confidence to deny the administration, he had not the power to deny the nature. The Indians of the [7] West have names for their particular gods, though they have no name for God; as if the heathens should have had the names of Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, &c., but not the word Deus, which shows, 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 subtilest philosophers. The contemplative atheist is rare, a Diagoras, a [8] [.] Of the West: Of the American continent. tude: the [full] breadth. Against atheists: just emphasis given by this location of the words. The lati Notice the Diagoras: an Athenian philosopher, who from the grossest superstition went over to Atheism. He was proscribed by the Areopagus for speaking against the gods in ridicule and contempt, and is supposed to have died at Corinth. Bion: a Greek philosopher, a disciple of Theodorus the atheist, to whose opinion he adhered. His life is said to have been profligate, and his death superstitious. Lucian ridiculed the follies and pretensions of some of the ancient philosophers; but though the freedom of his style was such as to cause him to be censured for impiety, he hardly deserves the stigma of atheism here cast upon him by the learned author.-D. [8.] Contemplative: Give synonymes. [numerous]. More: more For that all that: an exceedingly inelegant and almost unintelligible combination of words. Substitute in their place,' For all who, &c.' Which are: Who are, in modern form of speech. We meet the same thing in the common version of the Scriptures So as: so that. Cauterized rendered morally insensible. The cauterizing or burning of flesh deprives it of the power of sensation. The last member of this sentence, commencing with but the great, should have formed the beginning of a new sentence, but being stricken out. It would be better removed at any rate, not only as being needless, but on account of the use of the same word soon after. Bion, a Lucian 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 [9] be cauterized in the end. The causes of atheism are, divisions in religion, if there 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, non est jam dicere, ut populus, sic sacerdos; quia nec sic populus, ut sacerdos;" a third is, a custom of profane scoffing in holy matters, which doth by little and little deface the reverence of religion; and, lastly, learned times, especially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. [10] They that deny a God destroy a man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base [11] and ignoble creature. It destroys likewise mag : [9.] Scandal of priests: reproach brought by them on religion. Non, &c. It is not now to be said.-As is the people, so is the priest; because the people is not as the priest,' (or, are not even so bad as the priest.'-D.) Deface: Give the synonymes. How does it differ in meaning from efface? Learned times: Expand this phrase. St. Bernard: Abbot of Clairvaux, preached the second crusade against the Saracens, and was unsparing in his censures of the sins then prevalent among the Christian priesthood. His writings are voluminous, and by some he has been considered as the latest of the fathers of the Church.-D. This sentence is faulty at the beginning. It should have read: The causes of atheism are five :-First, divisions, &c.' [11.] Magnanimity: that elevation of mind which prompts one to labor and to make sacrifices for great and noble objects. nanimity, and the raising human nature; for, take an example of a dog, and mark what a generosity and courage he will put on when he finds himself maintained by a man, who to him is instead of a god, or "melior natura;" which courage is manifestly such as that creature, without that confidence of a better nature than his own, could never attain. So man, when he [12] resteth and assureth himself upon divine protection and favour, gathereth a force and faith, which human nature in itself could not obtain; therefore, as atheism is in all respects hateful, so in this, that it depriveth human nature of the means to exalt itself above human frailty. As it is in particular persons, so it is in nations; [13] never was there such a state for magnanimity as Rome; of this state hear what Cicero saith: "Quam volumus, licet, Patres conscripti, nos amemus, tamen nec numero Hispanos, nec robore Gallos, nec calliditate Pœnos, nec artibus Græcos, nec denique hoc ipso hujus gentis et terræ domestico nativoque sensu Italos ipsos et Latinos; sed pietate, ac religione, atque hac una sapientia, quod An: better the. nature. How is this word distinguished from nobility in the preceding sentence? Raising: What word should have been supplied? Melior natura: a better (or superior) Confidence: firm belief or impression. Quam, &c.: 'Let us be as partial to ourselves as we will, Conscript Fathers, yet we have not surpassed the Spaniards in number, nor the Gauls in strength, nor the Carthagenians in cunning, nor the Greeks in the arts, nor, lastly, the Latins and Italians of this nation and land, in natural intelligence about home matters; but we have excelled all nations and people in piety and religion, and in this one wisdom of fully recognizing that all things are ordered and governed by the power [and providence] of the immortal gods.'—Cic. De Har. Resp. 9. [12.] This sentence should be divided into two, after the semi-colon. Deorum immortalium numine omnia regi, gubernarique perspeximus, omnes gentes nationesque superavimus." [13.] This sentence should end at the word Rome, and another be composed of what remains. 1. Paraphrase the above Essay, presenting the thoughts in a modern and approved style, and attending to a proper arrangement in sentences and paragraphs. 2. Definition of Legend? Give an account of those of the middle ages. 3. The Talmud, Mishna, and Gemara? 4. The Alcoran ? 5. What constitutes credulity? The true method of avoiding credulity and incredulity? State the excellent argument here offered by Whately for the existence of God. 6. Give an account of Leucippus, and Democritus. 7. Mistake about the Pagan religions exposed? 8. Who were Diagoras, Bion, and Lucian? St. Bernard 9. Point out the obsolete words or phrases, if any; or such as have undergone a change of signification since Bacon wrote. 10. Point out 'balanced' sentences. ESSAY VIII. SUPERSTITION. It were better to have no opinion of God at all, [1] than such an opinion as is unworthy of him; for the [1.] Superstition: This word has no precise meaning, and learned men cannot agree upon its exact derivation. It is derived indeed from a Latin word signifying a standing over,' but how the various uses of the word are derived from that is a matter difficult to decide. Webster's account of it is as plausible as any other, namely, 'a standing still over something dreadful or amazing; hence an excessive reverence or fear of that which is unknown or mysterious, especially an ignorant or irrational worship of the Deity; excessive exactness in religious opinion or practice; unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded by God, or of points of slight importance. It is used also to denote the worship of false gods. The word is also extended to those who believe in witchcraft, magic and apparitions; or who believe that the divine will is declared by omens or augury; that the fortunes of individuals can be affected by things indifferent, by things deemed lucky or unlucky, or that diseases can be cured by words, charms, and incantations. Through all these various superstitions there runs one general idea, the belief of what is false and contrary to reason. But this does not prove that whatever is false and contrary to reason may be denominated superstition. Superstition has always a reference to God, to religion, or to beings superior to man. We do not, however, distinguish all false and irrational opinions in religion by the name of superstition. It was a name which the ancient philosophers gave to those who entertained mean opinions of the gods, or did foolish things to obtain their favor. Though superstition be generally the mark of a weak mind, yet such is the infirmity of human nature that we find many instances of it among men of the most sub |