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ism, and not recant; whereas, if they did truly think, that there were no fuch Thing as God, why should they trouble themselves? Epicurus is charged, that he did but diffemble, for his credit's fake, when he affirmed; There were Blessed Natures, but such as enjoyed themselves, without having respect to the Government of the World. Wherein, they say, he did temporize; though, in secret, he thought there was no God. But certainly, he is traduced; for his Words are Noble and Divine: Non Deos vulgi negare profanum; fed vulgi Opiniones Diis applicare profanum. Plato could have faid no more. And although he had the Confidence to deny the Administration, he had not the Power to deny the Nature. The Indians of the Weft have Names for their particular Gods, though they have no name for God: as if the Heathens should have had the Names Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, &c. but not the Word Deus: which fhews, that even those barbarous People have the Notion, though they have not the Latitude, and Extent of it. So that against Atheists, the very Savages take part with the very subtleft Philofophers. The Contemplative Atheist is rare; a Diagoras, a Bion, a Lucian perhaps, and some others; and yet they seem to be more than they are; for that all that Impugn a received Religion, or Superftition, are, by the adverse Part, branded with the Name of Atheists: but the great Atheists, indeed, are Hypocrites; which are ever handling Holy Things, but without Feeling. So as they must needs be cauterized in the End. The Caufes of Atheism are; Divifions

in Religion, if they be many; for any one main Divifion addeth Zeal to both Sides; but many Divifions introduce Atheism. Another is, Scandal of Priests; when it is come to that, which St. Bernard faith; Non eft jam dicere, ut Populus, fic Sacerdos: quia nec fic Populus ut Sacerdos. A third is, Custom of Profane Scoffing in Holy Matters; which doth, by little and little, deface the Reverence of Religion. And lastly, Learned Times, specially with Peace and Prosperity: for Troubles and Adverfities do more bow Men's Minds to Religion. They that deny a God, deftroy Man's Nobility for certainly Man is of Kin to the Beafts, by his Body; and if he be not of Kin to God by his Spirit, he is a base and ignoble Creature. It destroys likewise Magnanimity, and the raising of Human Nature: for take an Example of a Dog, and mark what a Generosity, and Courage he will put on, when he finds himself maintained by a Man; who to him is in ftead of a God, or Melior Natura: which courage is manifestly such, as that Creature, without that Confidence, of a better Nature than his own, could never attain. So Man, when he refteth and affureth himself, upon divine Protection and Favour, gathereth a Force and Faith, which Human Nature, in itself, could not obtain. Therefore, as Atheism is in all respects hateful, so in this, that it depriveth human Nature of the Means to exalt itself, above Human Frailty. As it is in particular Perfons, so it is in Nations : never was there fuch a State, for Magnanimity, as Rome. Of this State hear what Cicero faith;

Quam volumus, licet, Patres Confcripti, nos amemus, tamen nec Numero Hifpanos, nec Robore Gallos, nec Calliditate Panos, nec artibus Græcos, nec denique boc ipfo hujus Gentis & Terra domeftico nativoque fenfu Italos ipfos & Latinos; fed Pietate, ac Religione, atque hâc unâ Sapientiâ, quod Deorum Immortalium Numine omnia regi, gubernarique perfpeximus, omnes Gentes, Nationefque fuperavimus.

XVII. Of Superftition.

T were better to have no Opinion of God at all, than fuch an Opinion as is unworthy of him: for the one is Un

belief, the other is Contumely. And certainly Superftition is the Reproach of the Deity. Plutarch faith well to that purpose: Surely, faith he, I had rather, a great deal, Men fhould fay, there was no fuch Man at all as Plutarch; than that they should fay, that there was one Plutarch, that would eat his Children, as foon as they were born, as the Poets speak of Saturn. And as the Contumely is greater towards God, fo the Danger is greater towards Men. Atheism leaves a Man to Senfe; to Philofophy; to Natural Piety; to Laws; to Reputation; all which may be Guides to an outward Moral Virtue, though Religion were not; but Superftition difmounts all these, and erecteth an abfolute Monarchy in the Minds of Men. Therefore Atheism did never perturb States; for

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it makes Men wary of themselves, as looking no further and we see the times inclined to Atheism (as the Time of Auguftus Cæfar) were civil Times. But Superftition hath been the Confusion of many States; and bringeth in a new Primum Mobile, that ravisheth all the Spheres of Government. The Mafter of Superftition is the People; and in all Superftition, Wife Men follow Fools; and Arguments are fitted to practice, in a reversed Order. It was gravely faid, by fome of the Prelates, in the Council of Trent, where the doctrine of the Schoolmen bare great sway; That the Schoolmen were like Aftronomers, which did feign Eccentrics and Epicycles, and fuch Engines of Orbs, to fave the Phenomena; though they knew, there were no fuch Things: and, in like manner, that the Schoolmen had framed a Number of fubtle and intricate Axioms, and Theorems, to fave the practice of the Church. The Caufes of Superftition are: Pleafing and sensual Rites and Ceremonies : Excefs of Outward and Pharifaical Holinefs; Overgreat Reverence of Traditions, which cannot but load the Church; the Stratagems of Prelates for their own Ambition and Lucre: the Favouring too much of good Intentions, which openeth the Gate to Conceits and Novelties; the taking an Aim at divine Matters by Human, which cannot but breed mixture of Imaginations; and lastly, Barbarous Times, especially joined with Calamities and Difafters. Superftition, without a veil, is a deformed Thing; for, as it addeth deformity to an Ape, to be fo like a Man; fo the Similitude of

Superftition to Religion, makes it the more deformed. And as wholesome Meat corrupteth to little Worms; fo good Forms and Orders corrupt into a Number of petty Obfervances. There is a Superftition, in avoiding Superftition; when men think to do beft, if they go furtheft from the Superftition formerly received: therefore, Care would be had, that (as it fareth in ill Purgings) the Good be not taken away with the Bad; which commonly is done, when the People is the Reformer,

XVIII. Of Travel.

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RAVEL, in the younger Sort, is a Part of Education; in the Elder, a Part of Experience. He that travelleth into a Country, before he hath some Entrance into the Language, goeth to School, and not to Travel. That Young Men travel under fome Tutor, or grave Servant, I allow well; fo that he be fuch a one that hath the Language, and hath been in the Country before; whereby he may be able to tell them, what Things are worthy to be seen in the Country where they go; what Acquaintances they are to feek; what Exercifes or Discipline the Place yieldeth. For elfe young Men fhall go hooded, and look abroad little. It is a strange Thing, that in Sea voyages, where there is nothing to be feen, but Sky and Sea, Men should make Diaries; but in Land-Travel, wherein

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