Herethereforeisakindofcontradictionbetweenthedifferentprinciplesofhumannature，whichenterintoreligion。Ournaturalterrorspresentthenotionofadevilishandmaliciousdeity:Ourpropensitytoadulationleadsustoacknowledgeanexcellentanddivine。Andtheinfluenceoftheseoppositeprinciplesarevarious，accordingtothedifferentsituationofthehumanunderstanding。
Inverybarbarousandignorantnations，suchastheAFRICANSandINDIANS，nayeventheJAPONESE，whocanformnoextensiveideasofpowerandknowledge，worshipmaybepaidtoabeing，whomtheyconfesstobewickedanddetestable；thoughtheymaybecautious，perhaps，ofpronouncingthisjudgmentofhiminpublic，orinhistemple，wherehemaybesupposedtoheartheirreproaches。
Suchrude，imperfectideasoftheDivinityadherelongtoallidolaters；anditmaysafelybeaffirmed，thattheGREEKSthemselvesnevergotentirelyridofthem。ItisremarkedbyXENOPHON，87inpraiseofSOCRATES，thatthisphilosopherassentednottothevulgaropinion，whichsupposedthegodstoknowsomethings，andbeignorantofothers:Hemaintained，thattheykneweverything；whatwasdone，said，oreventhought。Butasthiswasastrainofphilosophy88muchabovetheconceptionofhiscountrymen，weneednotbesurprised，ifveryfrankly，intheirbooksandconversation，theyblamedthedeities，whomtheyworshippedintheirtemples。Itisobservable，thatHERODOTUSinparticularscruplesnot，inmanypassages，toascribeenvytothegods；asentiment，ofallothers，themostsuitabletoameananddevilishnature。Thepaganhymns，however，sunginpublicworship，containednothingbutepithetsofpraise；evenwhiletheactionsascribedtothegodswerethemostbarbarousanddetestable。WhenTIMOTHEUS，thepoet，recitedahymntoDIANA，inwhichheenumerated，withthegreatesteulogies，alltheactionsandattributesofthatcruel，capriciousgoddess:Mayyourdaughter，saidonepresent，becomesuchasthedeitywhomyoucelebrate。89
Butasmenfartherexalttheirideaoftheirdivinity；itistheirnotionofhispowerandknowledgeonly，notofhisgoodness，whichisimproved。Onthecontrary，inproportiontothesupposedextentofhisscienceandauthority，theirterrorsnaturallyaugment；whiletheybelieve，thatnosecrecycanconcealthemfromhisscrutiny，andthateventheinmostrecessesoftheirbreastlieopenbeforehim。Theymustthenbecarefulnottoformexpresslyanysentimentofblameanddisapprobation。Allmustbeapplause，ravishment，extacy。Andwhiletheirgloomyapprehensionsmakethemascribetohimmeasuresofconduct，which，inhumancreatures，wouldbehighlyblamed，theymuststillaffecttopraiseandadmirethatconductintheobjectoftheirdevotionaladdresses。Thusitmaysafelybeaffirmed，thatpopularreligionsarereally，intheconceptionoftheirmorevulgarvotaries，aspeciesofdaemonism；andthehigherthedeityisexaltedinpowerandknowledge，thelowerofcourseishedepressedingoodnessandbenevolence；whateverepithetsofpraisemaybebestowedonhimbyhisamazedadorers。Amongidolaters，thewordsmaybefalse，andbeliethesecretopinion:Butamongmoreexaltedreligionists，theopinionitselfcontractsakindoffalsehood，andbeliestheinwardsentiment。
Theheartsecretlydefectssuchmeasuresofcruelandimplacablevengeance；butthejudgmentdaresnotbutpronouncethemperfectandadorable。Andtheadditionalmiseryofthisinwardstruggleaggravatesalltheotherterrors，bywhichtheseunhappyvictimstosuperstitionareforeverhaunted。
LUCIAN90observesthatayoungman，whoreadsthehistoryofthegodsinHOMERorHESIOD，andfindstheirfactions，wars，injustice，incest，adultery，andotherimmoralitiessohighlycelebrated，ismuchsurprisedafterwards，whenhecomesintotheworld，toobservethatpunishmentsarebylawinflictedonthesameactions，whichhehadbeentaughttoascribetosuperiorbeings。Thecontradictionisstillperhapsstrongerbetweentherepresentationsgivenusbysomelaterreligionsandournaturalideasofgenerosity，lenity，impartiality，andjustice；andinproportiontothemultipliedterrorsofthesereligions，thebarbarousconceptionsofthedivinityaremultiplieduponus。91
Nothingcanpreserveuntaintedthegenuineprinciplesofmoralsinourjudgmentofhumanconduct，buttheabsolutenecessityoftheseprinciplestotheexistenceofsociety。Ifcommonconceptioncanindulgeprincesinasystemofethics，somewhatdifferentfromthatwhichshouldregulateprivatepersons；howmuchmorethosesuperiorbeings，whoseattributes，views，andnaturearesototallyunknowntous？Suntsuperissuajura。92Thegodshavemaximsofjusticepeculiartothemselves。
SECT。XIV。Badinfluenceofpopularreligionsonmorality。
HereIcannotforbearobservingafact，whichmaybeworththeattentionofsuchasmakehumannaturetheobjectoftheirenquiry。Itiscertain，that，ineveryreligion，howeversublimetheverbaldefinitionwhichitgivesofitsdivinity，manyofthevotaries，perhapsthegreatestnumber，willstillseekthedivinefavour，notbyvirtueandgoodmorals，whichalonecanbeacceptabletoaperfectbeing，buteitherbyfrivolousobservances，byintemperatezeal，byrapturousextasies，orbythebeliefofmysteriousandabsurdopinions。
TheleastpartoftheSadder，aswellasofthePentateuch，consistsinpreceptsofmorality；andwemayalsobeassured，thatthatpartwasalwaystheleastobservedandregarded。WhentheoldROMANSwereattackedwithapestilence，theyneverascribedtheirsufferingstotheirvices，ordreamedofrepentanceandamendment。Theyneverthought，thattheywerethegeneralrobbersoftheworld，whoseambitionandavaricemadedesolatetheearth，andreducedopulentnationstowantandbeggary。Theyonlycreatedadictator，93inordertodriveanailintoadoor；andbythatmeans，theythoughtthattheyhadsufficientlyappeasedtheirincenseddeity。
InAEGINA，onefactionformingaconspiracy，barbarouslyandtreacherouslyassassinatedsevenhundredoftheirfellow-citizens；andcarriedtheirfurysofar，that，onemiserablefugitivehavingfledtothetemple，theycutoffhishands，bywhichheclungtothegates，andcarryinghimoutofholyground，immediatelymurderedhim。Bythisimpiety，saysHERODOTUS，94（notbytheothermanycruelassassinations）
theyoffendedthegods，andcontractedaninexpiableguilt。
Nay，ifweshouldsuppose，whatneverhappens，thatapopularreligionwerefound，inwhichitwasexpresslydeclared，thatnothingbutmoralitycouldgainthedivinefavour；ifanorderofpriestswereinstitutedtoinculcatethisopinion，indailysermons，andwithalltheartsofpersuasion；yetsoinveteratearethepeople'sprejudices，that，forwantofsomeothersuperstition，theywouldmaketheveryattendanceonthesesermonstheessentialsofreligion，ratherthanplacetheminvirtueandgoodmorals。ThesublimeprologueofZALEUCUS'Slaws95inspirednottheLOCRIANS，sofaraswecanlearn，withanysoundernotionsofthemeasuresofacceptancewiththedeity，thanwerefamiliartotheotherGREEKS。
Thisobservation，then，holdsuniversally:
Butstillonemaybeatsomelosstoaccountforit。Itissufficienttoobserve，thatthepeople，everywhere，degradetheirdeitiesintoasimilitudewiththemselves，andconsiderthemmerelyasaspeciesofhumancreatures，somewhatmorepotentandintelligent。
Thiswillnotremovethedifficulty。
Forthereisnomansostupid，asthat，judgingbyhisnaturalreason，hewouldnotesteemvirtueandhonestythemostvaluablequalities，whichanypersoncouldpossess。Whynotascribethesamesentimenttohisdeity？Whynotmakeallreligion，orthechiefpartofit，toconsistintheseattainments？
Norisitsatisfactorytosay，thatthepracticeofmoralityismoredifficultthanthatofsuperstition；andisthereforerejected。For，nottomentiontheexcessivepennancesoftheBrachmansandTalapoins；itiscertain，thattheRhamadanoftheTURKS，duringwhichthepoorwretches，formanydays，ofteninthehottestmonthsoftheyear，andinsomeofthehottestclimatesoftheworld，remainwithouteatingordrinkingfromtherisingtothesettingsun；
thisRhamadan，Isay，mustbemoreseverethanthepracticeofanymoralduty，eventothemostviciousanddepravedofmankind。ThefourlentsoftheMUSCOVITES，andtheausteritiesofsomeRomanCatholics，appearmoredisagreeablethanmeeknessandbenevolence。Inshort，allvirtue，whenmenarereconciledtoitbyeversolittlepractice，isagreeable:Allsuperstitionisforeverodiousandburthensome。
Perhaps，thefollowingaccountmaybereceivedasatruesolutionofthedifficulty。Theduties，whichamanperformsasafriendorparent，seemmerelyowingtohisbenefactororchildren；norcanhebewantingtotheseduties，withoutbreakingthroughallthetiesofnatureandmorality。
Astronginclinationmayprompthimtotheperformance:Asentimentoforderandmoralobligationjoinsitsforcetothesenaturalties:Andthewholeman，iftrulyvirtuous，isdrawntohisduty，withoutanyeffortorendeavour。
Evenwithregardtothevirtues，whicharemoreaustere，andmorefoundedonreflection，suchaspublicspirit，filialduty，temperance，orintegrity；themoralobligation，inourapprehension，removesallpretensiontoreligiousmerit；andthevirtuousconductisdeemednomorethanwhatweowetosocietyandtoourselves。Inallthis，asuperstitiousmanfindsnothing，whichhehasproperlyperformedforthesakeofthisdeity，orwhichcanpeculiarlyrecommendhimtothedivinefavourandprotection。Heconsidersnot，thatthemostgenuinemethodofservingthedivinityisbypromotingthehappinessofhiscreatures。HestilllooksoutforsomemoreimmediateserviceofthesupremeBeing，inordertoallaythoseterrors，withwhichheishaunted。Andanypractice，recommendedtohim，whicheitherservestonopurposeinlife，oroffersthestrongestviolencetohisnaturalinclinations；thatpracticehewillthemorereadilyembrace，onaccountofthoseverycircumstances，whichshouldmakehimabsolutelyrejectit。Itseemsthemorepurelyreligious，becauseitproceedsfromnomixtureofanyothermotiveorconsideration。Andif，foritssake，hesacrificesmuchofhiseaseandquiet，hisclaimofmeritappearstilltoriseuponhim，inproportiontothezealanddevotionwhichhediscovers。
Inrestoringaloan，orpayingadebt，hisdivinityisnowisebeholdentohim；becausetheseactsofjusticearewhathewasboundtoperform，andwhatmanywouldhaveperformed，weretherenogodintheuniverse。Butifhefastaday，orgivehimselfasoundwhipping；thishasadirectreference，inhisopinion，totheserviceofGod。Noothermotivecouldengagehimtosuchausterities。Bythesedistinguishedmarksofdevotion，hehasnowacquiredthedivinefavour；andmayexpect，inrecompence，protectionandsafetyinthisworld，andeternalhappinessinthenext。
Hencethegreatestcrimeshavebeenfound，inmanyinstances，compatiblewithasuperstitiouspietyanddevotion:Hence，itisjustlyregardedasunsafetodrawanycertaininferenceinfavourofaman'smoralsfromthefervourorstrictnessofhisreligiousexercises，eventhoughhehimselfbelievethemsincere。Nay，ithasbeenobserved，thatenormitiesoftheblackestdyehavebeenratherapttoproducesuperstitiousterrors，andencreasethereligiouspassion。BOMILCAR，havingformedaconspiracyforassassinatingatoncethewholesenateofCARTHAGE，andinvadingthelibertiesofhiscountry，losttheopportunity，fromacontinualregardtoomensandprophecies。Thosewhoundertakethemostcriminalandmostdangerousenterprizesarecommonlythemostsuperstitious；asanancienthistorian96remarksonthisoccasion。
Theirdevotionandspiritualfaithrisewiththeirfears。CATILINEwasnotcontentedwiththeestablisheddeities，andreceivedritesofthenationalreligion:Hisanxiousterrorsmadehimseeknewinventionsofthiskind；97whichheneverprobablyhaddreamedof，hadheremainedagoodcitizen，andobedienttothelawsofhiscountry。
Towhichwemayadd，that，afterthecommissionofcrimes，thereariseremorsesandsecrethorrors，whichgivenoresttothemind，butmakeithaverecoursetoreligiousritesandceremonies，asexpiationsofitsoffences。
Whateverweakensordisorderstheinternalframepromotestheinterestsofsuperstition:Andnothingismoredestructivetothemthanamanly，steadyvirtue，whicheitherpreservesusfromdisastrous，melancholyaccidents，orteachesustobearthem。Duringsuchcalmsunshineofthemind，thesespectresoffalsedivinitynevermaketheirappearance。Ontheotherhand，whileweabandonourselvestothenaturalundisciplinedsuggestionsofourtimidandanxioushearts，everykindofbarbarityisascribedtothesupremeBeing，fromtheterrorswithwhichweareagitated；andeverykindofcaprice，fromthemethodswhichweembraceinordertoappeasehim。Barbarity，caprice；
thesequalities，howevernominallydisguised，wemayuniversallyobserve，formtherulingcharacterofthedeityinpopularreligions。Evenpriests，insteadofcorrectingthesedepravedideasofmankind，haveoftenbeenfoundreadytofosterandencouragethem。Themoretremendousthedivinityisrepresented，themoretameandsubmissivedomenbecometohisministers:Andthemoreunaccountablethemeasuresofacceptancerequiredbyhim，themorenecessarydoesitbecometoabandonournaturalreason，andyieldtotheirghostlyguidanceanddirection。Thusitmaybeallowed，thattheartificesofmenaggravateournaturalinfirmitiesandfolliesofthiskind，butneveroriginallybegetthem。Theirrootstrikesdeeperintothemind，andspringsfromtheessentialanduniversalpropertiesofhumannature。
SECT。XV。GeneralCorollary。
Thoughthestupidityofmen，barbarousanduninstructed，besogreat，thattheymaynotseeasovereignauthorinthemoreobviousworksofnature，towhichtheyaresomuchfamiliarized；yetitscarcelyseemspossible，thatanyoneofgoodunderstandingshouldrejectthatidea，whenonceitissuggestedtohim。Apurpose，anintention，adesignisevidentineverything；andwhenourcomprehensionissofarenlargedastocontemplatethefirstriseofthisvisiblesystem，wemustadopt，withthestrongestconviction，theideaofsomeintelligentcauseorauthor。Theuniformmaximstoo，whichprevailthroughoutthewholeframeoftheuniverse，naturally，ifnotnecessarily，leadustoconceivethisintelligenceassingleandundivided，wheretheprejudicesofeducationopposenotsoreasonableatheory。Eventhecontrarietiesofnature，bydiscoveringthemselveseverywhere，becomeproofsofsomeconsistentplan，andestablishonesinglepurposeorintention，howeverinexplicableandincomprehensible。
Goodandillareuniversallyintermingledandconfounded；happinessandmisery，wisdomandfolly，virtueandvice。Nothingispureandentirelyofapiece。Alladvantagesareattendedwithdisadvantage。Anuniversalcompensationprevailsinallconditionsofbeingandexistence。Anditisnotpossibleforus，byourmostchimericalwishes，toformtheideaofastationorsituationaltogetherdesirable。
Thedraughtsoflife，accordingtothepoet'sfiction，arealwaysmixedfromthevesselsoneachhandofJUPITER:
Orifanycupbepresentedaltogetherpure，itisdrawnonly，asthesamepoettellsus，fromtheleft-handedvessel。
Themoreexquisiteanygoodis，ofwhichasmallspecimenisaffordedus，thesharperistheevil，alliedtoit；
andfewexceptionsarefoundtothisuniformlawofnature。Themostsprightlywitbordersonmadness；thehighesteffusionsofjoyproducethedeepestmelancholy；themostravishingpleasuresareattendedwiththemostcruellassitudeanddisgust；themostflatteringhopesmakewayfortheseverestdisappointments。And，ingeneral，nocourseoflifehassuchsafety（forhappinessisnottobedreamedof）asthetemperateandmoderate，whichmaintains，asfaraspossible，amediocrity，andakindofinsensibility，ineverything。
Asthegood，thegreat，thesublime，theravishingarefoundeminentlyinthegenuineprinciplesoftheism；itmaybeexpected，fromtheanalogyofnature，thatthebase，theabsurd，themean，theterrifyingwillbeequallydiscoveredinreligiousfictionsandchimeras。
Theuniversalpropensitytobelieveininvisible，intelligentpower，ifnotanoriginalinstinct，beingatleastageneralattendantofhumannature，maybeconsideredasakindofmarkorstamp，whichthedivineworkmanhassetuponhiswork；andnothingsurelycanmoredignifymankind，thantobethusselectedfromallotherpartsofthecreation，andtobeartheimageorimpressionoftheuniversalCreator。
Butconsultthisimage，asitappearsinthepopularreligionsoftheworld。Howisthedeitydisfiguredinourrepresentationsofhim！Whatcaprice，absurdity，andimmoralityareattributedtohim！Howmuchishedegradedevenbelowthecharacter，whichweshouldnaturally，incommonlife，ascribetoamanofsenseandvirtue！
WhatanobleprivilegeisitofhumanreasontoattaintheknowledgeofthesupremeBeing；and，fromthevisibleworksofnature，beenabledtoinfersosublimeaprincipleasitssupremeCreator？Butturnthereverseofthemedal。Surveymostnationsandmostages。Examinethereligiousprinciples，whichhave，infact，prevailedintheworld。Youwillscarcelybepersuaded，thattheyareanythingbutsickmen'sdreams:Orperhapswillregardthemmoreastheplaysomewhimsiesofmonkiesinhumanshape，thantheserious，positive，dogmaticalasseverationsofabeing，whodignifieshimselfwiththenameofrational。
Heartheverbalprotestationsofallmen:Nothingsocertainastheirreligioustenets。Examinetheirlives:Youwillscarcelythinkthattheyreposethesmallestconfidenceinthem。
Thegreatestandtruestzealgivesusnosecurityagainsthypocrisy:Themostopenimpietyisattendedwithasecretdreadandcompunction。
Notheologicalabsurditiessoglaringthattheyhavenot，sometimes，beenembracedbymenofthegreatestandmostcultivatedunderstanding。Noreligiouspreceptssorigorousthattheyhavenotbeenadoptedbythemostvoluptuousandmostabandonedofmen。
IgnoranceisthemotherofDevotion:Amaximthatisproverbial，andconfirmedbygeneralexperience。Lookoutforapeople，entirelydestituteofreligion:Ifyoufind，thematall，beassured，thattheyarebutfewdegreesremovedfrombrutes。
Whatsopureassomeofthemorals，includedinsometheologicalsystem？Whatsocorruptassomeofthepractices，towhichthesesystemsgiverise？
Thecomfortableviews，exhibitedbythebelieforfuturity，areravishinganddelightful。Buthowquicklyvanishontheappearanceofitsterrors，whichkeepamorefirmanddurablepossessionofthehumanmind？
Thewholeisariddle，anaenigma，aninexplicablemystery。Doubt，uncertainty，suspenceofjudgmentappeartheonlyresultofourmostaccuratescrutiny，concerningthissubject。