( 142 )
the hand of the pontiff, whom they took for the instrument of an angry deity[1]. In short, the credulity of the people, and the craft and presumption of the priest went so far, that these pretended interpreters of the Divine Will dared even to demand, in the name of heaven, the blood of kings them- felves; and they obtained it. To succeed in this, it was only requisite for them to avail themſelves of those times of calamity, when the people, distracted with sorrow and fear, lay their minds open to the most horrid impressions. At those times, while the prince was slaughtered at one of the altars of the gods; the others were covered with offerings, which were heaped up on all fides for their ministers.
I have already observed, that the ancient religion of the northern nations[2] made the deity to interpose in the moft indifferent events, as well as the moft confiderable; and they only confidered the elements, as fo many organs by which he manifefted his will and his refolves. This opinion once admitted, intereft or fuperftition quickly drew from thence a confequence natural enough: namely, that by studying
