WhiletheStoicslookeduponriches，humangrandeur，grief，disquietudes，andpleasuresasvanity，theywereentirelyemployedinlabouringforthehappinessofmankind，andinexercisingthedutiesofsociety。Itseemsasiftheyregardedthatsacredspirit，whichtheybelievedtodwellwithinthem，asakindoffavourableprovidencewatchfuloverthehumanrace。
Bornforsociety，theyallbelievedthatitwastheirdestinytolabourforit；withsomuchthelessfatigue，theirrewardswereallwithinthemselves。Happybytheirphilosophyalone，itseemedasifonlythehappinessofotherscouldincreasetheirs。
11。OfContemplation。Menbeingmadetopreserve，tonourish，toclothethemselves，anddoalltheactionsofsociety，religionoughtnottogivethemtoocontemplativealife。[7]
TheMahometansbecomespeculativebyhabit；theyprayfivetimesaday，andeachtimetheyareobligedtocastbehindthemeverythingwhichhasanyconcernwiththisworld：thisformsthemforspeculation。Addtothisthatindifferenceforallthingswhichisinspiredbythedoctrineofunalterablefate。
Ifothercausesbesidestheseconcurtodisengagetheiraffections；forinstance，iftheseverityofthegovernment，ifthelawsconcerningthepropertyofland，givethemaprecariousspirit——allislost。
ThereligionoftheGaursformerlyrenderedPersiaaflourishingkingdom；itcorrectedthebadeffectsofdespoticpower。ThesameempireisnowdestroyedbytheMahometanreligion。
12。OfPenances。Penancesoughttobejoinedwiththeideaoflabour，notwiththatofidleness；withtheideaofgood，notwiththatofsupereminence；withtheideaoffrugality，notwiththatofavarice。
13。OfinexpiableCrimes。Itappearsfroma。passageofthebooksofthepontiffs，quotedbyCicero，[8]thattheyhadamongtheRomansinexpiablecrimes：[9]anditisonthisthatZozymusfoundsthenarrationsopropertoblackenthemotivesofConstantine’sconversion；andJulian，thatbitterrailleryonthisconversioninhisC？sars。
ThePaganreligionindeed，whichprohibitedonlysomeofthegrossercrimes，andwhichstoppedthehandbutmeddlednotwiththeheart，mighthavecrimesthatwereinexpiable；butareligionwhichbridlesallthepassions；whichisnotmorejealousofactionsthanofthoughtsanddesires；whichholdsusnotbyafewchainsbutbyaninfinitenumberofthreads；which，leavinghumanjusticeaside，establishesanotherkindofjustice；whichissoorderedastoleaduscontinuallyfromrepentancetolove，andfromlovetorepentance；whichputsbetweenthejudgeandthecriminalagreatermediator，betweenthejustandthemediatoragreatjudge——areligionlikethisoughtnottohaveinexpiablecrimes。
Butwhileitgivesfearandhopetoall，itmakesussufficientlysensiblethatthoughthereisnocrimeinitsownnatureinexpiable，yetawholecriminallifemaybeso；thatitisextremelydangeroustoaffrontmercybynewcrimesandnewexpiations；thatanuneasinessonaccountofancientdebts，fromwhichweareneverentirelyfree，oughttomakeusafraidofcontractingnewones，offillingupthemeasure，andgoingeventothatpointwherepaternalgoodnessislimited。
14。InwhatMannerReligionhasanInfluenceonCivilLaws。Asbothreligionandthecivillawsoughttohaveapeculiartendencytorendermengoodcitizens，itisevidentthatwhenoneofthesedeviatesfromthisend，thetendencyoftheotheroughttobestrengthened。Thelessseveritythereisinreligion，themorethereoughttobeinthecivillaws。
ThusthereigningreligionofJapanhavingfewdoctrines，andproposingneitherfuturerewardsnorpunishments，thelawstosupplythesedefectshavebeenmadewiththespiritofseverity，andareexecutedwithanextraordinarypunctuality。
Whenthedoctrineofnecessityisestablishedbyreligion，thepenaltiesofthelawsoughttobemoresevere，andthemagistratemorevigilant；
totheendthatmenwhowouldotherwisebecomeabandonedmightbedeterminedbythesemotives；butitisquiteotherwisewherereligionhasestablishedthedoctrineofliberty。
FromtheinactivityofthesoulspringstheMahometandoctrineofpredestination，andfromthisdoctrineofpredestinationspringstheinactivityofthesoul。This，theysay，isinthedecreesofGod；theymustthereforeindulgetheirrepose。Inacaselikethis，themagistrateoughttowakenbythelawsthosewhoarelulledasleepbyreligion。
Whenreligioncondemnsthingswhichthecivillawsoughttopermit，thereisdangerlestthecivillaws，ontheotherhand，shouldpermitwhatreligionoughttocondemn。Eitheroftheseisaconstantproofofawantoftrueideasofthatharmonyandproportionwhichoughttosubsistbetweenboth。
ThustheTartarsunderJenghizKhan，[10]amongwhomitwasasinandevenacapitalcrimetoputaknifeinthefire，toleanagainstawhip，tostrikeahorsewithhisbridle，tobreakonebonewithanother，didnotbelieveittobeanysintobreaktheirword，toseizeuponanotherman’sgoods，todoaninjurytoaperson，ortocommitmurder。Inaword，lawswhichrenderthatnecessarywhichisonlyindifferenthavethisinconvenience，thattheymakethosethingsindifferentwhichareabsolutelynecessary。
ThepeopleofFormosabelieve[11]thatthereisakindofhell，butitistopunishthosewhoatcertainseasonshavenotgonenaked，whohavedressedincalicoandnotinsilk，whohavepresumedtolookforoysters，orwhohaveundertakenanybusinesswithoutconsultingthesongofbirds；whiledrunkennessanddebaucheryarenotregardedascrimes。
Theybelieveeventhatthedebauchesoftheirchildrenareagreeabletotheirgods。
Whenreligionabsolvesthemindbyathingmerelyaccidental，itlosesitsgreatestinfluenceonmankind。ThepeopleofIndiabelievethatthewatersoftheGangeshaveasanctifyingvirtue。[12]Thosewhodieonitsbanksareimaginedtobeexemptedfromthetormentsoftheotherlife，andtobeentitledtodwellinaregionfullofdelights；andforthisreasontheashesofthedeadaresentfromthemostdistantplacestobethrownintothisriver。Littlethendoesitsignifywhethertheyhadlivedvirtuouslyornot，sotheybebutthrownintotheGanges。
Theideaofaplaceofrewardshasanecessaryconnectionwiththeideaoftheabodesofmisery；andwhentheyhopefortheformerwithoutfearingthelatter，thecivillawshavenolongeranyinfluence。Menwhothinkthemselvessureoftherewardsoftheotherlifeareabovethepowerofthelegislator；theylookupondeathwithtoomuchcontempt。
Howshallthemanberestrainedbylawswhobelievesthatthegreatestpainthemagistratecaninflictwillendinamomenttobeginhishappiness？
15。HowfalseReligionsaresometimescorrectedbytheCivilLaws。
Simplicity，superstition，orarespectforantiquityhavesometimesestablishedmysteriesorceremoniesshockingtomodesty：ofthistheworldhasfurnishednumerousexamples。Aristotlesays[13]thatinthiscasethelawpermitsthefathersoffamiliestorepairtothetempletocelebratethesemysteriesfortheirwivesandchildren。Howadmirablethecivillawwhichinspiteofreligionpreservesthemannersuntainted！
Augustus[14]excludedtheyouthofeithersexfromassistingatanynocturnalceremony，unlessaccompaniedbyamoreagedrelative；andwhenherevivedtheLupercalia，[15]hewouldnotallowtheyoungmentorunnaked。
16。HowtheLawsofReligioncorrecttheInconveniencesofapoliticalConstitution。Ontheotherhand，religionmaysupportastatewhenthelawsthemselvesareincapableofdoingit。
Thuswhenakingdomisfrequentlyagitatedbycivilwars，religionmaydomuchbyobligingonepartofthestatetoremainalwaysquiet。AmongtheGreeks，theEleans，aspriestsofApollo，livedalwaysinpeace。InJapan，[16]thecityofMeacoenjoysaconstantpeace，asbeingaholycity。Religionsupportsthisregulation，andthatempire，whichseemstobealoneuponearth，andwhichneitherhasnorwillhaveanydependenceonforeigners，hasalwaysinitsownbosomatradewhichwarcannotruin。
Inkingdomswherewarsarenotentereduponbyageneralconsent，andwherethelawshavenotpointedoutanymeanseitherofterminatingorpreventingthem，religionestablishestimesofpeace，orcessationfromhostilities，thatthepeoplemaybeabletosowtheircornandperformthoseotherlabourswhichareabsolutelynecessaryforthesubsistenceofthestate。
EveryyearallhostilityceasesbetweentheArabiantribesforfourmonths：theleastdisturbancewouldthenbeanimpiety。[17]Informertimes，wheneverylordinFrancedeclaredwarorpeace，religiongrantedatruce，whichwastotakeplaceatcertainseasons。
17。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Whenastatehasmanycausesforhatred，religionoughttoproducemanywaysofreconciliation。TheArabs，apeopleaddictedtorobbery，arefrequentlyguiltyofdoinginjuryandinjustice。Mahometenactedthislaw：[18]"Ifanyoneforgivesthebloodofhisbrother，[19]hemaypursuethemalefactorfordamagesandinterest；buthewhoshallinjurethewicked，afterhavingreceivedsatisfaction，shall，inthedayofjudgment，sufferthemostgrievoustorments。"
TheGermansinheritedthehatredandenmityoftheirnearrelatives：butthesewerenoteternal。Homicidewasexpiatedbygivingacertainnumberofcattle，andallthefamilyreceivedsatisfaction：athingextremelyuseful，saysTacitus，becauseenmitiesaremostdangerousamongafreepeople。[20]Ibelieve，indeed，thattheirministersofreligion，whowereheldbytheminsomuchcredit，wereconcernedinthesereconciliations。
AmongtheinhabitantsofMalacca，[21]wherenoformofreconciliationisestablished，hewhohascommittedmurder，certainofbeingassassinatedbytherelativesorfriendsofthedeceased，abandonshimselftofury，andwoundsorkillsallhemeets。
18。HowtheLawsofReligionhavetheEffectofCivilLaws。ThefirstGreeksweresmallnations，frequentlydispersed，piratesatsea，unjustonland，withoutgovernmentandwithoutlaws。ThemightyactionsofHerculesandTheseusletusseethestateofthatrisingpeople。Whatcouldreligiondomoretoinspirethemwithhorroragainstmurder？Itdeclaredthatthemanwhohadbeenmurderedwasenragedagainsttheassassin，thathewouldpossesshismindwithterrorandtrouble，andobligehimtoyieldtohimtheplaceshehadfrequentedwhenalive。[22]
Theycouldnottouchthecriminal，norconversewithhim，withoutbeingdefiled：[23]themurdererwastobeexpelledfromthecity，andanexpiationmadeforthecrime。[24]
19。ThatitisnotsomuchtheTruthorFalsityofaDoctrinewhichrendersitusefulorpernicioustoMenincivilGovernment，astheUseorAbuseofit。Themosttrueandholydoctrinesmaybeattendedwiththeveryworstconsequenceswhentheyarenotconnectedwiththeprinciplesofsociety：andonthecontrary，doctrinesthemostfalsemaybeattendedwithexcellentconsequenceswhencontrivedsoastobeconnectedwiththeseprinciples。
ThereligionofConfuciusdisownstheimmortalityofthesoul：andthesectofZenodidnotbelieveit。Thesetwosectshavedrawnfromtheirbadprinciplesconsequences，notjustindeed，butmostadmirableastotheirinfluenceonsociety。ThoseofthereligionofTao，andofFoe，[25]believetheimmortalityofthesoul；butfromthissacreddoctrinetheydrawthemostfrightfulconsequences。
Thedoctrineoftheimmortalityofthesoulfalselyunderstoodhas，almostineverypartoftheglobeandineveryage，engagedwomen，slaves，subjects，friends，tomurderthemselves，thattheymightgoandserveintheotherworldtheobjectoftheirrespectorloveinthis。
ThusitwasintheWestIndies；thusitwasamongtheDanes；[26]thusitisatpresentinJapan，[27]inMacassar，[28]andmanyotherplaces。
Thesecustomsdonotsodirectlyproceedfromthedoctrineoftheimmortalityofthesoulasfromthatoftheresurrectionofthebody，whencetheyhavedrawnthisconsequence，thatafterdeaththesameindividualwillhavethesamewants，thesamesentiments，thesamepassions。Inthispointofview，thedoctrineoftheimmortalityofthesoulhasaprodigiouseffectonmankind；becausetheideaofonlyasimplechangeofhabitationismorewithinthereachofthehumanunderstanding，andmoreadaptedtoflattertheheart，thantheideaofanewmodification。
Itisnotenoughforreligiontoestablishadoctrine；itmustalsodirectitsinfluence。ThistheChristianreligionperformsinthemostadmirablemanner，particularlywithregardtothedoctrinesofwhichwehavebeenspeaking。Itmakesushopeforastatewhichistheobjectofourbelief；notforastatewhichwehavealreadyexperiencedorknown：
thuseveryarticle，eventheresurrectionofthebody，leadsustospiritualideas。
20。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Thesacredbooks[29]oftheancientPersianssay，"Ifyouwouldbeholyinstructyourchildren，becauseallthegoodactionswhichtheyperformwillbeimputedtoyou。"Theyadvisethemtomarrybetimes，becausechildrenatthedayofjudgmentwillbeasabridge，overwhichthosewhohavenonecannotpass。Thesedoctrineswerefalse，butextremelyuseful。
21。OftheMetempsychosis。Thedoctrineoftheimmortalityofthesoulisdividedintothreebranches——thatofpureimmortality，thatofasimplechangeofhabitation，andthatofametempsychosis，thatis，thesystemoftheChristians，thatoftheScythians，andthatoftheIndians。Wehavejustbeenspeakingofthefirsttwo，andIshallsayofthelastthatasithasbeenwellorillexplained，ithashadgoodorbadeffects。Asitinspiresmenwithacertainhorroragainstbloodshed，veryfewmurdersarecommittedintheIndies；andthoughtheyseldompunishwithdeath，yettheyenjoyaperfecttranquillity。
Ontheotherhand，womenburnthemselvesatthedeathoftheirhusbands；
thusitisonlytheinnocentwhosufferaviolentdeath。
22。ThatitisdangerousforReligiontoinspireanAversionforThingsinthemselvesindifferent。AkindofhonourestablishedintheIndiesbytheprejudicesofreligionhasmadetheseveraltribesconceiveanaversionagainsteachother。Thishonourisfoundedentirelyonreligion；thesefamilydistinctionsformnocivildistinctions；thereareIndianswhowouldthinkthemselvesdishonouredbyeatingwiththeirking。
Thesesortsofdistinctionsareconnectedwithacertainaversionforothermen，verydifferentfromthosesentimentswhichnaturallyarisefromdifferenceofrank；whichamonguscomprehendsaloveforinferiors。
Thelawsofreligionshouldneverinspireanaversiontoanythingbutvice，andabovealltheyshouldneverestrangemanfromaloveandtendernessforhisownspecies。
TheMahometanandIndianreligionsembraceaninfinitenumberofpeople；
theIndianshatetheMahometans，becausetheyeatcows；theMahometansdetesttheIndiansbecausetheyeathogs。
23。OfFestivals。Whenreligionappointsacessationfromlabouritoughttohaveagreaterregardtothenecessitiesofmankindthantothegrandeurofthebeingitdesignstohonour。
Athenswassubjecttogreatinconveniencesfromtheexcessivenumberofitsfestivals。[30]Thesepowerfulpeople，towhosedecisionallthecitiesofGreececametosubmittheirquarrels，couldnothavetimetodespatchsuchamultiplicityofaffairs。
WhenConstantineordainedthatthepeopleshouldrestontheSabbath，hemadethisdecreeforthecities，[31]andnotfortheinhabitantsoftheopencountry；hewassensiblethatlabourinthecitieswasuseful，butinthefieldsnecessary。
Forthesamereason，inacountrysupportedbycommerce，thenumberoffestivalsoughttoberelativetothisverycommerce。ProtestantandCatholiccountriesaresituatedinsuchamannerthatthereismoreneedoflabourintheformerthaninthelatter；[32]thesuppressionoffestivalsisthereforemoresuitabletoProtestantthantoCatholiccountries。
Dampierobservesthatthediversionsofdifferentnationsvarygreatly，accordingtotheclimate。[33]Ashotclimatesproduceaquantityofdelicatefruits，thebarbarianseasilyfindnecessaries，andthereforespendmuchtimeindiversions。TheIndiansofcoldercountrieshavenotsomuchleisure，beingobligedtofishandhuntcontinually；hencetheyhavelessmusic，dancingandfestivals。Ifanewreligionshouldbeestablishedamongthesepeople，itoughttohaveregardtothisintheinstitutionoffestivals。
24。OfthelocalLawsofReligion。Therearemanylocallawsinvariousreligions；andwhenMontezumawithsomuchobstinacyinsistedthatthereligionoftheSpaniardswasgoodfortheircountry，andhisforMexico，hedidnotassertanabsurdity；because，infact，legislatorscouldneverhelphavingaregardtowhatnaturehadestablishedbeforethem。
TheopinionofthemetempsychosisisadaptedtotheclimateoftheIndies。Anexcessiveheatburnsupallthecountry：[34]theycanbreedbutveryfewcattle；theyarealwaysindangerofwantingthemfortillage；theirblackcattlemultiplybutindifferently；[35]andtheyaresubjecttomanydistempers。Alawofreligionwhichpreservesthemisthereforemoresuitabletothepolicyofthecountry。
Whilethemeadowsarescorched，riceandpulse，bytheassistanceofwater，arebroughttoperfection；alawofreligionwhichpermitsonlythiskindofnourishmentmustthereforebeextremelyusefultomeninthoseclimates。
Thefleshofcattleinthatcountryisinsipid36butthemilkandbutterwhichtheyreceivefromthemserveforapartoftheirsubsistence；
thereforethelawwhichprohibitstheeatingandkillingofcowsisintheIndiesnotunreasonable。
Athenscontainedaprodigiousmultitudeofpeople，butitsterritorywasbarren。Itwasthereforeareligiousmaximwiththispeoplethatthosewhoofferedsomesmallpresentstothegodshonouredthemmorethanthosewhosacrificedanox。[37]
25。TheInconvenienceoftransplantingaReligionfromoneCountrytoanother。Itfollowshencethattherearefrequentlymanyinconveniencesattendingthetransplantingareligionfromonecountrytoanyother。
"Thehog，"saysM。deBoulainvilliers，[38]"mustbeveryscarceinArabia，wheretherearealmostnowoods，andhardlyanythingfitforthenourishmentoftheseanimals；besides，thesaltnessofthewaterandfoodrendersthepeoplemostsusceptibleofcutaneousdisorders。"Thislocallawcouldnotbegoodinothercountries，[39]wherethehogisalmostauniversal，andinsomesortanecessary，nourishment。
Ishallheremakeareflection。Sanctoriushasobservedthatporktranspiresbutlittle，[40]andthatthiskindofmeatgreatlybindersthetranspirationofotherfood；hehasfoundthatthisdiminutionamountstoathird。[41]Besides，itisknownthatthewantoftranspirationformsorincreasesthedisordersoftheskin。Thefeedingonporkoughtrathertobeprohibitedinclimateswherethepeoplearesubjecttothesedisorders，asinPalestine，Arabia，Egypt，andLibya。
26。ThesameSubjectcontinued。SirJohnChardinsays[42]thatthereisnotanavigableriverinPersia，excepttheKur，whichisattheextremityoftheempire。TheancientlawoftheGaurswhichprohibitedsailingonriverswasnotthereforeattendedwithanyinconvenienceinthiscountry，thoughitwouldhaveruinedthetradeofanother。
Frequentbathingsareextremelyusefulinhotclimates。OnthisaccounttheyareordainedintheMahometanlawandintheIndianreligion。IntheIndiesitisamostmeritoriousacttopraytoGodintherunningstream；[43]buthowcouldthesethingsbeperformedinotherclimates？
Whenareligionadaptedtotheclimateofonecountryclashestoomuchwiththeclimateofanotheritcannotbethereestablished；andwheneverithasbeenintroducedithasbeenafterwardsdiscarded，itseemstoallhumanappearanceasiftheclimatehadprescribedtheboundsoftheChristianandtheMahometanreligions。
Itfollowshence，thatitisalmostalwaysproperforareligiontohaveparticulardoctrines，andageneralworship。Inlawsconcerningthepracticeofreligiousworshipthereoughttobebutfewparticulars；forinstance，theyshouldcommandmortificationingeneralandnotacertainkindofmortification。Christianityisfullofgoodsense；abstinenceisofdivineinstitution；butaparticularkindofabstinenceisordainedbyhumanauthorityandthereforemaybechanged。
______
1。ThoughtsontheComet，ContinuationofThoughtsontheComet，ii。
2。DescriptionofEthiopia，byM。Ponce，Physician。EdifyingLetters，coll。iv，p。290。
3。SeeDiodorus，i。18。
4。Dupin，EcclesiasticalLibraryoftheSixthCentury，v。
5。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany，iii，partI，p。63。
6。Prideaux，HistoryoftheJews。
7。ThisistheinconvenienceofthedoctrineofFoeandLaockium。
8。DeLeg。，ii。22。
9。Sacrumcommissum，quodnequeexpiaripotent，impiecommissumest；
quodexpiaripotentpublicisacerdotesexpianto。
10。SeetheaccountofJohnDuplanCarpin，senttoTartarybyPopeInnocentIVintheyear1246。
11。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany，v，partI，p。192。
12。EdifyingLetters，coll。xv。
13。Politics，vii。17。
14。Suetonius，LifeofAugustus，31。
15。Ibid。
16。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany，iv，partIp。127。
17。SeePrideaux，lifeofMahomet，p。64。
18。Koran，i，chapter"OftheCow。"
19。Onrenouncingthelawofretaliation。
20。DeMoribusGermanorum，21。
21。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany，vii，p。303。SeealsoMemoirsoftheCountdeForbin，andwhathesaysofthepeopleofMacassar。
22。Plato，Laws，ix。
23。TragedyofOedipusatColonus。
24。Plato，Laws，ix。
25。AChinesephilosopherreasonsthusagainstthedoctrineofFoe："Itissaidinabookofthatsect，thatthebodyisourdwelling—placeandthesoultheimmortalguestwhichlodgesthere；butifthebodiesofourrelativesareonlyalodging，itisnaturaltoregardthemwiththesamecontemptweshouldfeelforastructureofearthanddirt。Isnotthisendeavouringtotearfromtheheartthevirtueoflovetoone’sownparents？Thisleadsuseventoneglectthecareofthebody，andtorefuseitthecompassionandaffectionsonecessaryforitspreservation；hencethedisciplesofFoekillthemselvesbythousands。"
——WorkofanancientChinesephilosopher，intheCollectionofFatherDuHalde，iii，p。52。
26。SeeTho。Bartholin，AntiquitiesoftheDanes。
27。AnAccountofJapan，intheCollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiacompany。
28。Forbin，Memoirs。
29。Hyde，ReligionofthePersians。
30。Xenophon，OntheRepublicofAthens，3，§8。
31。Leg。3。Cod。deferiis。ThislawwasdoubtlessmadeonlyforthePagans。
32。TheCatholicsliemoretowardthesouth，andtheProtestantstowardsthenorth。
33。Dampier，Voyages，ii。
34。SeeBernier，Travels，ii，p。137。
35。EdifyingLetters，coll。xii，p。95。
36。Bernier，Travels，ii，p。137。
37。Euripides，inAthen？us，ii，p。40。
38。LifeofMahomet。
39。AsinChina。
40。MedicinaStatica，§3，aphor。22。
41。Ibid。，aphor。23。
42。TravelsintoPersia，ii。
43。Bernier，Travels，ii。
BookXXV。OfLawsinRelationtotheEstablishmentofReligionanditsExternalPolity1。OfReligiousSentiments。Thepiousmanandtheatheistalwaystalkofreligion；theonespeaksofwhatheloves，andtheotherofwhathefears。
2。OftheMotivesofAttachmenttodifferentReligions。Thedifferentreligionsoftheworlddonotgivetothosewhoprofessthemequalmotivesofattachment；thisdependsgreatlyonthemannerinwhichtheyagreewiththeturnofthoughtandperceptionsofmankind。
Weareextremelyaddictedtoidolatry，andyethavenogreatinclinationforthereligionofidolaters；wearenotveryfondofspiritualideas，andyetaremostattachedtothosereligionswhichteachustoadoreaspiritualbeing。Thisproceedsfromthesatisfactionwefindinourselvesathavingbeensointelligentastochooseareligionwhichraisesthedeityfromthatbasenessinwhichhehadbeenplacedbyothers。Welookuponidolatryasthereligionofanignorantpeople，andthereligionwhichhasaspiritualbeingforitsobjectasthatofthemostenlightenednations。