Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

RELIGIOUS RESIGNATION.333

tempted his people by driving them to despair, but it was in vain. To the insatiable cruelty of their master, the slaves continued to oppose an invincible resignation. Nothing could cmench their thirst for servitude. Obedience carried to such excess was not an exercise of patience, it was a passion; and this explains the enigma.

Among nations yet young there exists so practical a faith in the universal presence of God, so strong a sense of his intervention in the smallest events of this world, that the march of human affairs is never viewed as caused or directed by man ; every thing that happens is the result of a decree of Heaven. Life seems nothing to those who aspire to the bliss of the elect. The hand that takes it docs good rather than evil. Little is lost, much is gained. What is the possession of the whole earth compared with the sure reward of virtue, that only good of which tyranny cannot deprive man ? The executioner only increases a hundred fold the treasures of the victims, by the means of sanc-tification which he offers to their pious resignation.

Thus reason people smitten with the passion of unconditional submission : but never has this dangerous religion produced so many fanatics as have been, and still are to be seen in Russia.

It is fearful to think of the uses which religious truth can be made to subserve here below. Had a man permission to kneel before God to ask for one, one only favour, it should be that he would be pleased to grant that the interpreters of his supreme wisdom might be always free men. A slavish priest is in-evitablv a liar, an apostate, and may also become an executioner. Every national church is schismatic,