A journey to the world under-groundHolberg, Ludvig
Science
A journey to the world under-ground
Holberg, Ludvig
Utopias -- Early works to 1800; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
Among other religious Mistakes maintained by the People of this Globe,
were these: They did not deny that good Actions were rewarded, and bad
ones punish’d by God; but then they thought that Branch of Justice,
consisting in the Distribution of Rewards and Punishments took Place
only in a future State. I brought various Examples of such as for
their Impieties had been punish’d in this Life; but they alledg’d as
many opposite Examples of very wicked Trees, who yet were as fortunate
as they were wicked to the End of their Lives. In a Dispute, said
they, we are too apt to borrow only those Weapons, and attend to only
those Instances, which make for our Purpose and strengthen our Cause,
overlooking and disregarding such as might injure it. With that I
instanc’d in myself, by shewing that many who had injur’d me came to
a miserable End. In Answer they urg’d, that all this proceeded from
Self-Love, from my over-weening Opinion, that in the Eyes of the
Supreme Being I was of more Consequence, than many others, who, like
me, had suffered the severest Injuries undeservedly, and yet had beheld
their Persecutors bless’d and prosperous to the last Day of their
Lives. Again, when accidentally I was commending the Practice of daily
Prayer, they reply’d, That indeed they did not deny the Necessity of
Prayer, but that they were thoroughly persuaded that the truest Piety
consisted in a practical Observance of the divine Law. To prove this,
they borrow’d an Argument from a Prince, or Lawgiver: This Prince has
two Sorts of Subjects; some are continually offending and transgressing
his Laws thro’ Infirmity or Contumacy; and yet these shall be found
continually haunting the Court to procure Pardon for Faults, to be
repeated as soon as pardon’d. Others approach the Court very rarely,
but remaining peaceable at Home, are habitual Observers of their
Sovereign’s Laws. Who can doubt but that he must think this latter Sort
more worthy of his Favour, and regard the first as bad Subjects and
troublesome Creatures?
In these and the like Controversies was I often engag’d, tho’ without
Success; for I was able to bring nobody over to my Way of thinking.
And therefore omitting all other religious Disputes, I shall only give
you their general and most observable Doctrines, leaving it to the
intelligent Reader to applaud or censure them as he shall judge best.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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