STUDY VIII. 169 



alted, down to the loweft {late of Ignorance. This 

 unanimity of teftimony is of irrefiftible weight ; 

 for it is impoffible that fuch a thing fliould exill 

 on the Earth as univerfal error. 



Hear what the fage Socrates faid to Euthydemus, 

 who exprefled a wi(li to have a complete alTurance 

 that the Gods exifted : 



" Know, affuredly, that I told you the truth *, 

 " when I declared the exiftence of the Gods, and 

 «■^ afferted, that Man is their peculiar care: but 

 *^ expeâ: not that they (hould aflume a fcnfible 

 " appearance, and prefent themfelves before you ; 

 " fatisfy yourfelf with the contemplation of their 

 " works, and with paying them adoration j re- 

 ** member that this is the way in which they make 

 ** themfelves known unto men : for of all the hea- 

 " venly powers whofe liberality towards us is fo 

 " great, no one ever becomes the vifible difpenfer 

 *^ of his own bounty; and the great GOD him- 

 " felf, who created the Univerfe, and who fuf- 

 " tains that vaft fabric, all the parts of which are 

 " adjufted in perfed beauty and goodnefs ; He 

 " who conftantly watches oyer it, and takes care 

 " that it (hall not wax old, and fall into decay 

 " through length of duration, but always fubfift 



» 



XenophoTis Memorable Things of Socrates, book iv, 



a 



m 



