CHIMERICAL SCIENCES. 387 



to the laudable cuftom of the firft ages, and of 

 thofe warm cli marcs, to give him a figure, and 

 make him Icrvc their purpoies. This dogma 

 was not Town in barren land. All priefts (except 

 thofe of the Chritiian religion) have been at all 

 times ambitious and iclfinterclted. They have 

 lough t after great importance, great authority, 

 and great riches. The belief of a demon became 

 therefore to the Chaldean pagan priefls a real 

 treafure; the foundation on which they builc 

 their principal authority, and the fource from 

 whence they derived their greateft wealth. 

 AViihout the aid of their demon they would have 

 been overthrown more than once ; and for this 

 reafon it is that they were constantly fo jea- 

 lous of this dogma, and alio drew from it 

 fuch fubde, lucrative and convenient confe- 

 quenccs. 



IV. All the eaft, and afterwards all the weft, 

 and in fhort the whole earth, was foon poiTefied 

 with this dogma. By confuantly purfuing earthly 

 ideas, and human notions, the good being waa 

 naturally fuppofcd to refide at one place, and the 

 bad being at another. To the former they 

 therefore atfigned a heaven, which they fuppofed 

 to be over their heads, and gave him a celeftial 

 court : t<> the Lifer they gave a hell, which they 

 imagined to be under their feet, and afllgned him 

 an infernal court. J nee arole their gods 



and demi-gotis, their devils, demons, and fpiriu 

 of t tlUtk and every kind. 



B b 2 V. Buc 



