nec robore Gallos, nec calliditate Pænos, nec artibus Græcos, nec denique hoc ipso huius Gentis et Terrae domestico nativoque sensu Italos ipsos et Latinos; sed Pietate, ac Religione, atque hâc una Sapientiâ, quod Deorum Immortalium Numine omnia regi gubernarique perspeximus, omnes Gentes Nationesque Superavimus[1]
XVII
OF SUPERSTITION
It were better to have no Opinion[2] of God at all then such an Opinion as is unworthy of him: For the one is Unbeleefe, the other is Contumely: And certainly Superstition is the Reproach of[3] the Deity. Plutarch saith well to that purpose; Surely (saith he) I had rather, a great deale, Men should say there was no such Man at all as Plutarch, then that they should say that there was one Plutarch that would eat his Children, as soon as they were born, as the Poets speake of Saturne. And, as the Contumely is greater towards God, so the Danger is greater towards Men. Atheisme leaves a Man to Sense, to Philosophy, to Naturall Piety,[4] to Lawes, to Reputation; All which may be Guides to an outward Morall vertue, though Religion were not;[5] But Superstition dismounts[6] all these, and erecteth an absolute Monarchy in the Mindes of Men. Therefore Atheisme did never perturbe States; For it makes Men wary of themselves, as looking no further:[7] And we see
- ↑ We may esteem ourselves, Conscript Fathers, as highly as we please; yet we cannot match the Spaniards in numbers, the Gauls in bodily strength, the Carthaginians in cunnning, the Greeks in art, or indeed our own Italians and Latins in the domestic and native affection which caracterizes this land and nation. But our piety, and religion, and recognition of the one great truth that all things are regulated and directed by the providence of the immortal gods,—these are points in which we have surpassed all peoples, civilised and uncivilised alike.
- ↑ no definite opinion
- ↑ a reproach against
- ↑ natural affection
- ↑ religion were absent
- ↑ deposes
- ↑ because they have nothing to consider beyond their present interests
