no God. It appeareth in nothing more that Atheisme is rather in the Lip then in the Heart of Man then by this, That atheists will ever be talking of that their Opinion,[1] as if they fainted[2] in it within themselves, and would be glad to be strengthned by the Consent of others; Nay more, you shall have Atheists strive to get Disciples, as it fareth with other Sects; And, which is most[3] of all, you shall have of them that[4] will suffer for Atheisme, and not recant; Wheras, if they did truly thinke that there were no such Thing as God, why should they trouble themselves? Epicurus is charged, that he did but dissemble for his credit’s sake, when he affirmed There were blessed Natures,[5] but such as enioyed themselves without having respect to[6] the Government of the World; Wherin they say he did temporize, though in secret he thought there was no God. But certainly, he is traduced, For his Words are Noble and Divine: Non Deos vulgi negare profanum; sed vulgi opiniones Dijs applicare profanum.[7] Plato could have said no more. And although he had the Confidence[8] to deny the Administration,[9] he had not the Power to deny the Nature.[10] The Indians of the West have Names for their particular Gods, though they have no name for God: as if the Heathens should have had the Names Iupiter, Apollo, Mars, &c., but not the word Deus; which shewes that even those Barbarous People have the notion, though they have not the Latitude and Extent of it. So that against Atheists, the very Savages take part with the very subtillest Philosophers. The Contemplative[11] Atheist is rare; a Diagoras, a Bion, a Lucian perhaps, and some others; And yet they seeme to be more than they are; For that[12] all that Impugne a received Religion, or Superstition, are, by the adverse Part, branded with the Name of Atheists. But
- ↑ of that opinion of theirs
- ↑ they felt but slight confidence
- ↑ most remarkable
- ↑ you will find some who
- ↑ divine beings
- ↑ without concerning themselves about
- ↑ It is not profane to deny the existence of the gods of the people; profanity consists rather in attributing to the gods the opinions of the people.
- ↑ boldness
- ↑ divine government
- ↑ divine nature
- ↑ theoretic
- ↑ because
