a Bion,[1] a Lucian[2] perhaps, and some others; and yet they seem to be more than they are; for that all that impugn a received religion or superstition are by the adverse part branded with the name of atheists. But the great atheists indeed are hypocrites; which are ever handling holy things, but without feeling; so as they must needs be cauterized in the end. The causes of atheism are; divisions in religion, if they be many; for any one main division addeth zeal to both sides; but many divisions introduce atheism. Another is, scandal of priests; when it is come to that which St. Bernard saith,[3] Non est jam dicere, ut populus sic sacerdos; quia nec sic populus ut sacerdos.[4] A third is, custom of profane scoffing in holy matters; which doth by little and little deface the reverence of religion. And lastly, learned times, specially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. They that deny a God destroy man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and, if he be not of kin to
- ↑ Bion, a witty philosopher of the Cyrenaic school, born at Borysthenes; he lived for some time at the court of Antigonus (Gonatas), who was king of Macedon from 277 to 239 B.C.
- ↑ Lucian 120(?)–200(?) A.D., Greek satirist and wit. Among other works, he wrote Dialogues of the Gods, Dialogues of the Dead, and the Veracious History, a mock narrative of travel, which is the original of such books as Gulliver's Travels. Lucian's Timon, a very amusing and witty dialogue, was, probably through the Timone of Matteo Maria Boiardo, one of the sources of Shakspere's Timon of Athens.
- ↑ St. Bernard, 1091–1153, Abbot of Clairvaux, one of the most eloquent and influential men in Europe of his time.
- ↑ It cannot now be said, Like priest, like people, because the people are not like the priests, i.e., they are better. Ad Pastores in Synodo Congregatos sermo. S. The sermon of St. Bernard here quoted, entitled, Cujuscunque sit, nec inelegans est, nec lectu indignus, will be found in Jacques Paul Migne's Patrologiae Cursus Completus. S. Bernardus. Volume 3. Columns 1091–1092.
