Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Travels through Sweden - Chapter V
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
THROUGH SWEDEN. 93
treatife in fasenits of that form of government, entitled, De De-
mocratia Optimo Regimime.* He embraced the ecclefiaftical pro-
feffion merely from motives of intereft ; but afterwards became a
zealous ftickler for the moft abfurd tenets of the groffeft fuper-
ftition, whether it be that he has in reality become a conyert te
what he at firft merely belived ew officio; or, as fome people are
inclined to think, from hypocrify. He has at once fignalized his
clerical fervor, and difplayed his own charatter by a Differtation on
the Power and Influence of the Devil on the Human Body. He proves
in this book, by evidence amounting, as he fays, to mathematical
demonftration, not only the exiftence of the devil and his opera-
tions on the human mind and body, but has been fo fuccefsful in
his enquiries into the fubject, as to diftinguifh the different forts of
devils, and to afcertain the means proper for putting them to flight.
He has difcovered that the diabolus crinitus, or hairy devil, may be
routed by a plant called hypericum quadrangulare, (quadrangular
St. John’s wort). There is another anecdote which may ferve °
to throw fome light upon the prefent {pirit of religion in Sweden.
As far down as the reign of the late king a ceremony prevailed,
which was very much at variance with the advanced ftate of
knowledge, and with common fenfe, namely, that of exorcifing
and fummoning the deyil to depart from the body of an infant
in the rite of baptifm. For this ceremony, in the late king’s
reign, another was fubftituted lefs fhocking to the underftanding :
but
* Democracy the beft form of government.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
