It is true that the public mind is enlightened on this point, on which even the Constituent Assembly itself is deceived.

It has pretended to form a civil code of religion, that is to say, it had the idea of creating one priesthood after having destroyed another.

Of what consequence is it that one religion differs from another?
Is it for the National Assembly to reunite the divided sects, and weigh all their differences?
Are politicians theologians?
We shall only be delivered from the influence of these men when the National Assembly shall have maintained for each the perfect liberty of following or inventing whatsoever religion may please it; when every one shall pay for the worship he prefers to adopt, and pays for no other; and when the impartiality of tribunals, in such cases, shall punish alike the persecutors or the seditious of all forms of worship: and the members of the National Assembly say also, that all the French people are not yet sufficiently ripe for this doctrine.

We must reply to them,--this may be, but it is for you to ripen us by your words, your acts, your laws! Priests do not trouble states when states do not disturb them.

Let us remember that eighteen centuries have seen all the Christian sects, torn and bleeding from theological absurdities and sacerdotal hatreds, always terminate by arming themselves with popular power." This letter passed over the heads of the parties who disputed the conscience of the people; but the petition of the Directory of Paris, which demanded the _veto_ of the king against the decrees of the Assembly, produced violent opposition petitions.