EDITORIAL NOTICE. In this chapter, which forms a natural sequel to the preceding, are collected all the passages of Pascal's writings, the object of which was to unfold the spirit, doctrine, and morality of Christianity; to collect the proof of its authenticity, and explain the means of its establishment. These reflections closed the discourse in which he developed to his listening friends the plan of his "Apology for Religion." (French Editor.) ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. I. + SUBJECTION and discipline of the reason, in which true Christianity subsists. The highest achievement of reason is, to acknowledge that there is an infinity of things which surpass its powers. It is but feeble, as long as it comes short of this. — + If natural objects surpass its efforts, what is to be said of those which are supernatural? + Superstition to believe certain propositions, &c.* + Faith, &c. II. + Submission. We ought to learn to doubt, where it is proper to doubt; to be certain, where we ought to be certain; and to submit, where we ought to submit. Whoever *Nicole, in the same copy, thus developes this fragment :-" It is superstition to believe that certain propositions are in a book, although we cannot see them, because we ought to see them if they were in it." Pascal at first wrote with more boldness :-"Man ought to possess three qualities;-that of the doubter, (pyrrhonien,) the mathematician, and the submissive Christian these dispositions blend with and temper each other;-by doubting, when it is proper to doubt; by aiming at certainty, when necessary; by submission, when becoming."-Miscel. Writings, Introd., p. xxxiii. does not this, knows not the true measure of the reasoning powers. There are those who violate all three of these principles, either by assuming everything as demonstrated, for want of understanding the nature of demonstration; or by doubting everything, through not knowing where to submit the understanding; or by submitting to everything, for want of knowing how to discriminate. If we subject everything to reason, our religion will be stripped of all its mysterious and superhuman character. If we violate the principles of reason, it will become absurd and ridiculous. St. Augustin. Reason would never submit, if it did not perceive that there are occasions when it ought to submit. It is then right that it should do so. There is nothing so truly reasonable as this disavowal of reason.* There are two extremes: To exclude reason, and to admit only reason. III. Faith treats of things upon which the senses are *This, and the following paragraph, are in the copy thus paraphrased by Nicole:"There is nothing so reasonable as this disavowal of reason, in matters of faith; and nothing so unreasonable as the disavowal of reason in matters not of fuith. There are two extremes equally dangerous,--to exclude reason, to admit only reason." This reading has obtained in the subse quent editions. silent, but not of things opposed to their evidence. It is above, but not contrary to them. + It is not an uncommon thing to have to reprove the world of excessive facility. It is a natural extreme, like incredulity, and equally pernicious.—Superstition. It is superstition to place our hope in circumstantials; (les formalités;) but it is pride to reject them. Piety is a different thing from superstition. To carry piety to the extreme of superstition, is to destroy it. Heretics reproach us for our superstitious submission. It is doing the very thing with which they reproach us. * IV. Other religions, such as paganism, are more popular, because they deal in externals; but not with the discerning. To them a religion purely intellectual would be better suited; but it is otherwise with the populace. Christianity is, of all others, the one which is adapted to all classes, being composed partly of external observance, and partly of inward principles. It elevates the commonalty by principles, and humbles the pride of intellect by externals; for the people ought to be made to perceive the spirituality of the letter, and the * The St. Germain copy has the following, added by Nicole :-" Reproach us, to require this submission in things which are not matters of faith." This addition has been adopted in the subsequent editions. |