Butthesameanxiousconcernforhappiness，whichbegetstheideaoftheseinvisible，intelligentpowers，allowsnotmankindtoremainlonginthefirstsimpleconceptionofthem；aspowerful，butlimitedbeings；mastersofhumanfate，butslavestodestinyandthecourseofnature。Men\'sexaggeratedpraisesandcomplimentsstillswelltheirideauponthem；andelevatingtheirdeitiestotheutmostboundsofperfection，atlastbegettheattributesofunityandinfinity，simplicityandspirituality。Suchrefinedideas，beingsomewhatdisproportionedtovulgarcomprehension，remainnotlongintheiroriginalpurity；butrequiretobesupportedbythenotionofinferiormediatorsorsubordinateagents，whichinterposebetweenmankindandtheirsupremedeity。Thesedemi-godsormiddlebeings，partakingmoreofhumannature，andbeingmorefamiliartous，becomethechiefobjectsofdevotion，andgraduallyrecalthatidolatry，whichhadbeenformerlybanishedbytheardentprayersandpanegyricsoftimorousandindigentmortals。Butastheseidolatrousreligionsfalleverydayintogrosserandmorevulgarconceptions，theyatlastdestroythemselves，and，bythevilerepresentations，whichtheyformoftheirdeities，makethetideturnagaintowardstheism。Butsogreatisthepropensity，inthisalternaterevolutionofhumansentiments，toreturnbacktoidolatry，thattheutmostprecautionisnotableeffectuallytopreventit。Andofthis，sometheists，particularlytheJEWSandMAHOMETANS，havebeensensible；asappearsbytheirbanishingalltheartsofstatuaryandpainting，andnotallowingtherepresentations，evenofhumanfigures，tobetakenbymarbleorcolours；lestthecommoninfirmityofmankindshouldthenceproduceidolatry。Thefeebleapprehensionsofmencannotbesatisfiedwithconceivingtheirdeityasapurespiritandperfectintelligence；andyettheirnaturalterrorskeepthemfromimputingtohimtheleastshadowoflimitationandimperfection。Theyfluctuatebetweentheseoppositesentiments。Thesameinfirmitystilldragsthemdownwards，fromanomnipotentandspiritualdeity，toalimitedandcorporealone，andfromacorporealandlimiteddeitytoastatueorvisiblerepresentation。
Thesameendeavouratelevationstillpushesthemupwards，fromthestatueormaterialimagetotheinvisiblepower；
andfromtheinvisiblepowertoaninfinitelyperfectdeity，thecreatorandsovereignoftheuniverse。
SECT。IX。ComparisonoftheseReligions，withregardtoPersecutionandToleration。
Polytheismoridolatrousworship，beingfoundedentirelyinvulgartraditions，isliabletothisgreatinconvenience，thatanypracticeoropinion，howeverbarbarousorcorrupted，maybeauthorizedbyit；andfullscopeisgiven，forknaverytoimposeoncredulity，tillmoralsandhumanitybeexpelledfrom46thereligioussystemsofmankind。Atthesametime，idolatryisattendedwiththisevidentadvantage，that，bylimitingthepowersandfunctionsofitsdeities，itnaturallyadmitsthegodsofothersectsandnationstoashareofdivinity，andrendersallthevariousdeities，aswellasrites，ceremonies，ortraditions，compatiblewitheachother。47Theismisoppositebothinitsadvantagesanddisadvantages。Asthatsystemsupposesonesoledeity，theperfectionofreasonandgoodness，itshould，ifjustlyprosecuted，banisheverythingfrivolous，unreasonable，orinhumanfromreligiousworship，andsetbeforementhemostillustriousexample，aswellasthemostcommandingmotives，ofjusticeandbenevolence。
Thesemightyadvantagesarenotindeedover-balanced（forthatisnotpossible），butsomewhatdiminished，byinconveniencies，whicharisefromthevicesandprejudicesofmankind。
Whileonesoleobjectofdevotionisacknowledged，theworshipofotherdeitiesisregardedasabsurdandimpious。Nay，thisunityofobjectseemsnaturallytorequiretheunityoffaithandceremonies，andfurnishesdesigningmenwithapretenceforrepresentingtheiradversariesasprofane，andtheobjectsofdivineaswellashumanvengeance。Foraseachsectispositivethatitsownfaithandworshipareentirelyacceptabletothedeity，andasnoonecanconceive，thatthesamebeingshouldbepleasedwithdifferentandoppositeritesandprinciples；theseveralsectsfallnaturallyintoanimosity，andmutuallydischargeoneachotherthatsacredzealandrancour，themostfuriousandimplacableofallhumanpassions。
Thetoleratingspiritofidolaters，bothinancientandmoderntimes，isveryobvioustoanyone，whoistheleastconversantinthewritingsofhistoriansortravellers。WhentheoracleofDELPHIwasasked，whatritesorworshipwasmostacceptabletothegods？Thosewhicharelegallyestablishedineachcity，repliedtheoracle。48Evenpriests，inthoseages，could，itseems，allowsalvationtothoseofadifferentcommunion。TheROMANScommonlyadoptedthegodsoftheconqueredpeople；andneverdisputedtheattributesofthoselocalandnationaldeities，inwhoseterritoriestheyresided。ThereligiouswarsandpersecutionsoftheEGYPTIANidolatersareindeedanexceptiontothisrule；butareaccountedforbyancientauthorsfromreasonssingularandremarkable。DifferentspeciesofanimalswerethedeitiesofthedifferentsectsamongtheEGYPTIANS；
andthedeitiesbeingincontinualwar，engagedtheirvotariesinthesamecontention。Theworshippersofdogscouldnotlongremaininpeacewiththeadorersofcatsorwolves。49Butwherethatreasontooknotplace，theEGYPTIAN
superstitionwasnotsoincompatibleasiscommonlyimagined；sincewelearnfromHERODOTUS，50thatverylargecontributionsweregivenbyAMASIStowardsrebuildingthetempleofDELPHI。
Theintoleranceofalmostallreligions，whichhavemaintainedtheunityofGod，isasremarkableasthecontraryprincipleofpolytheists。TheimplacablenarrowspiritoftheJEWSiswellknown。MAHOMETANISMsetoutwithstillmorebloodyprinciples；andeventothisday，dealsoutdamnation，thoughnotfireandfaggot，toallothersects。Andif，amongCHRISTIANS，theENGLISHandDUTCHhaveembracedtheprinciplesoftoleration，thissingularityhasproceededfromthesteadyresolutionofthecivilmagistrate，inoppositiontothecontinuedeffortsofpriestsandbigots。
ThedisciplesofZOROASTERshutthedoorsofheavenagainstallbuttheMAGIANS。51NothingcouldmoreobstructtheprogressofthePERSIANconquests，thanthefuriouszealofthatnationagainstthetemplesandimagesoftheGREEKS。AndaftertheoverthrowofthatempirewefindALEXANDER，asapolytheist，immediatelyre-establishingtheworshipoftheBABYLONIANS，whichtheirformerprinces，asmonotheists，hadcarefullyabolished。52EventheblindanddevotedattachmentofthatconquerortotheGREEKsuperstitionhinderednotbuthehimselfsacrificedaccordingtotheBABYLONISHritesandceremonies。53
Sosociableispolytheism，thattheutmostfiercenessandantipathy，whichitmeetswithinanoppositereligion，isscarcelyabletodisgustit，andkeepitatadistance。AUGUSTUS
praisedextremelythereserveofhisgrandson，CAIUSCAESAR，whenthislatterprince，passingbyJERUSALEM，deignednottosacrificeaccordingtotheJEWISHlaw。
ButforwhatreasondidAUGUSTUSsomuchapproveofthisconduct？Only，becausethatreligionwasbythePAGANS
esteemedignobleandbarbarous。54
Imayventuretoaffirm，thatfewcorruptionsofidolatryandpolytheismaremorepernicioustosocietythanthiscorruptionoftheism，55whencarriedtotheutmostheight。ThehumansacrificesoftheCARTHAGINIANS，MEXICANS，andmanybarbarousnations，56scarcelyexceedtheinquisitionandpersecutionsofROMEandMADRID。Forbesides，thattheeffusionofbloodmaynotbesogreatintheformercaseasinthelatter；besidesthis，Isay，thehumanvictims，beingchosenbylot，orbysomeexteriorsigns，affectnot，insoconsiderableadegree，therestofthesociety。Whereasvirtue，knowledge，loveofliberty，arethequalities，whichcalldownthefatalvengeanceofinquisitors；andwhenexpelled，leavethesocietyinthemostshamefulignorance，corruption，andbondage。Theillegalmurderofonemanbyatyrantismoreperniciousthanthedeathofathousandbypestilence，famine，oranyundistinguishingcalamity。
InthetempleofDIANAatARICIAnearROME，whoevermurderedthepresentpriest，waslegallyentitledtobeinstalledhissuccessor。57Averysingularinstitution！For，howeverbarbarousandbloodythecommonsuperstitionsoftenaretothelaity，theyusuallyturntotheadvantageoftheholyorder。
SECT。X。Withregardtocourageorabasement。
Fromthecomparisonoftheismandidolatry，wemayformsomeotherobservations，whichwillalsoconfirmthevulgarobservation，thatthecorruptionofthebestthingsgivesrisetotheworst。
Wherethedeityisrepresentedasinfinitelysuperiortomankind，thisbelief，thoughaltogetherjust，isapt，whenjoinedwithsuperstitiousterror，tosinkthehumanmindintothelowestsubmissionandabasement，andtorepresentthemonkishvirtuesofmortification，penance，humility，andpassivesuffering，astheonlyqualitieswhichareacceptabletohim。Butwherethegodsareconceivedtobeonlyalittlesuperiortomankind，andtohavebeen，manyofthem，advancedfromthatinferiorrank，wearemoreatoureaseinouraddressestothem，andmayeven，withoutprofaneness，aspiresometimestoarivalshipandemulationofthem。Henceactivity，spirit，courage，magnanimity，loveofliberty，andallthevirtueswhichaggrandizeapeople。
TheheroesinpaganismcorrespondexactlytothesaintsinpoperyandholydervisesinMAHOMETANISM。TheplaceofHERCULES，THESEUS，HECTOR，ROMULUS，isnowsuppliedbyDOMINIC，FRANCIS，ANTHONY，andBENEDICT。Insteadofthedestructionofmonsters，thesubduingoftyrants，thedefenceofournativecountry；
whippingsandfastings，cowardiceandhumility，abjectsubmissionandslavishobedience，arebecomethemeansofobtainingcelestialhonoursamongmankind。
OnegreatincitementtothepiousALEXANDER
inhiswarlikeexpeditionswashisrivalshipofHERCULESandBACCHUS，whomhejustlypretendedtohaveexcelled。58BRASIDAS，thatgenerousandnobleSPARTAN，afterfallinginbattle，hadheroichonourspaidhimbytheinhabitantsofAMPHIPOLIS，whosedefencehehadembraced。59Andingeneral，allfoundersofstatesandcoloniesamongtheGREEKSwereraisedtothisinferiorrankofdivinity，bythosewhoreapedthebenefitoftheirlabours。
ThisgaverisetotheobservationofMACHIAVEL，thatthedoctrinesoftheCHRISTIANreligion（meaningthecatholic；forheknewnoother）whichrecommendonlypassivecourageandsuffering，hadsubduedthespiritofmankind，andhadfittedthemforslaveryandsubjection。Anobservation，whichwouldcertainlybejust，weretherenotmanyothercircumstancesinhumansocietywhichcontroulthegeniusandcharacterofareligion。
BRASIDASseizedamouse，andbeingbitbyit，letitgo。Thereisnothingsocontemptible，saidhe，butwhatmaybesafe，ifithasbutcouragetodefenditself。60BELLARMINEpatientlyandhumblyallowedthefleasandotherodiousvermintopreyuponhim。Weshallhaveheaven，saidhe，torewardusforoursufferings:Butthesepoorcreatureshavenothingbuttheenjoymentofthepresentlife。61SuchdifferenceistherebetweenthemaximsofaGREEKheroandaCATHOLICsaint。
SECT。XI。Withregardtoreasonorabsurdity。
Hereisanotherobservationtothesamepurpose，andanewproofthatthecorruptionofthebestthingsbegetstheworst。Ifweexamine，withoutprejudice，theancientheathenmythology，ascontainedinthepoets，weshallnotdiscoverinitanysuchmonstrousabsurdity，aswemayatfirstbeapttoapprehend。Whereisthedifficultyinconceiving，thatthesamepowersorprinciples，whatevertheywere，whichformedthisvisibleworld，menandanimals，producedalsoaspeciesofintelligentcreatures，ofmorerefinedsubstanceandgreaterauthoritythantherest？Thatthesecreaturesmaybecapricious，revengeful，passionate，voluptuous，iseasilyconceived；norisanycircumstancemoreapt，amongourselves，toengendersuchvices，thanthelicenceofabsoluteauthority。Andinshort，thewholemythologicalsystemissonatural，that，inthevastvarietyofplanetsandworlds，containedinthisuniverse，itseemsmorethanprobable，that，somewhereorother，itisreallycarriedintoexecution。
Thechiefobjectiontoitwithregardtothisplanet，is，thatitisnotascertainedbyanyjustreasonorauthority。
Theancienttradition，insistedonbyheathenpriestsandtheologers，isbutaweakfoundation；andtransmittedalsosuchanumberofcontradictoryreports，supported，allofthem，byequalauthority，thatitbecameabsolutelyimpossibletofixapreferenceamongstthem。Afewvolumes，therefore，mustcontainallthepolemicalwritingsofpaganpriests:Andtheirwholetheologymustconsistmoreoftraditionalstoriesandsuperstitiouspracticesthanofphilosophicalargumentandcontroversy。
Butwheretheismformsthefundamentalprincipleofanypopularreligion，thattenetissoconformabletosoundreason，thatphilosophyisapttoincorporateitselfwithsuchasystemoftheology。Andiftheotherdogmasofthatsystembecontainedinasacredbook，suchastheAlcoran，orbedeterminedbyanyvisibleauthority，likethatoftheROMANpontiff，speculativereasonersnaturallycarryontheirassent，andembraceatheory，whichhasbeeninstilledintothembytheirearliesteducation，andwhichalsopossessessomedegreeofconsistenceanduniformity。
Butastheseappearancesaresure，allofthem，toprovedeceitful，philosophywillsoonfindherselfveryunequallyyokedwithhernewassociate；andinsteadofregulatingeachprinciple，astheyadvancetogether，sheisateveryturnpervertedtoservethepurposesofsuperstition。Forbesidestheunavoidableincoherences，whichmustbereconciledandadjusted；onemaysafelyaffirm，thatallpopulartheology，especiallythescholastic，hasakindofappetiteforabsurdityandcontradiction。Ifthattheologywentnotbeyondreasonandcommonsense，herdoctrineswouldappeartooeasyandfamiliar。Amazementmustofnecessityberaised:Mysteryaffected:Darknessandobscuritysoughtafter:Andafoundationofmeritaffordedtothedevoutvotaries，whodesireanopportunityofsubduingtheirrebelliousreason，bythebeliefofthemostunintelligiblesophisms。
Ecclesiasticalhistorysufficientlyconfirmsthesereflections。Whenacontroversyisstarted，somepeoplealwayspretendwithcertaintytoforetelltheissue。Whicheveropinion，saythey，ismostcontrarytoplainsenseissuretoprevail；evenwherethegeneralinterestofthesystemrequiresnotthatdecision。Thoughthereproachofheresymay，forsometime，bebandiedaboutamongthedisputants，italwaysrestsatlastonthesideofreason。Anyone，itispretended，thathasbutlearningenoughofthiskindtoknowthedefinitionofARIAN，PELAGIAN，ERASTIAN，SOCINIAN，SABELLIAN，EUTYCHIAN，NESTORIAN，MONOTHELITE，etc。nottomentionPROTESTANT，whosefateisyetuncertain，willbeconvincedofthetruthofthisobservation。Itisthusasystembecomesmoreabsurdintheend，merelyfromitsbeingreasonableandphilosophicalinthebeginning。
Toopposethetorrentofscholasticreligionbysuchfeeblemaximsasthese，thatitisimpossibleforthesamething，tobeandnottobe，thatthewholeisgreaterthanapart，thattwoandthreemakefive；ispretendingtostoptheoceanwithabull-rush。Willyousetupprofanereasonagainstsacredmystery？Nopunishmentisgreatenoughforyourimpiety。Andthesamefires，whichwerekindledforheretics，willservealsoforthedestructionofphilosophers。
SECT。XII。WithregardtoDoubtorConviction。
Wemeeteverydaywithpeoplesoscepticalwithregardtohistory，thattheyassertitimpossibleforanynationevertobelievesuchabsurdprinciplesasthoseofGREEKandEGYPTIAN
paganism；andatthesametimesodogmaticalwithregardtoreligion，thattheythinkthesameabsurditiesaretobefoundinnoothercommunion。
CAMBYSESentertainedlikeprejudices；andveryimpiouslyridiculed，andevenwounded，APIS，thegreatgodoftheEGYPTIANS，whoappearedtohisprofanesensesnothingbutalargespottedbull。ButHERODOTUSjudiciouslyascribesthissallyofpassiontoarealmadnessordisorderofthebrain:Otherwise，saysthehistorian，heneverwouldhaveopenlyaffrontedanyestablishedworship。Foronthathead，continueshe，everynationarebestsatisfiedwiththeirown，andthinktheyhavetheadvantageovereveryothernation。
Itmustbeallowed，thattheROMANCatholicsareaverylearnedsect；andthatnoonecommunion，butthatofthechurchofENGLAND，candisputetheirbeingthemostlearnedofalltheChristianchurches:YetAVERROES，thefamousARABIAN，who，nodoubt，hadheardoftheEGYPTIANsuperstitions，declares，that，ofallreligions，themostabsurdandnonsensicalisthat，whosevotarieseat，afterhavingcreated，theirdeity。
Ibelieve，indeed，thatthereisnotenetinallpaganism，whichwouldgivesofairascopetoridiculeasthisoftherealpresence:Foritissoabsurd，thatiteludestheforceofallargument。Thereareevensomepleasantstoriesofthatkind，which，thoughsomewhatprofane，arecommonlytoldbytheCatholicsthemselves。Oneday，apriest，itissaid，gaveinadvertently，insteadofthesacrament，acounter，whichhadbyaccidentfallenamongtheholywafers。Thecommunicantwaitedpatientlyforsometime，expectingitwoulddissolveonhistongue:Butfindingthatitstillremainedentire，hetookitoff。Iwish，criedhetothepriest，youhavenotcommittedsomemistake:IwishyouhavenotgivenmeGodtheFather:Heissohardandtoughthereisnoswallowinghim。
Afamousgeneral，atthattimeintheMUSCOVITE
service，havingcometoPARISfortherecoveryofhiswounds，broughtalongwithhimayoungTURK，whomhehadtakenprisoner。
SomeofthedoctorsoftheSORBONNE
（whoarealtogetheraspositiveasthedervisesofCONSTANTINOPLE）
thinkingitapity，thatthepoorTURKshouldbedamnedforwantofinstruction，solicitedMUSTAPHAveryhardtoturnChristian，andpromisedhim，forhisencouragement，plentyofgoodwineinthisworld，andparadiseinthenext。Theseallurementsweretoopowerfultoberesisted；andtherefore，havingbeenwellinstructedandcatechized，heatlastagreedtoreceivethesacramentsofbaptismandtheLord\'ssupper。Thepriest，however，tomakeeverythingsureandsolid，stillcontinuedhisinstructions；andbeganthenextdaywiththeusualquestion，HowmanyGodsarethere？Noneatall，repliesBENEDICT；forthatwashisnewname。How！Noneatall！criesthepriest。
Tobesure，saidthehonestproselyte。YouhavetoldmeallalongthatthereisbutoneGod:AndyesterdayIeathim。