ON MATTERS OF BELIEF, 73 



this concife argument appeared highly reafonable. But 

 now there was a certain Demetrius dwelling in this 

 city, whole intereft it concerned very much, that the 

 great Diana of the Epheiians fhould Hill remain a god- 

 defs : for he kept a fabric of little iilver fhrines of this 

 Diana, which ufed to be bought by the Grangers co- 

 ming thither, of whom there were conftantry great 

 fwarms in this capital of Alia ; and this fabric was in 

 fuch repute, that all the workmen in the gold and Hi- 

 ve r line at Ephefus found employment in it. Deme- 

 trius brought all his people together, and laid before 

 them the danger that threatened their manufactory by 

 St Paul's very rational conclaiion. cc So that not only 

 (i this our craft, faid he, is in danger to be fet at 

 fc nought; but alfo that the temple of the great god- 

 n defs Diana fhould be defpifed * 3 and her magnifi- 

 * 4 cence deftroyed, whom all Alia, and the world wor- 

 <c fhippeth." — There is no difficulty in perceiving how 

 it came to pafs that the majefly of the great goddefs 

 Diana fo nearly touched the good man's heart. In 

 fhort the refult of this fynod of gold faiths was very 

 naturally, that their blood was much enchafed, and 

 they all with one confent cried out : Great is Diana 

 of the Epheiians ! A general uproar foon raged 

 throughout the city. The populace one and all ruined 

 into the amphitheatre ; the noife and riot increafed ; 

 and, when the mob at length came to hear what it was 



* This, with permifiion, is a great lye of the goldfmith Deme- 

 trills. The temple of Diana always remained a gorgeous rnalter- 

 piece of architecture, and was admired as fuch by St. Paul and all 

 the world, whether Diana was to be reputed a goddefs or net. 



all 



