This gave rise to the observation of MACHIAVEL†, that the doctrines of the CHRISTIAN religion (meaning the catholic; for he knew no other) which recommend only paffive courage and suffering, had subdued the spirit of mankind, and had fitted them for flavery and fubjection. This obfervation would certainly be just, were there not many other circumstances in human fociety, which controul the genius and character of a religion.

BRASIDAS feized a moufe, and being bit by it, let it go. There is nothing fo contemptible, fays he, but what may be safe, if it has but courage to defend itfelf. BELLARMINE, patiently and humbly allowed the fleas and other odious vermin to prey upon him. We fhall have heaven, fays he, to reward us for our fufferings: But these poor creatures have nothing but the enjoyment of the prefent life . Such difference is there between the maxims of a GREEK hero and a CATHOLIC faint.

SECT. XI. With regard to Reason or Abfurdity.

Here is another obfervation to the fame purpose, and a new proof that the corruption of the best things begets the wort. If we examine, without prejudice, the antient heathen mythology, as contained in the poets, we shall not discover in it any fuch monftrous abfurdity, as we may be apt at firft to apprehend. Where is the difficulty of conceiving, that the fame powers or principles, whatever they were, which formed this visible world, men and animals, produced alfo a fpecies of + Difcorfi, lib. vi. + Plut. Apopth.

intelligent creatures, of more refined fubftance and greaterauthority than the reft? That these creatures may be capricious, revengeful, paffionate, voluptuous, is easily conceived nor is any circumstance more apt, among ourselves, to engender fuch vices, than the licence of abfolute authority. And in short, the whole mythological system is fo natural, that, in the vast variety of planets and worlds, contained in this univerfe, it seems more than probable, that fomewhere or other, it is really carried into execution.

The chief objection to it with regard to this planet, is, that it is not ascertained by any just reason, or authority. The : antient tradition, infifted on by the heathen priests and theo- logers, is but a weak foundation; and transmitted also such a number of contradictory reports, fupported, all of them, by equal authority, that it became abfolutely impoffible to fix a preference amongst them. A few volumes, therefore, must contain all the polemical writings of pagan priefts. Their whole theology muft confift more of traditional stories and fuperftitious practices than of philofophical argument and con÷troverfy.

But where theism forms the fundamental principle of any popular religion, that tenet is fo conformable to found reafon, that philosophy is apt to incorporate itself with such a system of theology. And if the other dogmas of that fyftem be con tained in a facred book, fuch as the Alcoran, or be determined by any visible authority, like that of the ROMAN pontif, fpeculative reasoners naturally carry on their affent, and embrace a theory, which has been inftilled into them by their earliest education, and which also poffeffes fome degree of consistence

and

and uniformity. But as these appearances are fure, all of them, to prove deceitful, philofophy will foon find herself very unequally yoaked with her new affociate; and instead of regulating each principle, as they advance together, she is at every turn perverted to ferve the purposes of fuperftition. For befides the unavoidable incoherences, which must be reconciled and adjusted; one may fafely affirm, that all popular theology, efpecially the fcholaftic, has a kind of appetite for abfurdity and contradiction. If that theology went not beyond reafon and common fenfe, her doctrines would appear too eafy and familiar. Amazement muft of neceffity be raised: Mystery affected: Darkness and obfcurity fought after: And a foundation of merit afforded the devout votaries, who defire an opportunity of fubduing their rebellious reafon, by the belief of the most unintelligible sophisms.

Ecclefiaftical hiftory fufficiently confirms thefe reflections. When a controverfy is ftarted, fome people pretend always with certainty to fortell the iffue. Which ever opinion, fay they, is most contrary to plain- fenfe is fure to prevail; even where the general intereft of the fyftem requires not that decifion. Though the reproach of herefy may, for fome time, be bandied about among the difputants, it always refts at laft on the fide of reafon. Any one, it is pretended, that has but learning enough of this kind to know the definition of ARIAN, PELAGIAN, ERASTIAN, SOCINIAN, SABELLIAN, EUTYCHIAN, NESTORIAN, MONOTHELITE, &c. not to mention PROTESTANT, whofe fate is yet uncertain, will be convinced of the truth of this obfervation. 'fis thus a fyftem becomes more abfurd in the end, merely from.its being reasonable and philofophical in the beginning.

Το

To oppose the torrent of scholaftic religion by fuch feeble maxims as these, that it is impoffible for the fame to be and not to be, that the whole is greater than a part, that two and three make five; is pretending to ftop the ocean with a bull-rush. Will fet you up profane reason against sacred mystery? No punishment is great enough for your impiety. And the fame fires, which were kindled for heretics, will ferve alfo for the deftruction of philofophers.

SECT. XII. With regard to Doubt or Conviction.

We meet every day with people fo fceptical with regard to history, that they affert it impoffible for any nation ever to believe such abfurd principles as those of GREEK and EGYPTIAN paganism; and at the fame time fo dogmatical with regard to religion, that they think the fame abfurdities are to be found in no other communions. CAMBYSES entertained like prejudices; and very impiously ridiculed, and even wounded, APIS, the great god of the EGYPTIANS, who appeared to his profane fenfes nothing but a large spotted bull. But HERODOTUS * judiciously afcribes this fally of paffion to a real madness, or disorder of his brain : Otherwise, says the hiftorian, he never would have openly affronted any established worship. For on that head, continues he, every nation are best satisfied with their own, and think they have the advantage over every other nation.

It must be allowed, that the ROMAN Catholics are a very learned fect; and that no one communion, but that of the Church of ENGLAND, can difpute their being the most learned

Lib. iii. c. 38.

of

7

of all the Chriftian churches: Yet AVERROES, the famous ARABIAN, who, no doubt, had heard of the EGYPTIAN fuperftitions, declares, that of all religions, the most abfurd and nonfenfical is that, whose votaries eat, after having created. their deity.

I believe, indeed, that there is no tenet in all paganism, which would give fo fair a scope to ridicule as this of the real prefence For it is fo abfurd, that it eludes the force of almost all argument. There are even fome pleasant stories of that kind, which, though fomewhat profane, are commonly told by the Catholics themselves. One day, a priest, it is faid, gave inadvertently, inftead of the facrament, a counter, which had by accident fallen among the holy wafers. The communicant waited patiently for fome time, expecting it would diffolve on his tongue: but finding that it ftill remained entire, he took it off.. I wish, cried he to the priest, you have not committed fome mistake: I wish you have not given me God the Father: He is fo hard and tough there is no fwallowing

bim.

A famous general, at that time in the MUSCOVITE fervice, having come to PARIS for the recovery of his wounds, brought along with him a young TURK, whom he had taken prifoner. Some of the doctors of the SORBONNE (who are altogether as pofitive as the dervifes of CONSTANTINOPLE) thinking it a pity, that the poor TURK fhould be damned for want of inftruction, folicited MUSTAPHA very hard to turn Chriftian, and promifed him, for his encouragement, plenty of good wine in this world, and paradife in the next. Thefe allurements were too powerful to be refifted; and therefore, having been

well