Hitherto we have seen the Christian Religion much better received and improved by the _Laplanders_, and applied to their daily conversation, then what it was in ancient times. And from hence we may collect the care of those who by their authority, counsell or ministery did promote it; yet cannot we triumph over Pagan impiety wholly rooted out; as shall appear by the following Chapter. CHAP. IX. _Of some remains of Paganism in_ Lapland _at this time._ By the present State of Religion in _Lapland_, it cannot be doubted but all possible means were used by their pious Kings and Priests, for the extirpating of superstition and its evil consequences: nevertheless there remain some reliques thereof to employ their farther care and endeavour, many gross errours prevailing among them, which renders the reality of their conversion suspicious, as if they were still in love with the erroneous opinions of their Ancestors, especially some of the _Norwegian Laplanders_, whose Idolatry sufficiently demonstrates that all their pretences to Christianity are but fictitious. But tho it were impiety to believe this of all, since experience shews us the contrary; yet it cannot be denied, but that many of them profess Christianity rather out of dissimulation then any real affection. One chief reason why they so stifly adhere to their superstition and impiety, proceeds from the miscarriage of their Priests, who either take no care of instructing the People, or vilify their doctrine by the sordidness of their lives; whilst under a pretence of propagating the Gospell, they endeavor only to advance their own revennues. This the _Laplanders_, before none of the richest, could not bare; to see themselves opprest and disabled by the exactions of the Priests. The truth of this _Olaus Magnus_ strives to confute, calling it an impious and false assertion, but he brings nothing to prove the truth of what he saies, nor answers _Ziegler_, by telling a fair story, of the industry and liberality of some in the Southern parts: and particularly that his brother _Joannes_ came to the utmost border of _Jemptia_, and gave a large Alms to the poor people there, and at his own great charge set up a Salt-work. A farther cause of the little improvement of Christianity, is the vastness of the Country, some of the Inhabitants living above 200 miles from the Christian Churches. But tho this cause is now in some degree removed by having Churches more frequently, yet that inconvenience still remains; because they are yet very far distant, particularly in _Lapponia Luhlensis_, as we have already mentioned. There are other causes of this unhappy effect, which more particularly reflect upon the Natives. As their strong inclination to superstition, which hath bin formerly mentioned, and the occasions thereof intimated. To this we may add the high estimation they have of their Predecessors, whom they think more wise then to have bin ignorant of what God they ought