wheretheeventissouncertain。Allhumanlife，especiallybeforetheinstitutionoforderandgoodgovernment，beingsubjecttofortuitousaccidents；itisnatural，thatsuperstitionshouldprevaileverywhereinbarbarousages，andputmenonthemostearnestenquiryconcerningthoseinvisiblepowers，whodisposeoftheirhappinessormisery。Ignorantofastronomyandtheanatomyofplantsandanimals，andtoolittlecurioustoobservetheadmirableadjustmentoffinalcauses；theyremainstillunacquaintedwithafirstandsupremecreator，andwiththatinfinitelyperfectspirit，whoalone，byhisalmightywill，bestowedorderonthewholeframeofnature。Suchamagnificentideaistoobigfortheirnarrowconceptions，whichcanneitherobservethebeautyofthework，norcomprehendthegrandeurofitsauthor。Theysupposetheirdeities，howeverpotentandinvisible，tobenothingbutaspeciesofhumancreatures，perhapsraisedfromamongmankind，andretainingallhumanpassionsandappetites，togetherwithcorporeallimbsandorgans。Suchlimitedbeings，thoughmastersofhumanfate，being，eachofthem，incapableofextendinghisinfluenceeverywhere，mustbevastlymultiplied，inordertoanswerthatvarietyofevents，whichhappenoverthewholefaceofnature。Thuseveryplaceisstoredwithacrowdoflocaldeities；andthuspolytheismhasprevailed，andstillprevails，amongthegreatestpartofuninstructedmankind。4
Anyofthehumanaffectionsmayleadusintothenotionofinvisible，intelligentpower；hopeaswellasfear，gratitudeaswellasaffliction:Butifweexamineourownhearts，orobservewhatpassesaroundus，weshallfind，thatmenaremuchoftenerthrownontheirkneesbythemelancholythanbytheagreeablepassions。Prosperityiseasilyreceivedasourdue，andfewquestionsareaskedconcerningitscauseorauthor。Itbegetscheerfulnessandactivityandalacrityandalivelyenjoymentofeverysocialandsensualpleasure:
Andduringthisstateofmind，menhavelittleleisureorinclinationtothinkoftheunknowninvisibleregions。
Ontheotherhand，everydisastrousaccidentalarmsus，andsetsusonenquiriesconcerningtheprincipleswhenceitarose:Apprehensionsspringupwithregardtofuturity:Andthemind，sunkintodiffidence，terror，andmelancholy，hasrecoursetoeverymethodofappeasingthosesecretintelligentpowers，onwhomourfortuneissupposedentirelytodepend。
Notopicismoreusualwithallpopulardivinesthantodisplaytheadvantagesofaffliction，inbringingmentoaduesenseofreligion；bysubduingtheirconfidenceandsensuality，which，intimesofprosperity，makethemforgetfulofadivineprovidence。Noristhistopicconfinedmerelytomodernreligions。Theancientshavealsoemployedit。
Fortunehasneverliberally，withoutenvy，saysaGREEKhistorian，5
bestowedanunmixedhappinessonmankind；butwithallhergiftshaseverconjoinedsomedisastrouscircumstance，inordertochastizemenintoareverenceforthegods，whom，inacontinuedcourseofprosperity，theyareapttoneglectandforget。
Whatageorperiodoflifeisthemostaddictedtosuperstition？Theweakestandmosttimid。Whatsex？Thesameanswermustbegiven。Theleadersandexamplesofeverykindofsuperstition，saysSTRABO，6arethewomen。
Theseexcitethementodevotionandsupplications，andtheobservanceofreligiousdays。Itisraretomeetwithonethatlivesapartfromthefemales，andyetisaddictedtosuchpractices。
Andnothingcan，forthisreason，bemoreimprobable，thantheaccountgivenofanorderofmenamongtheGETES，whopractisedcelibacy，andwerenotwithstandingthemostreligiousfanatics。Amethodofreasoning，whichwouldleadustoentertainabadideaofthedevotionofmonks；didwenotknowbyanexperience，notsocommon，perhaps，inSTRABO\'Sdays，thatonemaypractisecelibacy，andprofesschastity；andyetmaintaintheclosestconnexionsandmostentiresympathywiththattimorousandpioussex。
SECT。IV。Deitiesnotconsideredascreatorsorformersoftheworld。
Theonlypointoftheology，inwhichweshallfindaconsentofmankindalmostuniversal，is，thatthereisinvisible，intelligentpowerintheworld:Butwhetherthispowerbesupremeorsubordinate，whetherconfinedtoonebeing；ordistributedamongseveral，whatattributes，qualities，connexions，orprinciplesofactionoughttobeascribedtothosebeings，concerningallthesepoints，thereisthewidestdifferenceinthepopularsystemsoftheology。OurancestorsinEUROPE，beforetherevivalofletters，believed，aswedoatpresent，thattherewasonesupremeGod，theauthorofnature，whosepower，thoughinitselfuncontroulable，wasyetoftenexertedbytheinterpositionofhisangelsandsubordinateministers，whoexecutedhissacredpurposes。Buttheyalsobelieved，thatallnaturewasfullofotherinvisiblepowers；fairies，goblins，elves，sprights；beings，strongerandmightierthanmen，butmuchinferiortothecelestialnatures，whosurroundthethroneofGod。Now，suppose，thatanyone，inthoseages，haddeniedtheexistenceofGodandofhisangels；wouldnothisimpietyjustlyhavedeservedtheappellationofatheism，eventhoughhehadstillallowed，bysomeoddcapriciousreasoning，thatthepopularstoriesofelvesandfairieswerejustandwell-grounded？Thedifference，ontheonehand，betweensuchapersonandagenuinetheistisinfinitelygreaterthanthat，ontheother，betweenhimandonethatabsolutelyexcludesallinvisibleintelligentpower。
Anditisafallacy，merelyfromthecasualresemblanceofnames，withoutanyconformityofmeaning，toranksuchoppositeopinionsunderthesamedenomination。
Toanyone，whoconsidersjustlyofthematter，itwillappear，thatthegodsofallpolytheistsarenobetterthantheelvesorfairiesofourancestors，andmeritaslittleanypiousworshiporveneration。Thesepretendedreligionistsarereallyakindofsuperstitiousatheists，andacknowledgenobeing，thatcorrespondstoourideaofadeity。Nofirstprincipleofmindorthought:Nosupremegovernmentandadministration:
Nodivinecontrivanceorintentioninthefabricoftheworld。
TheCHINESE，when7theirprayersarenotanswered，beattheiridols。ThedeitiesoftheLAPLANDERSareanylargestonewhichtheymeetwithofanextraordinaryshape。8TheEGYPTIAN
mythologists，inordertoaccountforanimalworship，said，thatthegods，pursuedbytheviolenceofearth-bornmen，whoweretheirenemies，hadformerlybeenobligedtodisguisethemselvesunderthesemblanceofbeasts。9TheCAUNII，anationintheLesserASIA，resolvingtoadmitnostrangegodsamongthem，regularly，atcertainseasons，assembledthemselvescompleatlyarmed，beattheairwiththeirlances，andproceededinthatmannertotheirfrontiers；inorder，astheysaid，toexpeltheforeigndeities。10Noteventheimmortalgods，saidsomeGERMANnationstoCAESAR，areamatchfortheSUEVIS。11
Manyills，saysDIONEinHOMERtoVENUSwoundedbyDIOMEDE，manyills，mydaughter，havethegodsinflictedonmen:Andmanyills，inreturn，havemeninflictedonthegods。12Weneedbutopenanyclassicauthortomeetwiththesegrossrepresentationsofthedeities；andLONGINUS13
withreasonobserves，thatsuchideasofthedivinenature，ifliterallytaken，containatrueatheism。
Somewriters14havebeensurprized，thattheimpietiesofARISTOPHANESshouldhavebeentolerated，naypubliclyactedandapplaudedbytheATHENIANS；apeoplesosuperstitiousandsojealousofthepublicreligion，that，atthatverytime，theyputSOCRATEStodeathforhisimaginedincredulity。
Butthesewritersdonotconsider，thattheludicrous，familiarimages，underwhichthegodsarerepresentedbythatcomicpoet，insteadofappearingimpious，werethegenuinelightsinwhichtheancientsconceivedtheirdivinities。Whatconductcanbemorecriminalormean，thanthatofJUPITERintheAMPHITRION？Yetthatplay，whichrepresentedhisgallanteexploits，wassupposedsoagreeabletohim，thatitwasalwaysactedinROMEbypublicauthority，whenthestatewasthreatenedwithpestilence，famine，oranygeneralcalamity。15TheROMANSsupposed，that，likealloldletchers，hewouldbehighlypleasedwiththerecitalofhisformerfeatsofprowessandvigour，andthatnotopicwassoproper，uponwhichtoflatterhisvanity。
TheLACEDEMONIANS，saysXENOPHON，16always，duringwar，putuptheirpetitionsveryearlyinthemorning，inordertobebeforehandwiththeirenemies，and，bybeingthefirstsolicitors，pre-engagethegodsintheirfavour。
WemaygatherfromSENECA，17thatitwasusual，forthevotariesinthetemples，tomakeinterestwiththebeadleorsexton，thattheymighthaveaseatneartheimageofthedeity，inordertobethebestheardintheirprayersandapplicationstohim。TheTYRIANS，whenbesiegedbyALEXANDER，threwchainsonthestatueofHERCULES，topreventthatdeityfromdesertingtotheenemy。18AUGUSTUS，havingtwicelosthisfleetbystorms，forbadNEPTUNE
tobecarriedinprocessionalongwiththeothergods；andfancied，thathehadsufficientlyrevengedhimselfbythatexpedient。19AfterGERMANICUS\'Sdeath，thepeopleweresoenragedattheirgods，thattheystonedthemintheirtemples；andopenlyrenouncedallallegiancetothem。20
Toascribetheoriginandfabricoftheuniversetotheseimperfectbeingsneverentersintotheimaginationofanypolytheistoridolater。HESIOD，whosewritings，withthoseofHOMER，containedthecanonicalsystemoftheheathens；21HESIOD，Isay，supposesgodsandmentohavesprungequallyfromtheunknownpowersofnature。22
Andthroughoutthewholetheogonyofthatauthor，PANDORAistheonlyinstanceofcreationoravoluntaryproduction；andshetoowasformedbythegodsmerelyfromdespighttoPROMETHEUS，whohadfurnishedmenwithstolenfirefromthecelestialregions。23Theancientmythologists，indeed，seemthroughouttohaveratherembracedtheideaofgenerationthanthatofcreationorformation；andtohavethenceaccountedfortheoriginofthisuniverse。
OVID，wholivedinalearnedage，andhadbeeninstructedbyphilosophersintheprinciplesofadivinecreationorformationoftheworld；finding，thatsuchanideawouldnotagreewiththepopularmythology，whichhedelivers，leavesit，inamanner，looseanddetachedfromhissystem。QuisquisfuitilleDeorum？24Whicheverofthegodsitwas，sayshe，thatdissipatedthechaos，andintroducedorderintotheuniverse。ItcouldneitherbeSATURN，heknew，norJUPITER，norNEPTUNE，noranyofthereceiveddeitiesofpaganism。
Histheologicalsystemhadtaughthimnothinguponthathead；andheleavesthematterequallyundetermined。
DIODORUSSICULUS，25beginninghisworkwithanenumerationofthemostreasonableopinionsconcerningtheoriginoftheworld，makesnomentionofadeityorintelligentmind；
thoughitisevidentfromhishistory，thathewasmuchmorepronetosuperstitionthantoirreligion。Andinanotherpassage，26talkingoftheICHTHYOPHAGI，anationinINDIA，hesays，that，therebeingsogreatdifficultyinaccountingfortheirdescent，wemustconcludethemtobeaborigines，withoutanybeginningoftheirgeneration，propagatingtheirracefromalleternity；assomeofthephysiologers，intreatingoftheoriginofnature，havejustlyobserved。
\"Butinsuchsubjectsasthese，\"addsthehistorian，\"whichexceedallhumancapacity，itmaywellhappen，thatthose，whodiscoursethemost，knowtheleast；
reachingaspeciousappearanceoftruthintheirreasonings，whileextremelywideoftherealtruthandmatteroffact。\"
Astrangesentimentinoureyes，tobeembracedbyaprofessedandzealousreligionist！27Butitwasmerelybyaccident，thatthequestionconcerningtheoriginoftheworlddideverinancienttimesenterintoreligioussystems，orwastreatedofbytheologers。Thephilosophersalonemadeprofessionofdeliveringsystemsofthiskind；anditwasprettylatetoobeforethesebethoughtthemselvesofhavingrecoursetoamindorsupremeintelligence，asthefirstcauseofall。Sofarwasitfrombeingesteemedprofaneinthosedaystoaccountfortheoriginofthingswithoutadeity，thatTHALES，ANAXIMENES，HERACLITUS，andothers，whoembracedthatsystemofcosmogony，pastunquestioned；whileANAXAGORAS，thefirstundoubtedtheistamongthephilosophers，wasperhapsthefirstthateverwasaccusedofatheism。28
WearetoldbySEXTUSEMPIRICUS，29thatEPICURUS，whenaboy，readingwithhispreceptortheseversesofHESIOD，Eldestofbeings，chaosfirstarose；
Nextearth，wide-stretch\'d，theseatofall:
theyoungscholarfirstbetrayedhisinquisitivegenius，byasking，Andchaoswhence？Butwastoldbyhispreceptor，thathemusthaverecoursetothephilosophersforasolutionofsuchquestions。AndfromthishintEPICURUSleftphilologyandallotherstudies，inordertobetakehimselftothatscience，whencealoneheexpectedsatisfactionwithregardtothesesublimesubjects。
Thecommonpeoplewereneverlikelytopushtheirresearchessofar，orderivefromreasoningtheirsystemsofreligion；whenphilologersandmythologists，wesee，scarcelyeverdiscoveredsomuchpenetration。Andeventhephilosophers，whodiscoursedofsuchtopics，readilyassentedtothegrossesttheory，andadmittedthejointoriginofgodsandmenfromnightandchaos；fromfire，water，air，orwhatevertheyestablishedtobetherulingelement。
Norwasitonlyontheirfirstorigin，thatthegodsweresupposeddependentonthepowersofnature。
Throughoutthewholeperiodoftheirexistencetheyweresubjectedtothedominionoffateordestiny。Thinkoftheforceofnecessity，saysAGRIPPAtotheROMANpeople，thatforce，towhicheventhegodsmustsubmit。30AndtheYoungerPLINY，31agreeablytothiswayofthinking，tellsus，thatamidstthedarkness，horror，andconfusion，whichensueduponthefirsteruptionofVESUVIUS，severalconcluded，thatallnaturewasgoingtowrack，andthatgodsandmenwereperishinginonecommonruin。
Itisgreatcomplaisance，indeed，ifwedignifywiththenameofreligionsuchanimperfectsystemoftheology，andputitonalevelwithlatersystems，whicharefoundedonprinciplesmorejustandmoresublime。Formypart，I
canscarcelyallowtheprinciplesevenofMARCUSAURELIUS，PLUTARCH，andsomeotherStoicsandAcademics，thoughmuchmorerefinedthanthepagansuperstition，tobeworthyofthehonourableappellationoftheism。ForifthemythologyoftheheathensresembletheancientEUROPEANsystemofspiritualbeings，excludingGodandangels，andleavingonlyfairiesandsprights；thecreedofthesephilosophersmayjustlybesaidtoexcludeadeity，andtoleaveonlyangelsandfairies。
SECT。V。VariousFormsofPolytheism:Allegory，Hero-Worship。
Butitischieflyourpresentbusinesstoconsiderthegrosspolytheismofthevulgar，andtotraceallitsvariousappearances，intheprinciplesofhumannature，whencetheyarederived。
Whoeverlearnsbyargument，theexistenceofinvisibleintelligentpower，mustreasonfromtheadmirablecontrivanceofnaturalobjects，andmustsupposetheworldtobetheworkmanshipofthatdivinebeing，theoriginalcauseofallthings。Butthevulgarpolytheist，sofarfromadmittingthatidea，deifieseverypartoftheuniverse，andconceivesalltheconspicuousproductionsofnature，tobethemselvessomanyrealdivinities。Thesun，moon，andstars，areallgodsaccordingtohissystem:Fountainsareinhabitedbynymphs，andtreesbyhamadryads:Evenmonkies，dogs，cats，andotheranimalsoftenbecomesacredinhiseyes，andstrikehimwithareligiousveneration。
Andthus，howeverstrongmen\'spropensitytobelieveinvisible，intelligentpowerinnature，theirpropensityisequallystrongtoresttheirattentiononsensible，visibleobjects；
andinordertoreconciletheseoppositeinclinations，theyareledtounitetheinvisiblepowerwithsomevisibleobject。
Thedistributionalsoofdistinctprovincestotheseveraldeitiesisapttocausesomeallegory，bothphysicalandmoral，toenterintothevulgarsystemsofpolytheism。Thegodofwarwillnaturallyberepresentedasfurious，cruel，andimpetuous:Thegodofpoetryaselegant，polite，andamiable:
Thegodofmerchandise，especiallyinearlytimes，asthievishanddeceitful。Theallegories，supposedinHOMER
andothermythologists，Iallow，haveoftenbeensostrained，thatmenofsenseareaptentirelytorejectthem，andtoconsiderthemastheproductionmerelyofthefancyandconceitofcriticsandcommentators。Butthatallegoryreallyhasplaceintheheathenmythologyisundeniableevenontheleastreflection。CUPIDthesonofVENUS；theMusesthedaughtersofMemory；
PROMETHEUS，thewisebrother，andEPIMETHEUSthefoolish；HYGIEIAorthegoddessofhealthdescendedfromAESCULAPIUSorthegodofphysic:Whoseesnot，inthese，andinmanyotherinstances，theplaintracesofallegory？
Whenagodissupposedtopresideoveranypassion，event，orsystemofactions，itisalmostunavoidabletogivehimagenealogy，attributes，andadventures，suitabletohissupposedpowersandinfluence；andtocarryonthatsimilitudeandcomparison，whichisnaturallysoagreeabletothemindofman。
Allegories，indeed，entirelyperfect，weoughtnottoexpectastheproductionsofignoranceandsuperstition；
therebeingnoworkofgeniusthatrequiresanicerhand，orhasbeenmorerarelyexecutedwithsuccess。ThatFearandTerrorarethesonsofMARSisjust；butwhybyVENUS？32ThatHarmonyisthedaughterofVENUSisregular；butwhybyMARS？33ThatSleepisthebrotherofDeathissuitable；butwhydescribehimasenamouredofoneoftheGraces？34Andsincetheancientmythologistsfallintomistakessogrossandpalpable，wehavenoreasonsurelytoexpectsuchrefinedandlong-spunallegories，assomehaveendeavouredtodeducefromtheirfictions。
LUCRETIUSwasplainlyseducedbythestrongappearanceofallegory，whichisobservableinthepaganfictions。
HefirstaddresseshimselftoVENUSastothatgeneratingpower，whichanimates，renews，andbeautifiestheuniverse:Butissoonbetrayedbythemythologyintoincoherencies，whilehepraystothatallegoricalpersonagetoappeasethefuriesofherloverMARS；Anideanotdrawnfromallegory，butfromthepopularreligion，andwhichLUCRETIUS，asanEPICUREAN，couldnotconsistentlyadmitof。