Butsuchisthefrailtyofhumanreason，andsuchtheirresistiblecontagionofopinion，thateventhisdeliberatedoubtcouldscarcelybeupheld；didwenotenlargeourview，andopposingonespeciesofsuperstitiontoanother，setthemaquarrelling；whileweourselves，duringtheirfuryandcontention，happilymakeourescape，intothecalm，thoughobscure，regionsofphilosophy。
Notes2"FRAGILISetlaboriosamortalitasinpartesistadigessit，infirmitatissuaememor，utportionibusquisquiscoleret，quomaximeindigeret。"['Frail，toilingmortality，rememberingitsownweakness，hasdividedsuchdeitiesintogroups，soastoworshipinsections，eachthedeityheismostinneedof。']Pliny，NaturalHistory，Bk。II，Ch。5，Sect。15。SoearlyasHESIOD'Stimetherewere30，000deities。WorksandDays，Bk。I，Line250。Butthetasktobeperformedbytheseseemsstilltoogreatfortheirnumber。Theprovincesofthedeitiesweresosubdivided，thattherewasevenaGodofSneezing。SeeARISTOTLE，Problems，Bk。33，Ch。7and9。Theprovinceofcopulation，suitablytotheimportanceanddignityofit，wasdividedamongseveraldeities。
3RomanAntiquities，Bk。VIII，Ch。2，Sect。
2。
4ThefollowinglinesofEURIPIDESaresomuchtothepresentpurpose，thatIcannotforbearquotingthem:
[GreekQuote]
HUCUBA，Lines956ff。"Thereisnothingsecureintheworld；noglory，noprosperity。Thegodstossalllifeintoconfusion；mixeverythingwithitsreverse；thatallofus，fromourignoranceanduncertainty，maypaythemthemoreworshipandreverence。"
5DiodorusSiculus，LibraryofHistory，Bk。
III，Ch。47，Sect。1。
6Geography，Bk。VII，Ch。4。
7Pere*leComte，MemoiresandObservations……
madeinalateJourneyThroughtheEmpireofChina。
8Jean-FrancoisRegnard，Voiage*deLapponie。
9DiodorusSiculus，LibraryofHistory，Bk。
I，Ch。86，Sect。3。Lucian，"OnSacrifices，"Sect。14。Ovidalludestothesametradition，Metamorphoses，Bk。V，Line321ff。SoalsoManilius，Astronomica，Bk。IV，Lines580and800。
10Herodotus，History，Bk。I，Ch。172。
11Caesar，GallicWar，Bk。IV，Sect。7。
12Homer，Illiad，Bk。V，Line382。
13OntheSublime，Ch。IX，Sect。7。
14PereBrumoy，Theatre*desGrecs，BernarddeFontenelle，HistoiredesOracles。
15Arnobius，SevenBooksAgainsttheHeathen，Bk。VII，Ch。33。
16ConstitutionoftheLacedaemonians，Ch。13，Sect。2-5。
17MoralLetters，letter41。
18QuintusCurtiusRufus，HistoryofAlexander，Bk。IV，Ch。3，Sect。22。DiodorusSiculus，LibraryofHistory，Bk。XVII，Ch。41，Sect。8。
19Suetonius，LivesoftheCaesars，Bk。II，"TheDeifiedAugustus，"Ch。5。
20Suetonius，LivesoftheCaesars，Bk。IV，"GaiusCaligula，"Ch。5。
21Herodotus，History，Bk。II，Ch。53。Lucian，"ZeusCatechized，"Sect。1；"OnFunerals，"Sect。2。
22[Greekquote]['Howfromoneseedspringgodsandmortalmen。']Hesiod，WorksandDays，Line108。
23Hesiod，Theogony，Line570。
24Metamorphoses，Bk。I，Line32。
25LibraryofHistory，Bk。I，Ch。6-7。
26Ibid。，Bk。III，Ch。20。
27Thesameauthor，whocanthusaccountfortheoriginoftheworldwithoutaDeity，esteemsitimpioustoexplainfromphysicalcauses，thecommonaccidentsoflife，earthquakes，inundations，andtempests:anddevoutlyascribesthesetotheangerofJUPITERorNEPTUNE。Aplainproof，whencehederivedhisideasofreligion。DiodorusSiculus，LibraryofHistory，Bk。XV，Ch。48。
28Itwillbeeasytogiveareason，whyTHALES，ANAXIMANDER，andthoseearlyphilosophers，whoreallywereatheists，mightbeveryorthodoxinthepagancreed；andwhyANAXAGORAS
andSOCRATES，thoughrealtheists，mustnaturally，inancienttimes，beesteemedimpious。Theblind，unguidedpowersofnature，iftheycouldproducemen，mightalsoproducesuchbeingsasJUPITERandNEPTUNE，whobeingthemostpowerful，intelligentexistencesintheworld，wouldbeproperobjectsofworship。Butwhereasupremeintelligence，thefirstcauseofall，isadmitted，thesecapriciousbeings，iftheyexistatall，mustappearverysubordinateanddependent，andconsequentlybeexcludedfromtherankofdeities。PLATO（Laws，Bk。X，886）assignsthisreasonfortheimputationthrownonANAXAGORAS，namelyhisdenyingthedivinityofthestars，planets，andothercreatedobjects。
29AgainstthePhysicists，Bk。II，Sect。18-19。
30DionysiusofHalicarnassus，RomanAntiquities，Bk。VI，Ch。54。
31Pliny，Letters，Bk。VI，Letter20，Sect。
14-15。
32Hesiod，Theogony，Line933ff。
33Ibid。Plutarch，Lives，"Pelopidas，"Ch。19。
34Homer，Illiad，Bk。XIV，Line264ff。
35Herodian，HistoryoftheEmpire，Bk。V，Ch。
3，Sect。3-5。JUPITERAMMONisrepresentedbyCURTIUSasadeityofthesamekind（HistoryofAlexander，Bk。IV，Ch。7，Sect。
23）。TheARABIANSandPERSINUNTIANSadoredalsoshapelessunformedstonesastheirdeity（Arnobius，SevenBooksAgainsttheHeathen，Bk。VI。，Ch。11）。SomuchdidtheirfollyexceedthatoftheEGYPTIANS。
36DiogenesLaertius，LivesofEminentPhilosophers，Bk。II，Ch。11，"Stilpo，"Sect。116。
37SeeCAESARofthereligionoftheGAULS，TheGallicWar，Bk。VI，Sect。17。
38Germany，Ch。40。
39[ThissentenceisasitoriginallyappearedinHume'sFiveDissertationswhichwasprintedbutneverdistributedbecauseofpoliticalpressures。ForprudentialreasonsHumerephrasedthissentencewhich，inthefirstthreedistributededitions，reads，"Thus，notwithstandingthesublimeideassuggestedbyMosesandtheinspiredwriters，manyvulgarJewsseemstilltohaveconceivedthesupremeBeingasameretopicaldeityornationalprotector。"InthesixsucceedingeditionsoftheNaturalHistorythesentenceappearsagainchanged:"Thus，theGodofABRAHAM，ISAAC，andJACOB，becamethesupremedeityofJEHOVAH
oftheJEWS。"]
40CompteHenrideBoulainvilliers，Abrege*
Chronologiquedel'historedeFrance，499。
41[Theprecedingportionofthissentence（beginningwith"sometimesdegraded……"）isasitoriginallyappearedinFiveDissertations。AllninedistributededitionsoftheNaturalHistoryreadinitsplace，"sometimesdegradedhimnearlytoalevelwithhumancreaturesinhispowersandfaculties。"]
42ThomasHyde，HistoriareligionisveterumPersarum。
43CalledtheScapulaire。
44Herodotus，History，Bk。IV，Ch。95，96。
45Ibid。，Ch。94。
46[Theword"from"appearshereinthefirstseveneditionsoftheNaturalHistory。]
47VERRIUSFLACCUS，citedbyPLINY（NaturalHistory，Bk。XXVIII，Ch。4，Sect。18-19），affirmed，thatitwasusualfortheROMANS，beforetheylaidsiegetoanytown，toinvocatethetutelardeityoftheplace，andbypromisinghimgreaterhonoursthanthoseheatpresentenjoyed，bribehimtobetrayhisoldfriendsandvotaries。ThenameofthetutelardeityofROMEwasforthisreasonkeptamostreligiousmystery；lesttheenemiesoftherepublicshouldbeable，inthesamemanner，todrawhimovertotheirservice。Forwithoutthename，theythought，nothingofthatkindcouldbepractised。PLINYsays，thatthecommonformofinvocationwaspreservedtohistimeintheritualofthepontifs。AndMACROBIUShastransmittedacopyofitfromthesecretthingsofSAMMONICUSSERENUS。
48Xenophon，Memorabilia，Bk。I，Ch。3，Sect。
1。
49Plutarch，Moralia，Bk。V，"IsisandOsiris，"
Ch。72。
50Herodotus，History，Bk。II，Ch。180。
51ThomasHyde，HistoriareligionisveterumPersarum。
52Arrian，AnabasisofAlexander，Bk。III，Ch。
16，Sect。3-9，andBk。VII，Ch。17。
53Ibid。，Bk。III，Ch。16，Sect。5。
54Suetonius，LivesoftheCaesars，Bk。II，"TheDeifiedAugustus，"Ch。93。
55Corruptiooptimipessima。
56MOSTnationshavefallenintothisguiltofhumansacrifices；though，perhaps，thatimpioussuperstitionhasneverprevailedverymuchinanycivilizednation，unlessweexcepttheCARTHAGINIANS。FortheTYRIANSsoonabolishedit。Asacrificeisconceivedasapresent；andanypresentisdeliveredtotheirdeitybydestroyingitandrenderingituselesstomen；byburningwhatissolid，pouringouttheliquid，andkillingtheanimate。Forwantofabetterwayofdoinghimservice，wedoourselvesaninjury；andfancythatwetherebyexpress，atleast，theheartinessofourgood-willandadoration。Thusourmercenarydevotiondeceivesourselves，andimaginesitdeceivesthedeity。
57Strabo，Geography，Bk。V，Ch。3，Sect。12；
Suetonius，LivesoftheCaesars，Bk。IV，"GaiusCaligula，"Ch。35，Sect。3。
58Arrian，AnabasisofAlexander，Bk。IV，Ch。
28，Sect。4；Bk。V，Ch。26，Sect。5。
59Thucydides，PeloponnesianWar，Bk。V，Ch。
11。
60Plutarch，Moralia，Bk。III，"SayingsofKingsandCommanders，"Brasidas，Sect。190b。
61PierreBayle，DictionaryHistoricalandCritical，（London:1734-41），articleonBellarmine。
62ItisstrangethattheEGYPTIANreligion，thoughsoabsurd，shouldyethavebornesogreataresemblancetotheJEWISH，thatancientwritersevenofthegreatestgeniuswerenotabletoobserveanydifferencebetweenthem。
ForitisremarkablethatbothTACITUS，andSUETONIUS，whentheymentionthatdecreeofthesenate，underTIBERIUS，bywhichtheEGYPTIANandJEWISHproselyteswerebanishedfromROME，expresslytreatthesereligionsasthesame；anditappears，thateventhedecreeitselfwasfoundedonthatsupposition。"ActumetdesacrisAEGYPTIIS，JUDAICISQUEpellendis；factumquepatrumconsultum，utquatuormillialibertinigeneriseasuperstitioneinfecta，quisidoneaaetas，ininsulamSardiniamveherentur，coercendisilliclatrociniis；etsiobgravitatemcoeliinterissent，viledamnum:CetericederentITALIA，nisicertamantediemprofanosritusexuissent。"['AnotherdebatedealtwiththeproscriptionoftheEgyptianandJewishrites，andasenatorialedictdirectedthatfourthousanddescendantsofenfranchisedslaves，taintedwiththatsuperstitionandsuitableinpointofage，weretobeshippedtoSardiniaandthereemployedinsuppressingbrigandage:iftheysuccumbedtothepestilentialclimate，itwasacheaploss。TheresthadorderstoleaveItaly，unlesstheyhadrenouncedtheirimpiousceremonialbyagivendate。']
Tacitus，Annals，Bk。II，Ch。85。"Externascaeremonias，AEGYPTIOS，JUDAICOSQUErituscompescuit；coactusquisuperstitioneeatenebantur，religiosasvestescuminstrumentoomnicomburere，etc。"['Heabolishedforeigncults，especiallytheEgyptianandtheJewishrites，compellingallwhowereaddictedtosuchsuperstitionstoburntheirreligiousvestmentsandalltheirparaphernalia。']Suetonius，LivesoftheCaesars，Bk。III，"Tiberius，"Ch。36。Thesewiseheathens，observingsomethinginthegeneralair，andgenius，andspiritofthetworeligionstobethesame，esteemedthedifferencesoftheirdogmastoofrivoloustodeserveanyattention。
63DiodorusSiculus，LibraryofHistory，Bk。
I，Ch。83，Sect。8-9。
64WhenLOUIStheXIVthtookonhimselftheprotectionoftheJesuits'CollegeofCLERMONT，thesocietyorderedtheking'sarmstobeputupoverthegate，andtookdownthecross，inordertomakewayforit:Whichgaveoccasiontothefollowingepigram:SustulithincChristi，posuitqueinsigniaRegis:Impiagens，aliumnescithabereDeum。
65OntheNatureoftheGods，Bk。I，Ch。29，Sect。82。
66Cicero，TusculanDisputations，Bk。V，Ch。
27，Sect。78。
67Augustine，CityofGod，Bk。VII，Ch。17。
68ClaudiusRutiliusNamatianus，AVoyageHometoGaul，Bk。I，Lines387-398。
69AeliusSpartianus，"LifeofHadrian，"Bk。
XIV，Sect。2。
70Cicero，LetterstohisFriends，Bk。XIV，Letter7，Sect。1。
71Cicero，"OnDivination，"Bk。II，Ch。24。
72Suetonius，LivesoftheCaesars，Bk。II，"TheDeifiedAugustus，"Ch。90-92。Pliny，NaturalHistory，Bk。II，Ch。5，Sect。24-25。
73WitnessthisremarkablepassageofTACITUS:
"Praetermultiplicesrerumhumanarumcasus，coeloterraqueprodigia，etfulminummonitusetfuturorumpraesagia，laeta，tristia，ambigua，manifesta。NecenimunquamatrocioribuspopuliRomanicladibus，magiquejustisJudiciisapprobatumest，nonessecuraeDiissecuritatemnostram，esseultionem。"History，Bk。I，Ch。3。AUGUSTUS'SquarrelwithNEPTUNEisaninstanceofthesamekind。
HadnottheemperorbelievedNEPTUNEtobearealbeing，andtohavedominionoverthesea，wherehadbeenthefoundationofhisanger？Andifhebelievedit，whatmadnesstoprovokestillfartherthatdeity？ThesameobservationmaybemadeuponQUINTILIAN'Sexclamation，onaccountofthedeathofhischildren。InstitutioOratoria，Bk。VI，Preface，Sect。10。
74"TheLoverofLies，"Sect。3。
75FromtheFoundingoftheCity，Bk。X，Ch。
40。
76Cicero，"OnDivination，"Bk。I，Ch。3，7。
77MarcusAureliusAntonius，Meditations，Bk。
I，Ch。17，Sect。8。
78Enchiridion，Sect。18。
79TheStoics，Iown，werenotquiteorthodoxintheestablishedreligion；butonemaysee，fromtheseinstances，thattheywentagreatway:Andthepeopleundoubtedlywenteverylength。
80Plato，Euthyphro，5d-6b。
81Plato，Phaedo，80d-e。
82XENOPHON'Sconduct，asrelatedbyhimself，is，atonce，anincontestableproofofthegeneralcredulityofmankindinthoseages，andtheincoherencies，inallages，ofmen'sopinionsinreligiousmatters。Thatgreatcaptainandphilosopher，thediscipleofSOCRATES，andonewhohasdeliveredsomeofthemostrefinedsentimentswithregardtoadeity，gaveallthefollowingmarksofvulgar，pagansuperstition。
BySOCRATES'Sadvice，heconsultedtheoracleofDELPHI，beforehewouldengageintheexpeditionofCYRUS
（Anabasis，Bk。III，Ch。I，Sect。5）。Seesadreamthenightafterthegeneralswereseized；whichhepaysgreatregardto，butthinksambiguous（ibid。，Sect。11-14）。Heandthewholearmyregardsneezingasaveryluckyomen（ibid。，Ch。
2，Sect。9）。Hasanotherdream，whenhecomestotheriverCENTRITES，whichhisfellow-general，CHIROSOPHUS，alsopaysgreatregardto（ibid。，Bk。IV，Ch。3，Sect。
9）。TheGREEKS，sufferingfromacoldnorthwind，sacrificetoit；
andthehistorianobserves，thatitimmediatelyabated（ibid。，Ch。5，Sect。3，4）。XENOPHONconsultsthesacrificesinsecret，beforehewouldformanyresolutionwithhimselfaboutsettlingacolony（ibid。，Bk。V，Ch。6，Sect。17）。Hewashimselfaveryskilfulaugur（ibid。，Sect。29）。Isdeterminedbythevictimstorefusethesolecommandofthearmywhichwasofferedhim（ibid。，Bk。VI，Ch。1，Sect。
22-24）。CLEANDER，theSPARTAN，thoughverydesirousofit，refusesitforthesamereason（ibid。，Ch。6，Sect。36）。
XENOPHONmentionsanolddreamwiththeinterpretationgivenhim，whenhefirstjoinedCYRUS（ibid。，Ch。1，Sect。
22-23）。MentionsalsotheplaceofHERCULES'Sdescentintohellasbelievingit，andsaysthemarksofitarestillremaining（ibid。，Ch。2，Sect。2）。Hadalmoststarvedthearmy，ratherthanleadthemtothefieldagainsttheauspices（ibid。，Ch。4，Sect。12-23）。Hisfriend，EUCLIDES，theaugur，wouldnotbelievethathehadbroughtnomoneyfromtheexpedition；tillhe（EUCLIDES）sacrificed，andthenhesawthematterclearlyintheExta（ibid。，Bk。7，Ch。8，Sect。1-3）。
Thesamephilosopher，proposingaprojectofminesfortheencreaseoftheATHENIANrevenues，advisesthemfirsttoconsulttheoracle（"WaysandMeans，"Ch。6，Sect。2）。Thatallthisdevotionwasnotafarce，inordertoserveapoliticalpurpose，appearsbothfromthefactsthemselves，andfromthegeniusofthatage，whenlittleornothingcouldbegainedbyhypocrisy。Besides，XENOPHON，asappearsfromhisMemorabilia，wasakindofhereticinthosetimes，whichnopoliticaldevoteeeveris。Itisforthesamereason，Imaintain，thatNEWTON，LOCKE，CLARKE，etc。
beingAriansorSocinians，wereverysincereinthecreedtheyprofessed:
AndIalwaysopposethisargumenttosomelibertines，whowillneedshaveit，thatitwasimpossiblebutthatthesephilosophersmusthavebeenhypocrites。
83Cicero，"InDefenseofCluentius，"Ch。61，Sect。171。
84TheWarwithCatiline，Ch。51，Sect。16-20。
85CICERO（TusculanDisputations，Bk。I，Ch。
5-6）andSENECA（Letter24），asalsoJuvenal（Satire2，Line149
ff。），maintainthatthereisnoboyoroldwomansoridiculousastobelievethepoetsintheiraccountsofafuturestate。
WhythendoesLUCRETIUSsohighlyexalthismasterforfreeingusfromtheseterrors？PerhapsthegeneralityofmankindweretheninthedispositionofCEPHALUSinPLATO（Republic，Bk。I，330d-e）whowhilehewasyoungandhealthfulcouldridiculethesestories；butassoonashebecameoldandinfirm，begantoentertainapprehensionsoftheirtruth。Thiswemayobservenottobeunusualevenatpresent。
86SextusEmpiricus，AgainstthePhysicists，Bk。I，Sect。182-90。
87Xenophon，Memorabilia，Bk。I，Ch。1，Sect。
19。
88Itwasconsideredamongtheancients，asaveryextraordinary，philosophicalparadox，thatthepresenceofthegodswasnotconfinedtotheheavens，butwereextendedeverywhere；
aswelearnfromLUCIAN（"Hirmotimus，"
Sect。81）。
89Plutarch，Moralia，Bk。II，"Superstition，"
Ch。10，170a-b。
90Lucian，"Menippus，"Sect。3。
91BACCHUS，adivinebeing，isrepresentedbytheheathenmythologyastheinventorofdancingandthetheatre。Playswereancientlyevenapartofpublicworshiponthemostsolemnoccasions，andoftenemployedintimesofpestilence，toappeasetheoffendeddeities。Buttheyhavebeenzealouslyproscribedbythegodlyinlaterages；andtheplayhouse，accordingtoalearneddivine，istheporchofhell。
Butinordertoshowmoreevidently，thatitispossibleforareligiontorepresentthedivinityinstillamoreimmoralandunamiablelightthanhewaspicturedbytheancients，weshallcitealongpassagefromanauthoroftasteandimagination，whowassurelynoenemytoChristianity。ItistheChevalierRAMSAY，awriter，whohadsolaudableaninclinationtobeorthodox，thathisreasonneverfoundanydifficulty，eveninthedoctrineswhichfree-thinkersscruplethemost，thetrinity，incarnation，andsatisfaction:Hishumanityalone，ofwhichheseemstohavehadagreatstock，rebelledagainstthedoctrinesofeternalreprobationandpredestination。
Heexpresseshimselfthus:"Whatstrangeideas，"sayshe，wouldanIndianoraChinesephilosopherhaveofourholyreligion，iftheyjudgedbytheschemesgivenofitbyourmodernfreethinkers，andpharisaicaldoctorsofallsects？Accordingtotheodiousandtoovulgarsystemoftheseincredulousscoffersandcredulousscribblers，"TheGodoftheJewsisamostcruel，unjust，partial，andfantasticalbeing。Hecreated，about6000yearsago，amanandawoman，andplacedtheminafinegardenofASIA，ofwhichtherearenoremains。Thisgardenwasfurnishedwithallsortsoftrees，fountains，andflowers。Heallowedthemtheuseofallthefruitsofthisbeautifulgarden，exceptone，thatwasplantedinthemidstthereof，andthathadinitasecretvirtueofpreservingthemincontinualhealthandvigourofbodyandmind，ofexaltingtheirnaturalpowersandmakingthemwise。Thedevilenteredintothebodyofaserpent，andsolicitedthefirstwomantoeatofthisforbiddenfruit；sheengagedherhusbandtodothesame。
Topunishthisslightcuriosityandnaturaldesireoflifeandknowledge，Godnotonlythrewourfirstparentsoutofparadise，buthecondemnedalltheirposteritytotemporalmisery，andthegreatestpartofthemtoeternalpains，thoughthesoulsoftheseinnocentchildrenhavenomorerelationtothatofADAMthantothoseofNEROandMAHOMET；since，accordingtothescholasticdrivellers，fabulists，andmythologists，allsoulsarecreatedpure，andinfusedimmediatelyintomortalbodies，sosoonasthefoetusisformed。Toaccomplishthebarbarous，partialdecreeofpredestinationandreprobation，Godabandonedallnationstodarkness，idolatry，andsuperstition，withoutanysavingknowledgeorsalutarygraces；unlessitwasoneparticularnation，whomhechoseashispeculiarpeople。Thischosennationwas，however，themoststupid，ungrateful，rebelliousandpersidiousofallnations。AfterGodhadthuskeptthefargreaterpartofallthehumanspecies，duringnear4000years，inareprobatestate，hechangedallofasudden，andtookafancyforothernationsbesidetheJEWS。ThenhesenthisonlybegottenSontotheworld，underahumanform，toappeasehiswrath，satisfyhisvindictivejustice，anddieforthepardonofsin。Veryfewnations，however，haveheardofthisgospel；andalltherest，thoughleftininvincibleignorance，aredamnedwithoutexception，oranypossibilityofremission。Thegreatestpartofthosewhohaveheardofit，havechangedonlysomespeculativenotionsaboutGod，andsomeexternalformsinworship:For，inotherrespects，thebulkofChristianshavecontinuedascorruptastherestofmankindintheirmorals；yea，somuchthemoreperverseandcriminal，thattheirlightsweregreater。Unlessitbeaverysmallselectnumber，allotherChristians，likethepagans，willbeforeverdamned；
thegreatsacrificeofferedupforthemwillbecomevoidandofnoeffect；Godwilltakedelightforever，intheirtormentsandblasphemies；andthoughhecan，byonefiatchangetheirhearts，yettheywillremainforeverunconvertedandunconvertible，becausehewillbeforeverunappeasableandirreconcileable。Itistrue，thatallthismakesGododious，ahaterofsouls，ratherthanaloverofthem；acruel，vindictivetyrant，animpotentorawrathfuldaemon，ratherthananall-powerful，beneficentfatherofspirits:Yetallthisisamystery。Hehassecretreasonsforhisconduct，thatareimpenetrable；andthoughheappearsunjustandbarbarous，yetwemustbelievethecontrary，becausewhatisinjustice，crime，cruelty，andtheblackestmaliceinus，isinhimjustice，mercy，andsovereigngoodness。"Thustheincredulousfree-thinkers，thejudaizingChristians，andthefatalisticdoctorshavedisfiguredanddishonouredthesublimemysteriesofourholyfaith；thustheyhaveconfoundedthenatureofgoodandevil；transformedthemostmonstrouspassionsintodivineattributes，andsurpassedthepagansinblasphemy，byascribingtotheeternalnature，asperfections，whatmakesthemosthorridcrimesamongstmen。Thegrosserpaganscontentedthemselveswithdivinizinglust，incest，andadultery；butthepredestinariandoctorshavedivinizedcruelty，wrath，fury，vengeance，andalltheblackestvices。SeetheChevalierRAMSAY'SPhilosophicalprinciplesofnaturalandrevealedreligion，PartII，p。401。
Thesameauthorasserts，inotherplaces，thattheArminianandMolinistschemesserveverylittletomendthematter:AndhavingthusthrownhimselfoutofallreceivedsectsofChristianity，heisobligedtoadvanceasystemofhisown，whichisakindofOrigenism，andsupposesthepre-existenceofthesoulsbothofmenandbeasts，andtheeternalsalvationandconversionofallmen，beasts，anddevils。Butthisnotion，beingquitepeculiartohimself，weneednottreatof。Ithoughttheopinionsofthisingeniousauthorverycurious；butIpretendnottowarrantthejustnessofthem。
92Ovid，Metamorphoses，Bk。IX，Line500。
93CalledDictatorclavisfigendaecausa。Livy，FromtheFoundingoftheCity，Bk。VII，Ch。3，Sect。3。
94Herodotus，History，Bk。VI，Ch。91。
95TobefoundinDiodorusSiculus，LibraryofHistory，Bk。XII，Ch。20-21。
96DiodorusSiculus，LibraryofHistory，Bk。
XX，Ch。43。
97Cicero，"FirstSpeechAgainstCatiline；"
Sallust，TheWarwithCatiline，Ch。22。