ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 105 



ruvians, before the Spaniards entered their coun- 

 try, cultivated alfo philofophy, and efpecially a- 

 flronomy. It is not wonderful that theie people, 

 to whom the knowledge of the true God, and of 

 the Chriftian religion could fcarce be known, 

 adored the firmament, and efpecially the fun> that 

 benign planet, which appears to animate, che- 

 rilh and fupport all nature. They knew of no- 

 thing greater, nothing more worthy of adoration. 

 This worfhip appears, moreover, lefs abfurd 

 than that which the pagans offered to imaginary 

 divinities, or to men whom they had themfelves 

 deified. 



XV. Such is nearly the general plan of all 

 the religions that have amufed the minds of men 

 from the creation of the world to the prefent 

 day. The human mind is conftantly limited, 

 and its limits are very contracted when it would 

 extend iticlf toward the Supreme Being. \Vc 

 cannot be furprifed therefore, that men of the 

 moft fublime genius, and the moft profound phi- 

 lofophy, when they have framed new religions, 

 and have aflumed the important title of leaders 

 of feels, have laid down falfc fyflems, and have 

 frequently united grofs errors and fuperftitions 

 with clear, philofophic truths, and dogmas ftricl:- 

 ly rational. But while we lament the weaknef* 

 of the human underftanding, let us remember, 

 that a religion, purely natural and philofophic, 

 can never fubfiit among any nation upon earth ; 

 for the bulk of every people cannot, and 01 



not, 



