all Religions in the World. These are known by the Name of Libertines or Atheists, which is to say, People that profess themselves Enemies to the Belief of a God. A lewd and unthinking Herd of Animals, who dare not be alone, lest they should come to the Remembrance of them∣selves, and be Wiser.

These People are in some sort, like Ninus that great Assyrian Monarch, who vaunted, He never saw the Stars, nor desired it; Wor∣shipp'd neither Sun nor Moon, never spoke to his People, nor took any Account of them, but was valiant in Eating and Drinking.

He was said to have this Inscription on his Tomb:

I WAS FORMERLY NINUS, THE GREAT LORD OF THE WORLD, AND LIVED AS THOƲ DOST, BƲT AM NOW NOTHING BƲT DƲST. ALL THE MEAT I HAVE EATEN, ALL THE HANDSOM

WOMEN I HAƲE ENJOY'D, ALL THE WORSHIP THAT WAS PAID ME, AND ALL THE RICHES I WAS POSSESS'D OF, HAVE FAIL'D ME; AND WHEN I SET FOR∣WARD FROM THIS WORLD INTO THE INVISIBLE STATE, I HAD NEITHER GOLD, NOR HORSE, NOR CHARIOT. I AM NOW, I SAY, BƲT THE DƲST THOƲ TREAD∣EST ON.

Such another was Sardanapalus, one of the Successors of Ninus in that Monarchy, and in the Corruption of his Manners. An effemi∣nate Prince, a Slave to his Lusts, and not wor∣thy of an Imperial Crown. It was not to his Vertue or Courage that Nineveh was obliged, for sustaining a Siege of Eight and Twenty Moons, but to the Impregnable Strength of her own Walls. For, so soon as he was told, that the Oracle was fulfill'd, and that the River Eu∣phrates was joyn'd in League with his Ene∣mies, and had by an unusual Flood, broke down a considerable Part of the Walls in which he trusted; all his Bravery vanish'd; he shew'd he was a Coward, and kill'd him∣self for fear of Death. Yet such was the sor∣did Impotence of his Spirit, that even in this Way, he durst not die alone; but, taking his Concubines and nearest Attendants, with all his Gold and Jewels, he forced them to ac∣company him into the Hollow of a Funeral Pile, which he fired with his own Hands,

and burnt his Servants with Himself. I do not esteem it an Effect of Courage, to make Death a Sanctuary from the inevitable Miseries of a hated Life. But, to be either willing to die, in the Height of humane Enjoyments, or to be resolved to live and out-brave these very Calamities, which would tempt any Man to die, is the peculiar Mark of an Heroick Re∣solution.

However, thus died Sardanapalus, having desired, that a Monument might be erected to his Memory, with this Inscription;

SARDANAPALUS LIV'D MƲCH IN A LITTLE TIME, HAVING ALWAYS GRATIFIED HIS SENSES: HE BƲILT TWO CITIES, ANCHI∣ALA AND TARSUS, IN ONE DAY; PERFORMED THE TASK OF MA∣NY YEARS, IN FOƲR AND TWEN∣TY HOƲRS. ADVISES THEE, REA∣DER, TO IMITATE HIS EXAM∣PLE; EAT, DRINK, AND ENJOY THY SELF; FOR AFTER DEATH, THERE IS NEITHER PLEASƲRE NOR PAIN.

These were but Pigmies in Atheism, in Comparison of others. Dionysius, the Sicili∣an Monarch, was a Gyant in Infidelity. He not only committed Sacrilege, but, made it his Pastime. He droll'd upon the Gods, while he robb'd their Temples; into which he never enter'd without a Jest, nor departed

from their Altars without a Satyr. He put a Woollen Garment on the Image of Jupiter O∣lympius, instead of the Golden Robe with which King Hiero had cloath'd it; and, excus'd the Sacrilege, by saying, Exchange was no Rob∣bery, and, That he consulted the Ease and Health of the God, both for Summer and Win∣ter. He play'd the Barber to the Statue of Aesculapius; and, shav'd off his Golden Beard, saying, That since Apollo his Father was beard∣less, it was but good Manners for the Son to be so too. When he came into a Rich Temple in Syracusa, and saw in the Hands of Mars, a Sword, whose Hilt was thick set with Dia∣monds, Emeralds and Rubies, he made a mock-Obeisance, and took the Sword from the extended Arm of the Image, saying, The God of War presented him with that Sword, as an Earnest of his future Victories, and, he should be very ungrateful and impious, not to accept the Gift of the Deity. It was a nasty Affront which Nero put upon the Syrian Goddess, when he caused his Excrements to be thrown in her Face.

These were Royal Atheists, and no Body durst controul their Impious Pranks. The Libertines now a-days are more modest and politick. They dare not violate Temples, nor prophane the Altars of the Christians openly, but secretly they undermine all Religion, and dispute People out of their Faith.

Some of these Atheists maintain the World to be Eternal. Others hold, that it came by a fortuitous Concourse of Atoms; which,

after an Eternal Dance in an Infinite Space, at last jumbled together into that exquisite Or∣der we now behold, and contemplate. They profess themselves Disciples of Epicurus, yet willfully corrupt the Doctrines of that Ver∣tuous Philosopher; who, though he taught, That the Supreme Felicity of Man consisted in Pleasure, yet never meant that of the Body, but the purer Joys and Tranquillity of the Mind, arising from a Life lead according to Reason: Whereas, these Modern Epicureans, place their highest Contentment in the Satis∣faction of their Sensual Appetites. A Jolly Crew, who number their Days by Debauche∣ries, and reckon that Hour mispent, wherein they have not drawn some Line of Voluptu∣ousness. And, as if they had consecrated Themselves to Bacchus and Venus, Women and Wine, divide the most important Actions of their whole Lives.

They are professed Enemies to the Doctrine of the Resurrection, of Good and Evil Spirits, of the Day of Judgment, of Heaven and Hell. They esteem Religion only as an Invention of Politicians, to reduce the World under some Form of Government; and spare not to call Moses, and Jesus the Son of Mary, Impostors, as well as Mahomet our Holy Lawgiver. They laugh at Miracles, and ridicule Prophecies; and, you had as good talk to them of a Man in the Moon, as of an Apparition from the Dead.

These Sort of Libertines, are not only to be found in the Court of France, but in General

all over Europe. The Contagion is Epidemick, the Infection has spread it self through Clergy and Laity, Nobles and Vulgar; insomuch, as he passes for a Man of no Wit, who has not a Spice of Atheism.

This will not seem strange when thou shalt know, that even among their Mufti's them∣selves, there have been some Lucians; who esteem'd Religion but an Old Wife's Tale, and us'd the most important Articles of their Faith, but as Instruments of Ambition and Avarice, to aggrandise themselves and fill their Coffers. Leo X. a famous Roman Pontiff, will be record∣ed to all Posterity, for that Sarcasm of his on Jesus, the Messias of the Christians; How much are we enriched, by this Fable of Christ? Indeed, if we reflect well on the Maxims and Practices of that Court, it will not be hard to conclude, That Gold is the Great God of the Romans, and the Ʋltimate Object of their Adoration, since that alone can open or shut Heaven and Hell; no Piety or Vertue, no Prayers or Tears, Alms or Penances being a∣vailable, unless made so by the meritorious Adjunct of this powerful Metal. Neither need the most enormous Sinners despair of Pardon, if they have but Pluto for their Proctor, and Gold for their Apology; there being certain Rates set upon all Sins, which if paid, those of the deepest Dye are as readily absolv'd, as the smallest Peccadillo's.

This Spiritual Merchandise of Souls in the Supreme Court of Christendom, has in no small Degree contributed to the Atheism of the Age.

While Religion is thereby render'd Cheap and Vile, a mere Artifice of Government, a Stra∣tagem of the Priesthood, to keep Fools in Awe and Subjection. And therefore, such as have a better Opinion of themselves, and would be thought Men of Sense, take Occa∣sion to carp at the very Fundamental Princi∣ples of all Religion, and to dispute against the Being of a God. Rather than tamely couch under the Luggage of manifest Impo∣stures, they like wild Colts, throw off the Yoke even of natural Religion and common Morality: And, because they have too much Sense to be abus'd with Religious Ʋmbrages, and too little Faith to swallow all the Pious Frauds of the Church for undoubted Oracles of Heaven, they will have no Faith at all, nor give any Credit to the Dictates of Cor∣rect Reason; but, turning Scepticks in all Things, are stedfast to Nothing but the Satis∣faction of their Lusts; looking upon it as ill Husbandry of the present Time, to squander away the least Moment on the Thoughts of a Future Life.

But thou, Venerable Hogia, who hast been present at the Mysteries of the Holy Sepulchre, and kiss'd the Floor of Abraham's Oratory, art Happy in the Possession of a blameless Faith. Thou hast renounced the vain Plea∣sures of Sense; and, thy Life, is one conti∣nued Series of Abstinence, Prayer, Fasting, Alms and other Good Works. Having been bless'd, with frequent Visions of Paradise, and Anticipations of the Immortal State;

pray that Mahmut may persevere in the Faith of a Mussulman, and the Integrity of a Loyal Slave to the Grand Signior.

Paris, 25th. of the 3d. Moon, of the Year 1645.