Thedeitiesofthevulgararesolittlesuperiortohumancreatures，that，wheremenareaffectedwithstrongsentimentsofvenerationorgratitudeforanyheroorpublicbenefactor，nothingcanbemorenaturalthantoconverthimintoagod，andfilltheheavens，afterthismanner，withcontinualrecruitsfromamongmankind。Mostofthedivinitiesoftheancientworldaresupposedtohaveoncebeenmen，andtohavebeenbeholdenfortheirapotheosistotheadmirationandaffectionofthepeople。Therealhistoryoftheiradventures，corruptedbytradition，andelevatedbythemarvellous，becomeaplentifulsourceoffable；especiallyinpassingthroughthehandsofpoets，allegorists，andpriests，whosuccessivelyimproveduponthewonderandastonishmentoftheignorantmultitude。
Painterstooandsculptorscameinfortheirshareofprofitinthesacredmysteries；andfurnishingmenwithsensiblerepresentationsoftheirdivinities，whomtheycloathedinhumanfigures，gavegreatencreasetothepublicdevotion，anddetermineditsobject。Itwasprobablyforwantoftheseartsinrudeandbarbarousages，thatmendeifiedplants，animals，andevenbrute，unorganizedmatter；andratherthanbewithoutasensibleobjectofworship，affixeddivinitytosuchungainlyforms。CouldanystatuaryofSYRIA，inearlytimes，haveformedajustfigureofAPOLLO，theconicstone，HELIOGABALUS，hadneverbecometheobjectofsuchprofoundadoration，andbeenreceivedasarepresentationofthesolardeity。35
STILPOwasbanishedbythecouncilofAREOPAGUS，foraffirmingthattheMINERVAinthecitadelwasnodivinity；buttheworkmanshipofPHIDIAS，thesculptor。36Whatdegreeofreasonmustweexpectinthereligiousbeliefofthevulgarinothernations；whenATHENIANSandAREOPAGITES
couldentertainsuchgrossconceptions？
Thesethenarethegeneralprinciplesofpolytheism，foundedinhumannature，andlittleornothingdependentoncapriceandaccident。Asthecauses，whichbestowhappinessormisery，are，ingeneral，verylittleknownandveryuncertain，ouranxiousconcernendeavourstoattainadeterminateideaofthem；andfindsnobetterexpedientthantorepresentthemasintelligentvoluntaryagents，likeourselves；
onlysomewhatsuperiorinpowerandwisdom。Thelimitedinfluenceoftheseagents，andtheirgreatproximitytohumanweakness，introducethevariousdistributionanddivisionoftheirauthority；andtherebygiverisetoallegory。
Thesameprinciplesnaturallydeifymortals，superiorinpower，courage，orunderstanding，andproducehero-worship；togetherwithfabuloushistoryandmythologicaltradition，inallitswildandunaccountableforms。Andasaninvisiblespiritualintelligenceisanobjecttoorefinedforvulgarapprehension，mennaturallyaffixittosomesensiblerepresentation；
suchaseitherthemoreconspicuouspartsofnature，orthestatues，images，andpictures，whichamorerefinedageformsofitsdivinities。
Almostallidolaters，ofwhateverageorcountry，concurinthesegeneralprinciplesandconceptions；andeventheparticularcharactersandprovinces，whichtheyassigntotheirdeities，arenotextremelydifferent。37TheGREEK
andROMANtravellersandconquerors，withoutmuchdifficulty，foundtheirowndeitieseverywhere；andsaid，ThisisMERCURY，thatVENUS；thisMARS，thatNEPTUNE；bywhatevertitlethestrangegodsmightbedenominated。ThegoddessHERTHAofourSAXONancestorsseemstobenoother，accordingtoTACITUS，38thantheMaterTellusoftheROMANS；andhisconjecturewasevidentlyjust。
SECT。VI。OriginofTheismfromPolytheism。
Thedoctrineofonesupremedeity，theauthorofnature，isveryancient，hasspreaditselfovergreatandpopulousnations，andamongthemhasbeenembracedbyallranksandconditionsofmen:Butwhoeverthinksthatithasoweditssuccesstotheprevalentforceofthoseinvinciblereasons，onwhichitisundoubtedlyfounded，wouldshowhimselflittleacquaintedwiththeignoranceandstupidityofthepeople，andtheirincurableprejudicesinfavouroftheirparticularsuperstitions。Evenatthisday，andinEUROPE，askanyofthevulgar，whyhebelievesinanomnipotentcreatoroftheworld；hewillnevermentionthebeautyoffinalcauses，ofwhichheiswhollyignorant:Hewillnotholdouthishand，andbidyoucontemplatethesupplenessandvarietyofjointsinhisfingers，theirbendingalloneway，thecounterpoisewhichtheyreceivefromthethumb，thesoftnessandfleshypartsoftheinsideofhishand，withalltheothercircumstances，whichrenderthatmemberfitfortheuse，towhichitwasdestined。Tothesehehasbeenlongaccustomed；andhebeholdsthemwithlistlessnessandunconcern。Hewilltellyouofthesuddenandunexpecteddeathofsuchaone:Thefallandbruiseofsuchanother:
Theexcessivedroughtofthisseason:Thecoldandrainsofanother。Theseheascribestotheimmediateoperationofprovidence:Andsuchevents，as，withgoodreasoners，arethechiefdifficultiesinadmittingasupremeintelligence，arewithhimthesoleargumentsforit。
Manytheists，eventhemostzealousandrefined，havedeniedaparticularprovidence，andhaveasserted，thattheSovereignmindorfirstprincipleofallthings，havingfixedgenerallaws，bywhichnatureisgoverned，givesfreeanduninterruptedcoursetotheselaws，anddisturbsnot，ateveryturn，thesettledorderofeventsbyparticularvolitions。Fromthebeautifulconnexion，saythey，andrigidobservanceofestablishedrules，wedrawthechiefargumentfortheism；andfromthesameprinciplesareenabledtoanswertheprincipalobjectionsagainstit。Butsolittleisthisunderstoodbythegeneralityofmankind，that，wherevertheyobserveanyonetoascribealleventstonaturalcauses，andtoremovetheparticularinterpositionofadeity，theyareapttosuspecthimofthegrossestinfidelity。Alittlephilosophy，sayslordBACON，makesmenatheists:
Agreatdealreconcilesthemtoreligion。Formen，beingtaught，bysuperstitiousprejudices，tolaythestressonawrongplace；whenthatfailsthem，andtheydiscover，byalittlereflection，thatthecourseofnatureisregularanduniform，theirwholefaithtotters，andfallstoruin。Butbeingtaught，bymorereflection，thatthisveryregularityanduniformityisthestrongestproofofdesignandofasupremeintelligence，theyreturntothatbelief，whichtheyhaddeserted；
andtheyarenowabletoestablishitonafirmerandmoredurablefoundation。
Convulsionsinnature，disorders，prodigies，miracles，thoughthemostoppositetotheplanofawisesuperintendent，impressmankindwiththestrongestsentimentsofreligion；
thecausesofeventsseemingthenthemostunknownandunaccountable。Madness，fury，rage，andaninflamedimagination，thoughtheysinkmennearesttothelevelofbeasts，are，foralikereason，oftensupposedtobetheonlydispositions，inwhichwecanhaveanyimmediatecommunicationwiththeDeity。
Wemayconclude，therefore，uponthewhole，that，sincethevulgar，innations，whichhaveembracedthedoctrineoftheism，stillbuildituponirrationalandsuperstitiousprinciples，theyareneverledintothatopinionbyanyprocessofargument，butbyacertaintrainofthinking，moresuitabletotheirgeniusandcapacity。
Itmayreadilyhappen，inanidolatrousnation，thatthoughmenadmittheexistenceofseverallimiteddeities，yetistheresomeoneGod，whom，inaparticularmanner，theymaketheobjectoftheirworshipandadoration。Theymayeithersuppose，that，inthedistributionofpowerandterritoryamongthegods，theirnationwassubjectedtothejurisdictionofthatparticulardeity；orreducingheavenlyobjectstothemodelofthingsbelow，theymayrepresentonegodastheprinceorsuprememagistrateoftherest，who，thoughofthesamenature，rulesthemwithanauthority，likethatwhichanearthlysovereignexercisesoverhissubjectsandvassals。Whetherthisgod，therefore，beconsideredastheirpeculiarpatron，orasthegeneralsovereignofheaven，hisvotarieswillendeavour，byeveryart，toinsinuatethemselvesintohisfavour；andsupposinghimtobepleased，likethemselves，withpraiseandflattery，thereisnoeulogyorexaggeration，whichwillbesparedintheiraddressestohim。Inproportionasmen\'sfearsordistressesbecomemoreurgent，theystillinventnewstrainsofadulation；andevenhewhooutdoeshispredecessorinswellingupthetitlesofhisdivinity，issuretobeoutdonebyhissuccessorinnewerandmorepompousepithetsofpraise。Thustheyproceed；tillatlasttheyarriveatinfinityitself，beyondwhichthereisnofartherprogress:Anditiswell，if，instrivingtogetfarther，andtorepresentamagnificentsimplicity，theyrunnotintoinexplicablemystery，anddestroytheintelligentnatureoftheirdeity，onwhichaloneanyrationalworshiporadorationcanbefounded。Whiletheyconfinethemselvestothenotionofaperfectbeing，thecreatoroftheworld，theycoincide，bychance，withtheprinciplesofreasonandtruephilosophy；
thoughtheyareguidedtothatnotion，notbyreason，ofwhichtheyareinagreatmeasureincapable，butbytheadulationandfearsofthemostvulgarsuperstition。
Weoftenfind，amongstbarbarousnations，andevensometimesamongstcivilized，that，wheneverystrainofflatteryhasbeenexhaustedtowardsarbitraryprinces，wheneveryhumanqualityhasbeenapplaudedtotheutmost；
theirservilecourtiersrepresentthem，atlast，asrealdivinities，andpointthemouttothepeopleasobjectsofadoration。Howmuchmorenatural，therefore，isit，thatalimiteddeity，whoatfirstissupposedonlytheimmediateauthoroftheparticulargoodsandillsinlife，shouldintheendberepresentedassovereignmakerandmodifieroftheuniverse？
Evenwherethisnotionofasupremedeityisalreadyestablished；thoughitoughtnaturallytolesseneveryotherworship，andabaseeveryobjectofreverence，yetifanationhasentertainedtheopinionofasubordinatetutelardivinity，saint，orangel；theiraddressestothatbeinggraduallyriseuponthem，andencroachontheadorationduetotheirsupremedeity。TheVirginMary，erecheckedbythereformation，hadproceeded，frombeingmerelyagoodwoman，tousurpmanyattributesoftheAlmighty:GodandSt。NICHOLAS
gohandinhand，inalltheprayersandpetitionsoftheMUSCOVITES。
Thusthedeity，who，fromlove，convertedhimselfintoabull，inordertocarryoffEUROPA；andwho，fromambition，dethronedhisfather，SATURN，becametheOPTIMUSMAXIMUS
oftheheathens。Thusthedeity，whomthevulgarJewsconceivedonlyastheGodofAbraham，Isaac，andJacob，becametheirJehovahandCreatoroftheworld。39
TheJACOBINS，whodeniedtheimmaculateconception，haveeverbeenveryunhappyintheirdoctrine，eventhoughpoliticalreasonshavekepttheROMISHchurchfromcondemningit。TheCORDELIERShaverunawaywithallthepopularity。Butinthefifteenthcentury，aswelearnfromBOULAINVILLIERS，40
anITALIANCordeliermaintained，that，duringthethreedays，whenCHRISTwasinterred，thehypostaticunionwasdissolved，andthathishumannaturewasnotaproperobjectofadoration，duringthatperiod。Withouttheartofdivination，onemightforetel，thatsogrossandimpiousablasphemywouldnotfailtobeanathematizedbythepeople。
ItwastheoccasionofgreatinsultsonthepartoftheJACOBINS；whonowgotsomerecompencefortheirmisfortunesinthewarabouttheimmaculateconception。
Ratherthanrelinquishthispropensitytoadulation，religionists，inallages，haveinvolvedthemselvesinthegreatestabsurditiesandcontradictions。
HOMER，inonepassage，callsOCEANUSandTETHYS
theoriginalparentsofallthings，conformablytotheestablishedmythologyandtraditionoftheGREEKS:Yet，inotherpassages，hecouldnotforbearcomplimentingJUPITER，thereigningdeity，withthatmagnificentappellation；andaccordinglydenominateshimthefatherofgodsandmen。Heforgets，thateverytemple，everystreetwasfulloftheancestors，uncles，brothers，andsistersofthisJUPITER；whowasinrealitynothingbutanupstartparricideandusurper。
AlikecontradictionisobservableinHESIOD；andissomuchthelessexcusable，ashisprofessedintentionwastodeliveratruegenealogyofthegods。
Werethereareligion（andwemaysuspectMahometanismofthisinconsistence）whichsometimespaintedtheDeityinthemostsublimecolours，asthecreatorofheavenandearth；
sometimesdegradedhimsofartoalevelwithhumancreaturesastorepresenthimwrestlingwithaman，walkinginthecooloftheevening，showinghisbackparts，anddescendingfromheaventoinformhimselfofwhatpassesonearth；41whileatthesametimeitascribedtohimsuitableinfirmities，passions，andpartialities，ofthemoralkind:Thatreligion，afteritwasextinct，wouldalsobecitedasaninstanceofthosecontradictions，whicharisefromthegross，vulgar，naturalconceptionsofmankind，opposedtotheircontinualpropensity，towardsflatteryandexaggeration。
Nothingindeedwouldprovemorestronglythedivineoriginofanyreligion，thantofind（andhappilythisisthecasewithChristianity）thatitisfreefromacontradiction，soincidenttohumannature。
SECT。VII。ConfirmationofthisDoctrine。
Itappearscertain，that，thoughtheoriginalnotionsofthevulgarrepresenttheDivinityasalimitedbeing，andconsiderhimonlyastheparticularcauseofhealthorsickness；plentyorwant；prosperityoradversity；yetwhenmoremagnificentideasareurgeduponthem，theyesteemitdangeroustorefusetheirassent。Willyousay，thatyourdeityisfiniteandboundedinhisperfections；maybeovercomebyagreaterforce；issubjecttohumanpassions，pains，andinfirmities；hasabeginning，andmayhaveanend？Thistheydarenotaffirm；butthinkingitsafesttocomplywiththehigherencomiums，theyendeavour，byanaffectedravishmentanddevotion，toingratiatethemselveswithhim。Asaconfirmationofthis，wemayobserve，thattheassentofthevulgaris，inthiscase，merelyverbal，andthattheyareincapableofconceivingthosesublimequalities，whichtheyseeminglyattributetotheDeity。
Theirrealideaofhim，notwithstandingtheirpompouslanguage，isstillaspoorandfrivolousasever。
Thatoriginalintelligence，saytheMAGIANS，whoisthefirstprincipleofallthings，discovershimselfimmediatelytothemindandunderstandingalone；buthasplacedthesunashisimageinthevisibleuniverse；andwhenthatbrightluminarydiffusesitsbeamsovertheearthandthefirmament，itisafaintcopyoftheglory，whichresidesinthehigherheavens。Ifyouwouldescapethedispleasureofthisdivinebeing，youmustbecarefulnevertosetyourbarefootupontheground，norspitintoafire，northrowanywateruponit，eventhoughitwereconsumingawholecity。42WhocanexpresstheperfectionsoftheAlmighty？saytheMahometans。Eventhenoblestofhisworks，ifcomparedtohim，arebutdustandrubbish。Howmuchmoremusthumanconceptionfallshortofhisinfiniteperfections？Hissmileandfavourrendersmenforeverhappy；andtoobtainitforyourchildren，thebestmethodistocutofffromthem，whileinfants，alittlebitofskin，abouthalfthebreadthofafarthing。Taketwobitsofcloth，43saytheRomancatholics，aboutaninchoraninchandahalfsquare，jointhembythecornerswithtwostringsorpiecesoftapeaboutsixteenincheslong，throwthisoveryourhead，andmakeoneofthebitsofclothlieuponyourbreast，andtheotheruponyourback，keepingthemnextyourskin:ThereisnotabettersecretforrecommendingyourselftothatinfiniteBeing，whoexistsfrometernitytoeternity。
TheGETES，commonlycalledimmortal，fromtheirsteadybeliefofthesoul\'simmortality，weregenuinetheistsandunitarians。TheyaffirmedZAMOLXIS，44theirdeity，tobetheonlytruegod；andassertedtheworshipofallothernationstobeaddressedtomerefictionsandchimeras。Butweretheirreligiousprinciplesanymorerefined，onaccountofthesemagnificentpretensions？Everyfifthyeartheysacrificedahumanvictim，whomtheysentasamessengertotheirdeity，inordertoinformhimoftheirwantsandnecessities。Andwhenitthundered，theyweresoprovoked，that，inordertoreturnthedefiance，theyletflyarrowsathim，anddeclinednotthecombatasunequal。
Suchatleastistheaccount，whichHERODOTUSgivesofthetheismoftheimmortalGETES。45
SECT。VIII。Fluxandrefluxofpolytheismandtheism。
Itisremarkable，thattheprinciplesofreligionhaveakindoffluxandrefluxinthehumanmind，andthatmenhaveanaturaltendencytorisefromidolatrytotheism，andtosinkagainfromtheismintoidolatry。Thevulgar，thatis，indeed，allmankind，afewexcepted，beingignorantanduninstructed，neverelevatetheircontemplationtotheheavens，orpenetratebytheirdisquisitionsintothesecretstructureofvegetableoranimalbodies；sofarastodiscoverasuprememindororiginalprovidence，whichbestowedorderoneverypartofnature。Theyconsidertheseadmirableworksinamoreconfinedandselfishview；andfindingtheirownhappinessandmiserytodependonthesecretinfluenceandunforeseenconcurrenceofexternalobjects，theyregard；withperpetualattention，theunknowncauses，whichgovernallthesenaturalevents，anddistributepleasureandpain，goodandill，bytheirpowerful，butsilent，operation。Theunknowncausesarestillappealedtooneveryemergence；andinthisgeneralappearanceorconfusedimage，aretheperpetualobjectsofhumanhopesandfears，wishesandapprehensions。Bydegrees，theactiveimaginationofmen，uneasyinthisabstractconceptionofobjects，aboutwhichitisincessantlyemployed，beginstorenderthemmoreparticular，andtoclothetheminshapesmoresuitabletoitsnaturalcomprehension。Itrepresentsthemtobesensible，intelligentbeings，likemankind；actuatedbyloveandhatred，andflexiblebygiftsandentreaties，byprayersandsacrifices。Hencetheoriginofreligion:
Andhencetheoriginofidolatryorpolytheism。