Free Thoughts on God, the Universe, Man, Freemasons, Rosicrucians, and the Philosopher's Stone

But does not the Enlightenment open the highway to unbelief? Do not religion and morality then have everything to fear! And if these are fallen, who will keep the people in check? — Who? — Good police regulations Original: "Policeyanstalten" — in the 18th century, this term referred broadly to the internal administration, civil order, and welfare of the state, rather than just a modern police force. and the punishments of the judge.

It is a foolish prejudice to imagine that one must preach the Law to the peasant, that one must constantly hold up his sins and eternal hellfire before him; that he would instantly turn to mischief Original: "Muthwillen" — refers to wantonness, unruly behavior, or a lack of moral restraint. if one praised too much the love of God and His great mercy, and the fact that He is not angry forever. People think they must not let him know that God is so inclined to forgive wrongdoing; and that if one were to even tell the peasant that God turns His face away from a child who does not love Him for His fatherly goodness—who serves Him only out of anxiety and fear of punishment—that He has patience with our bad habits, and that He, as the freest of all beings, desires a free, unforced, and unfeigned service from free beings; that He seeks to win us through love and demands only a sincere heart etc. etc. The symbol "ꝛc." is an old scribal abbreviation for "et cetera." then he would misunderstand everything—that it is always safer to keep him on a short leash etc. But I ask: does this doctrine make Christians? O God, it does not even make them good people.