viii THEISM; EVOLUTION OF THEOLOGY 191 



territory among the Gods, their nation was subjected to the 

 jurisdiction of that particular deity ; or, reducing heavenly 

 objects to the model of things below, they may represent 

 one god as the prince or supreme magistrate of the rest, 

 who, though of the same nature, rules them with an au- 

 thority like that which an earthly sovereign exerts over his 

 subjects and vassals. Whether this god, therefore, be con- 

 sidered as their peculiar patron, or as the general sovereign 

 of heaven, his votaries will endeavour, by every art, to in- 

 sinuate themselves into his favour ; and supposing him to 

 be pleased, like themselves, with praise and flattery, there 

 is no eulogy or exaggeration which will be spared in their 

 addresses to him. In proportion as men's fears or distresses 

 become more urgent, they still invent new strains of adula- 

 tion ; and even he who outdoes his predecessor in swelling 

 the titles of his divinity, is sure to be outdone by his suc- 

 cessor in newer and more pompous epithets of praise. Thus 

 they proceed, till at last they arrive at infinity itself, be- 

 yond which there is no further progress ; and it is well if, 

 in striving to get further, and to represent a magnificent 

 simplicity, they run not into inexplicable mystery, and de- 

 stroy the intelligent nature of their deity, on which alone 

 any rational worship or adoration can be founded. While 

 they confine themselves to the notion of a perfect being, 

 the Creator of the world, they coincide, by chance, with the 

 principles of reason and true philosophy ; though they are 

 guided to that notion, not by reason, of which they are in a 

 great measure incapable, but by the adulation and fears of 

 the most vulgar superstition." (IV. pp. 463-6.) 



" Nay, if we should suppose, what never happens, that a 

 popular religion were found, in which it was expressly de- 

 clared, that nothing but morality could gain the divine 

 favour ; if an order of priests were instituted to inculcate 

 this opinion, in daily sermons, and with all the arts of per- 

 suasion ; yet so inveterate are the people's prejudices, that, 

 for want of some other superstition they would make the 

 very attendance on these sermons the essentials of religion, 



