ON THE TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS. 2 J J 



tain linking agreement in their conduct with fome ani- 

 mals, really paffed into fuch animals after their death ; 

 and that the foul of the voluptuary palled into the 

 body of the hog, as that of the bold, the refolute and 

 the cruel man did into the body of the lion. For thus 

 they moil eafily and commodioufly could explain this 

 refemblance they had obferved, by deriving it from 

 the tranfpontion of fouls. 



When once a ftanding opinion is fui table to reli- 

 gious purpofes, crafty or ingenious people are always 

 to be found, to turn it to their own and the general 

 benefit : and fanatics, who from a facred zeal, ftrive to 

 tranfplant it into the religious fyitem. The religion of 

 all thofe nations that have made one for themfelves, is 

 therefore always the befi: application poffible of the po- 

 pular ideas frill fublilting from the favage ftate, for 

 taming the people and reducing them to a regular go- 

 vernment. Does a nation believe the continuance of 

 fouls after death ? the legiflator and the priefts fubjoin 

 to this belief the doctrine of rewards and punifhments, 

 according to certain rules fitted to the wants of the 

 fociety; and thus make the prejudice fubferv lent to the 

 attainment of their views. Is a people addicted to the 

 interpretation of dreams and the expofltion of prophe- 

 cies ? the legiflator appoints foothfayers, augurs, di- 

 viners, harufpices, for governing the vulgar by their 

 means, and for ftamping a greater authority on their 

 proceedings. 



The idea of the tranfmigration of fouls was too well 

 accommodated to fuch deiigns, for efcaping the no- 

 tice of men of difcernment ; and when once obferved, 

 was not to be neglected. By the fmali addition, that 



t 3 this 



