Chap. 14.] Religious Errors. 483 



of imitating his perfections j but i^ from perfonifying 

 the deity *, men fhall once give room to conceive of 

 him as having parts and pafllons, fancy will foon be 

 f fportive on the occafion, and the amours of Jove, and 

 k - the contentions of the Gods, will become a part of 

 the popular religion. What effect fuch an error muft 

 have on morals is obvious. While furrounded with 

 the bounties and mercies of God, we can never alto- 

 gether lofe the idea of his goodnefs ; if, therefore, to 

 the admiration of the deity, the idea of vice or paffion 

 fhould be annexed, thefe will lofe their deformity, and, 

 however contrary to men's better judgments, fuch vices 

 may even bejield in efteem. 



Some refpectable writers have endeavoured to make 

 a diftinction between reafon and what they call com- 

 mon-fenfe. But, perhaps, all that can be fairly afferted 

 is, that fome propofitions are more nearly connected 

 with fenfible impreffions than others, and therefore 

 the train of reafoning is lefs liable to be diverted into 

 a wrong conclufion, than in abltrufe fpeculations, or 

 thole which are far removed from being objects of 

 the fenfes, where the variety of aflbciations affords a 

 greater fcope for error. Thus, <f that things equal to 

 one and the fame thing are equal to one another j" 

 Cf that nothing material exifts without a caufe;" " that 

 therefore, this world has a firft caufe," and fuch like, 



* Becaufe we can have no diftinft ideas, but thofe combinations 

 which we form of fenfible impreffions, mankind have in all ages 

 been inclined to perfonify the invifiole firft caufe of the univerfe, 

 for the fake of having a diftindt idea of him ; and as the human 

 form is the moft familiar to them, as well as the moil honourable, 

 they have generally adopted that. This deception of our nature 

 perfevered in, has led them to aflign' him appetites, pafllons, &c. 

 the fame with the evil principle, and hence the origin of all fuper- 

 Aition. -See EfTays Hiftorical and Moral. 



I i 2 arc, 



