Reader, are you not curious to learn something of this all-powerful morality, so operative on the heart of the truly illuminated--of this _disciplina arcani_, entrusted only to the chosen few, and handed down to Professor Weishaupt, to Spartacus, and his associates, who have cleared it of the rubbish heaped on it by the dim-sighted Masons, and now beaming in its native lustre on the minds of the _Areopagitæ_? The teachers of ordinary Christianity have been labouring for almost 2000 years, with the New Testament in their hands; many of them with great address, and many, I believe, with honest zeal. But alas! they cannot produce such wonderful and certain effects, (for observe, that Weishaupt repeatedly assures us that his means are certain,) probably for want of this _disciplina arcani_, of whose efficacy so much is said. Most fortunately, Spartacus has given us a brilliant specimen of the ethics which illuminated himself on a trying occasion, where an ordinary Christian would have been much perplexed, or would have taken a road widely different from that of this illustrious apostle of light. And seeing that several of the _Areopagitæ_ co-operated in the transaction, and that it was carefully concealed from the profane and dim-sighted world, we can have no doubt but that it was conducted according to the _disciplina arcani_ of Illumination. I shall give it in his own words. _Spartacus to Marius, September 1783._ "I am now in the most embarrassing situation; it robs me of all rest, and makes me unfit for every thing. I am in danger of losing at once my honour and my reputation, by which I have long had such influence. What think you?--my sister-in-law is with child. I have sent her to Euriphon, and am endeavouring to procure a marriage-licence from Rome. How much depends on this uncertainty--and there is not a moment to lose. Should I fail, what is to be done? What a return do I make by this to a person to whom I am so much obliged!" (We shall see the probable meaning of this exclamation by and by). "We have tried every method in our power to destroy the child; and I hope she is determined on every thing--even d----." (Can this mean death?) "But alas! Euriphon is, I fear, too timid," (alas! poor woman, thou art now under the _disciplina arcani_,) "and I see no other expedient. Could I be but assured of the silence of Celsus, (a physician at Ingolstadt,) he _can_ relieve me, and he _promised me as much_ three years ago. Do speak to him, if you think he will be staunch. I would not let Cato" (his dearest friend, and his chief or only confident in the scheme of Illumination) "know it yet, because the affair in other respects requires his whole friendship." (Cato had all the pretty receipts.) "Could you but help me out of this distress, you would give me life, honour, and peace, _and strength to work again in the great cause_. If you cannot, be assured I will venture on the most desperate stroke," (poor sister!) "for it is fixed.--I will not lose