IntroductionAseveryenquiry，whichregardsreligion，isoftheutmostimportance，therearetwoquestionsinparticular，whichchallengeourattention，towit，thatconcerningitsfoundationinreason，andthatconcerningitsorigininhumannature。Happily，thefirstquestion，whichisthemostimportant，admitsofthemostobvious，atleast，theclearestsolution。Thewholeframeofnaturebespeaksanintelligentauthor；
　　andnorationalenquirercan，afterseriousreflection，suspendhisbeliefamomentwithregardtotheprimaryprinciplesofgenuineTheismandReligion。Buttheotherquestion，concerningtheoriginofreligioninhumannature，isexposedtosomemoredifficulty。Thebeliefofinvisible，intelligentpowerhasbeenverygenerallydiffusedoverthehumanrace，inallplacesandinallages；butithasneitherperhapsbeensouniversalastoadmitofnoexception，norhasitbeen，inanydegree，uniformintheideas，whichithassuggested。Somenationshavebeendiscovered，whoentertainednosentimentsofReligion，iftravellersandhistoriansmaybecredited；andnotwonations，andscarceanytwomen，haveeveragreedpreciselyinthesamesentiments。Itwouldappear，therefore，thatthispreconceptionspringsnotfromanoriginalinstinctorprimaryimpressionofnature，suchasgivesrisetoself-love，affectionbetweenthesexes，loveofprogeny，gratitude，resentment；sinceeveryinstinctofthiskindhasbeenfoundabsolutelyuniversalinallnationsandages，andhasalwaysaprecisedeterminateobject，whichitinflexiblypursues。Thefirstreligiousprinciplesmustbesecondary；
　　suchasmayeasilybepervertedbyvariousaccidentsandcauses，andwhoseoperationtoo，insomecases，may，byanextraordinaryconcurrenceofcircumstances，bealtogetherprevented。
　　Whatthoseprinciplesare，whichgiverisetotheoriginalbelief，andwhatthoseaccidentsandcausesare，whichdirectitsoperation，isthesubjectofourpresentenquiry。
　　SECT。I。ThatPolytheismwastheprimaryReligionofMen。
　　Itappearstome，that，ifweconsidertheimprovementofhumansociety，fromrudebeginningstoastateofgreaterperfection，polytheismoridolatrywas，andnecessarilymusthavebeen，thefirstandmostancientreligionofmankind。ThisopinionIshallendeavourtoconfirmbythefollowingarguments。
　　Itisamatteroffactincontestable，thatabout1700yearsagoallmankindwerepolytheists。Thedoubtfulandscepticalprinciplesofafewphilosophers，orthetheism，andthattoonotentirelypure，ofoneortwonations，formnoobjectionworthregarding。Beholdthenthecleartestimonyofhistory。
　　Thefartherwemountupintoantiquity，themoredowefindmankindplungedintopolytheism。Nomarks，nosymptomsofanymoreperfectreligion。Themostancientrecordsofhumanracestillpresentuswiththatsystemasthepopularandestablishedcreed。Thenorth，thesouth，theeast，thewest，givetheirunanimoustestimonytothesamefact。Whatcanbeopposedtosofullanevidence？
　　Asfaraswritingorhistoryreaches，mankind，inancienttimes，appearuniversallytohavebeenpolytheists。
　　Shallweassert，that，inmoreancienttimes，beforetheknowledgeofletters，orthediscoveryofanyartorscience，menentertainedtheprinciplesofpuretheism？Thatis，whiletheywereignorantandbarbarous，theydiscoveredtruth:Butfellintoerror，assoonastheyacquiredlearningandpoliteness。
　　Butinthisassertionyounotonlycontradictallappearanceofprobability，butalsoourpresentexperienceconcerningtheprinciplesandopinionsofbarbarousnations。ThesavagetribesofAMERICA，AFRICA，andASIAareallidolaters。Notasingleexceptiontothisrule。Insomuch，that，wereatravellertotransporthimselfintoanyunknownregion；ifhefoundinhabitantscultivatedwithartsandscience，thoughevenuponthatsuppositionthereareoddsagainsttheirbeingtheists，yetcouldhenotsafely，tillfartherinquiry，pronounceanythingonthathead:Butifhefoundthemignorantandbarbarous，hemightbeforehanddeclarethemidolaters；andtherescarcelyisapossibilityofhisbeingmistaken。
　　Itseemscertain，that，accordingtothenaturalprogressofhumanthought，theignorantmultitudemustfirstentertainsomegrovelingandfamiliarnotionofsuperiorpowers，beforetheystretchtheirconceptiontothatperfectBeing，whobestowedorderonthewholeframeofnature。Wemayasreasonablyimagine，thatmeninhabitedpalacesbeforehutsandcottages，orstudiedgeometrybeforeagriculture；asassertthattheDeityappearedtothemapurespirit，omniscient，omnipotent，andomnipresent，beforehewasapprehendedtobeapowerful，thoughlimitedbeing，withhumanpassionsandappetites，limbsandorgans。Themindrisesgradually，frominferiortosuperior:Byabstractingfromwhatisimperfect，itformsanideaofperfection:
　　Andslowlydistinguishingthenoblerpartsofitsownframefromthegrosser，itlearnstotransferonlytheformer，muchelevatedandrefined，toitsdivinity。Nothingcoulddisturbthisnaturalprogressofthought，butsomeobviousandinvincibleargument，whichmightimmediatelyleadthemindintothepureprinciplesoftheism，andmakeitoverleap，atonebound，thevastintervalwhichisinterposedbetweenthehumanandthedivinenature。ButthoughIallow，thattheorderandframeoftheuniverse，whenaccuratelyexamined，affordssuchanargument；yetIcanneverthink，thatthisconsiderationcouldhaveaninfluenceonmankind，whentheyformedtheirfirstrudenotionsofreligion。
　　Thecausesofsuchobjects，asarequitefamiliartous，neverstrikeourattentionorcuriosity；andhoweverextraordinaryorsurprisingtheseobjectsinthemselves，theyarepassedover，bytherawandignorantmultitude，withoutmuchexaminationorenquiry。ADAM，risingatonce，inparadise，andinthefullperfectionofhisfaculties，wouldnaturally，asrepresentedbyMILTON，beastonishedatthegloriousappearancesofnature，theheavens，theair，theearth，hisownorgansandmembers；andwouldbeledtoask，whencethiswonderfulscenearose。Butabarbarous，necessitousanimal（suchasamanisonthefirstoriginofsociety），pressedbysuchnumerouswantsandpassions，hasnoleisuretoadmiretheregularfaceofnature，ormakeenquiriesconcerningthecauseofthoseobjects，towhichfromhisinfancyhehasbeengraduallyaccustomed。
　　Onthecontrary，themoreregularanduniform，thatis，themoreperfectnatureappears，themoreishefamiliarizedtoit，andthelessinclinedtoscrutinizeandexamineit。Amonstrousbirthexciteshiscuriosity，andisdeemedaprodigy。Italarmshimfromitsnovelty；andimmediatelysetshimatrembling，andsacrificing，andpraying。Butananimal，compleatinallitslimbsandorgans，istohimanordinaryspectacle，andproducesnoreligiousopinionoraffection。Askhim，whencethatanimalarose；hewilltellyou，fromthecopulationofitsparents。Andthese，whence？
　　Fromthecopulationoftheirs。Afewremovessatisfyhiscuriosity，andsettheobjectsatsuchadistance，thatheentirelylosessightofthem。Imaginenot，thathewillsomuchasstartthequestion，whencethefirstanimal；muchless，whencethewholesystemorunitedfabricoftheuniversearose。Or，ifyoustartsuchaquestiontohim，expectnot，thathewillemployhismindwithanyanxietyaboutasubject，soremote，souninteresting，andwhichsomuchexceedstheboundsofhiscapacity。
　　Butfarther，ifmenwereatfirstledintothebeliefofoneSupremeBeing，byreasoningfromtheframeofnature，theycouldneverpossiblyleavethatbelief，inordertoembracepolytheism；butthesameprinciplesofreason，whichatfirstproducedanddiffusedovermankind，somagnificentanopinion，mustbeable，withgreaterfacility，topreserveit。Thefirstinventionandproofofanydoctrineismuchmoredifficultthanthesupportingandretainingofit。
　　Thereisagreatdifferencebetweenhistoricalfactsandspeculativeopinions；noristheknowledgeoftheonepropagatedinthesamemannerwiththatoftheother。Anhistoricalfact，whileitpassesbyoraltraditionfromeye-witnessesandcontemporaries，isdisguisedineverysuccessivenarration，andmayatlastretainbutverysmall，ifany，resemblanceoftheoriginaltruth，onwhichitwasfounded。
　　Thefrailmemoriesofmen，theirloveofexaggeration，theirsupinecarelessness；theseprinciples，ifnotcorrectedbybooksandwriting，soonperverttheaccountofhistoricalevents；whereargumentorreasoninghaslittleornoplace，norcaneverrecalthetruth，whichhasonceescapedthosenarrations。ItisthusthefablesofHERCULES，THESEUS，BACCHUSaresupposedtohavebeenoriginallyfoundedintruehistory，corruptedbytradition。Butwithregardtospeculativeopinions，thecaseisfarotherwise。Iftheseopinionsbefoundedonargumentssoclearandobviousastocarryconvictionwiththegeneralityofmankind，thesamearguments，whichatfirstdiffusedtheopinions，willstillpreservethemintheiroriginalpurity。
　　Iftheargumentsbemoreabstruse，andmoreremotefromvulgarapprehension，theopinionswillalwaysbeconfinedtoafewpersons；andassoonasmenleavethecontemplationofthearguments，theopinionswillimmediatelybelostandbeburiedinoblivion。Whicheversideofthisdilemmawetake，itmustappearimpossible，thattheismcould，fromreasoning，havebeentheprimaryreligionofhumanrace，andhaveafterwards，byitscorruption，givenbirthtopolytheismandtoallthevarioussuperstitionsoftheheathenworld。
　　Reason，whenobvious，preventsthesecorruptions:Whenabstruse，itkeepstheprinciplesentirelyfromtheknowledgeofthevulgar，whoarealoneliabletocorruptanyprincipleoropinion。
　　SECT。II。OriginofPolytheism。
　　Ifwewould，therefore，indulgeourcuriosity，inenquiringconcerningtheoriginofreligion，wemustturnourthoughtstowardspolytheism，theprimitivereligionofuninstructedmankind。
　　Weremenledintotheapprehensionofinvisible，intelligentpowerbyacontemplationoftheworksofnature，theycouldneverpossiblyentertainanyconceptionbutofonesinglebeing，whobestowedexistenceandorderonthisvastmachine，andadjustedallitsparts，accordingtooneregularplanorconnectedsystem。Forthough，topersonsofacertainturnofmind，itmaynotappearaltogetherabsurd，thatseveralindependentbeings，endowedwithsuperiorwisdom，mightconspireinthecontrivanceandexecutionofoneregularplan；yetisthisamerelyarbitrarysupposition，which，evenifallowedpossible，mustbeconfessedneithertobesupportedbyprobabilitynornecessity。Allthingsintheuniverseareevidentlyofapiece。Everythingisadjustedtoeverything。Onedesignprevailsthroughoutthewhole。Andthisuniformityleadsthemindtoacknowledgeoneauthor；becausetheconceptionofdifferentauthors，withoutanydistinctionofattributesoroperations，servesonlytogiveperplexitytotheimagination，withoutbestowinganysatisfactionontheunderstanding。
　　ThestatueofLAOCOON，aswelearnfromPLINY，wastheworkofthreeartists:Butitiscertain，that，werewenottoldso，weshouldneverhaveimagined，thatagroupeoffigures，cutfromonestone，andunitedinoneplan，wasnottheworkandcontrivanceofonestatuary。Toascribeanysingleeffecttothecombinationofseveralcauses，isnotsurelyanaturalandobvioussupposition。
　　Ontheotherhand，if，leavingtheworksofnature，wetracethefootstepsofinvisiblepowerinthevariousandcontraryeventsofhumanlife，wearenecessarilyledintopolytheismandtotheacknowledgmentofseverallimitedandimperfectdeities。Stormsandtempestsruinwhatisnourishedbythesun。Thesundestroyswhatisfosteredbythemoistureofdewsandrains。Warmaybefavourabletoanation，whomtheinclemencyoftheseasonsafflictswithfamine。Sicknessandpestilencemaydepopulateakingdom，amidstthemostprofuseplenty。Thesamenationisnot，atthesametime，equallysuccessfulbyseaandbyland。Andanation，whichnowtriumphsoveritsenemies，mayanonsubmittotheirmoreprosperousarms。Inshort，theconductofevents，orwhatwecalltheplanofaparticularprovidence，issofullofvarietyanduncertainty，that，ifwesupposeitimmediatelyorderedbyanyintelligentbeings，wemustacknowledgeacontrarietyintheirdesignsandintentions，aconstantcombatofoppositepowers，andarepentanceorchangeofintentioninthesamepower，fromimpotenceorlevity。Eachnationhasitstutelardeity。
　　Eachelementissubjectedtoitsinvisiblepoweroragent。Theprovinceofeachgodisseparatefromthatofanother。
　　Noraretheoperationsofthesamegodalwayscertainandinvariable。
　　To-dayheprotects:To-morrowheabandonsus。Prayersandsacrifices，ritesandceremonies，wellorillperformed，arethesourcesofhisfavourorenmity，andproduceallthegoodorillfortune，whicharetobefoundamongstmankind。
　　Wemayconclude，therefore，that，inallnations，whichhaveembracedpolytheism，thefirstideasofreligionarosenotfromacontemplationoftheworksofnature，butfromaconcernwithregardtotheeventsoflife，andfromtheincessanthopesandfears，whichactuatethehumanmind。Accordingly，wefind，thatallidolaters，havingseparatedtheprovincesoftheirdeities，haverecoursetothatinvisibleagent，towhoseauthoritytheyareimmediatelysubjected，andwhoseprovinceitistosuperintendthatcourseofactions，inwhichtheyare，atanytime，engaged。JUNOisinvokedatmarriages；LUCINAatbirths。NEPTUNEreceivestheprayersofseamen；andMARSofwarriors。ThehusbandmancultivateshisfieldundertheprotectionofCERES；andthemerchantacknowledgestheauthorityofMERCURY。Eachnaturaleventissupposedtobegovernedbysomeintelligentagent；andnothingprosperousoradversecanhappeninlife，whichmaynotbethesubjectofpeculiarprayersorthanksgivings。2
　　Itmustnecessarily，indeed，beallowed，that，inordertocarrymen'sattentionbeyondthepresentcourseofthings，orleadthemintoanyinferenceconcerninginvisibleintelligentpower，theymustbeactuatedbysomepassion，whichpromptstheirthoughtandreflection；somemotive，whichurgestheirfirstenquiry。Butwhatpassionshallweherehaverecourseto，forexplaininganeffectofsuchmightyconsequence？Notspeculativecuriositysurely，orthepureloveoftruth。Thatmotiveistoorefinedforsuchgrossapprehensions；andwouldleadmenintoenquiriesconcerningtheframeofnature，asubjecttoolargeandcomprehensivefortheirnarrowcapacities。Nopassions，therefore，canbesupposedtoworkuponsuchbarbarians，buttheordinaryaffectionsofhumanlife；theanxiousconcernforhappiness，thedreadoffuturemisery，theterrorofdeath，thethirstofrevenge，theappetiteforfoodandothernecessaries。Agitatedbyhopesandfearsofthisnature，especiallythelatter，menscrutinize，withatremblingcuriosity，thecourseoffuturecauses，andexaminethevariousandcontraryeventsofhumanlife。Andinthisdisorderedscene，witheyesstillmoredisorderedandastonished，theyseethefirstobscuretracesofdivinity。
　　SECT。III。Thesamesubjectcontinued。
　　Weareplacedinthisworld，asinagreattheatre，wherethetruespringsandcausesofeveryeventareentirelyconcealedfromus；norhaveweeithersufficientwisdomtoforesee，orpowertopreventthoseills，withwhichwearecontinuallythreatened。Wehanginperpetualsuspencebetweenlifeanddeath，healthandsickness，plentyandwant；whicharedistributedamongstthehumanspeciesbysecretandunknowncauses，whoseoperationisoftunexpected，andalwaysunaccountable。Theseunknowncauses，then，becometheconstantobjectofourhopeandfear；andwhilethepassionsarekeptinperpetualalarmbyananxiousexpectationoftheevents，theimaginationisequallyemployedinformingideasofthosepowers，onwhichwehavesoentireadependance。Couldmenanatomizenature，accordingtothemostprobable，atleastthemostintelligiblephilosophy，theywouldfind，thatthesecausesarenothingbuttheparticularfabricandstructureoftheminutepartsoftheirownbodiesandofexternalobjects；andthat，byaregularandconstantmachinery，alltheeventsareproduced，aboutwhichtheyaresomuchconcerned。Butthisphilosophyexceedsthecomprehensionoftheignorantmultitude，whocanonlyconceivetheunknowncausesinageneralandconfusedmanner；thoughtheirimagination，perpetuallyemployedonthesamesubject，mustlabourtoformsomeparticularanddistinctideaofthem。
　　Themoretheyconsiderthesecausesthemselves，andtheuncertaintyoftheiroperation，thelesssatisfactiondotheymeetwithintheirresearches；and，howeverunwilling，theymustatlasthaveabandonedsoarduousanattempt，wereitnotforapropensityinhumannature，whichleadsintoasystem，thatgivesthemsomesatisfaction。
　　Thereisanuniversaltendencyamongmankindtoconceiveallbeingslikethemselves，andtotransfertoeveryobject，thosequalities，withwhichtheyarefamiliarlyacquainted，andofwhichtheyareintimatelyconscious。Wefindhumanfacesinthemoon，armiesintheclouds；andbyanaturalpropensity，ifnotcorrectedbyexperienceandreflection，ascribemaliceorgood-willtoeverything，thathurtsorpleasesus。Hencethefrequencyandbeautyoftheprosopopoeiainpoetry；wheretrees，mountainsandstreamsarepersonified，andtheinanimatepartsofnatureacquiresentimentandpassion。Andthoughthesepoeticalfiguresandexpressionsgainnotonthebelief，theymayserve，atleast，toproveacertaintendencyintheimagination，withoutwhichtheycouldneitherbebeautifulnornatural。Norisariver-godorhamadryadalwaystakenforamerepoeticalorimaginarypersonage；butmaysometimesenterintotherealcreedoftheignorantvulgar；whileeachgroveorfieldisrepresentedaspossessedofaparticulargeniusorinvisiblepower，whichinhabitsandprotectsit。Nay，philosopherscannotentirelyexemptthemselvesfromthisnaturalfrailty；buthaveoftascribedtoinanimatematterthehorrorofavacuum，sympathies，antipathies，andotheraffectionsofhumannature。Theabsurdityisnotless，whilewecastoureyesupwards；andtransferring，asistoousual，humanpassionsandinfirmitiestothedeity，representhimasjealousandrevengeful，capriciousandpartial，and，inshort，awickedandfoolishman，ineveryrespectbuthissuperiorpowerandauthority。
　　Nowonder，then，thatmankind，beingplacedinsuchanabsoluteignoranceofcauses，andbeingatthesametimesoanxiousconcerningtheirfuturefortune，shouldimmediatelyacknowledgeadependenceoninvisiblepowers，possessedofsentimentandintelligence。Theunknowncauses，whichcontinuallyemploytheirthought，appearingalwaysinthesameaspect，areallapprehendedtobeofthesamekindorspecies。Norisitlongbeforeweascribetothemthoughtandreasonandpassion，andsometimeseventhelimbsandfiguresofmen，inordertobringthemnearertoaresemblancewithourselves。
　　Inproportionasanyman'scourseoflifeisgovernedbyaccident，wealwaysfind，thatheencreasesinsuperstition；asmayparticularlybeobservedofgamestersandsailors，who，though，ofallmankind，theleastcapableofseriousreflection，aboundmostinfrivolousandsuperstitiousapprehensions。
　　Thegods，saysCORIOLANUSinDIONYSIUS，3haveaninfluenceineveryaffair；butaboveall，inwar；