Whereas virtue, knowledge, love of liberty, are the qualities, which
call down the fatal vengeance of inquisitors; and when expelled,
leave the society in the most shameful ignorance, corruption, and
bondage. The illegal murder of one man by a tyrant is more
pernicious than the death of a thousand by pestilence, famine, or
any undistinguishing calamity.

     In the temple of D/IANA\ at A/RICIA\ near R/OME\, whoever
murdered the present priest, was legally entitled to be installed
his successor.[57] A very singular institution! For, however
barbarous and bloody the common superstitions often are to the
laity, they usually turn to the advantage of the holy order.

         S/ECT\. X. <With regard to courage or abasement>.

                                  

     From the comparison of theism and idolatry, we may form some
other observations, which will also confirm the vulgar observation,
that the corruption of the best things gives rise to the worst.

     Where the deity is represented as infinitely superior to
mankind, this belief, though altogether just, is apt, when joined
with superstitious terror, to sink the human mind into the lowest
submission and abasement, and to represent the monkish virtues of
mortification, penance, humility, and passive suffering, as the only
qualities which are acceptable to him. But where the gods are
conceived to be only a little superior to mankind, and to have been,
many of them, advanced from that inferior rank, we are more at our
ease in our addresses to them, and may even, without profaneness,
aspire sometimes to a rivalship and emulation of them. Hence
activity, spirit, courage, magnanimity, love of liberty, and all the
virtues which aggrandize a people.

     The heroes in paganism correspond exactly to the saints in
popery and holy dervises in M/AHOMETANISM\. The place of H/ERCULES\,
T/HESEUS\, H/ECTOR\, R/OMULUS\, is now supplied by D/OMINIC\,
F/RANCIS\, A/NTHONY\, and B/ENEDICT\. Instead of the destruction of
monsters, the subduing of tyrants, the defence of our native
country; whippings and fastings, cowardice and humility, abject
submission and slavish obedience, are become the means of obtaining
celestial honours among mankind.

     One great incitement to the pious A/LEXANDER\ in his warlike
expeditions was his rivalship of H/ERCULES\ and B/ACCHUS\, whom he
justly pretended to have excelled.[58] B/RASIDAS\, that generous and
noble S/PARTAN\, after falling in battle, had heroic honours paid
him by the inhabitants of A/MPHIPOLIS\, whose defence he had
embraced.[59] And in general, all founders of states and colonies
among the G/REEKS\ were raised to this inferior rank of divinity, by
those who reaped the benefit of their labours.

     This gave rise to the observation of M/ACHIAVEL\, that the
doctrines of the C/HRISTIAN\ religion (meaning the catholic; for he
knew no other) which recommend only passive courage and suffering,
had subdued the spirit of mankind, and had fitted them for slavery
and subjection. An observation, which would certainly be just, were
there not many other circumstances in human society which controul
the genius and character of a religion.

     B/RASIDAS\ seized a mouse, and being bit by it, let it go.
<There is nothing so contemptible>, said he, <but what may be safe,
if it has but courage to defend itself>.[60] B/ELLARMINE\ patiently
and humbly allowed the fleas and other odious vermin to prey upon
him. <We shall have heaven>, said he, <to reward us for our
sufferings: But these poor creatures have nothing but the enjoyment
of the present life>.[61] Such difference is there between the
maxims of a G/REEK\ hero and a C/ATHOLIC\ saint.

         S/ECT\. XI. <With regard to reason or absurdity>.

                                  

     Here is another observation to the same purpose, and a new
proof that the corruption of the best things begets the worst. If we
examine, without prejudice, the ancient heathen mythology, as
contained in the poets, we shall not discover in it any such
monstrous absurdity, as we may at first be apt to apprehend. Where
is the difficulty in conceiving, that the same powers or principles,
whatever they were, which formed this visible world, men and
animals, produced also a species of intelligent creatures, of more
refined substance and greater authority than the rest? That these
creatures may be capricious, revengeful, passionate, voluptuous, is
easily conceived; nor is any circumstance more apt, among ourselves,
to engender such vices, than the licence of absolute authority. And
in short, the whole mythological system is so natural, that, in the
vast variety of planets and worlds, contained in this universe, it
seems more than probable, that, somewhere or other, it is really
carried into execution.

     The chief objection to it with regard to this planet, is, that
it is not ascertained by any just reason or authority. The ancient
tradition, insisted on by heathen priests and theologers, is but a
weak foundation; and transmitted also such a number of contradictory
reports, supported, all of them, by equal authority, that it became
absolutely impossible to fix a preference amongst them. A few
volumes, therefore, must contain all the polemical writings of pagan
priests: And their whole theology must consist more of traditional
stories and superstitious practices than of philosophical argument
and controversy.