PART III.

OF RELIGION.

CHAP. I.

OF RELIGION IN GENERAL

THERE are two kinds of religion. There is a kind of religion that arises out of the passions and the imagination of men; and there is a religion that is founded on reason or the dictates of the understanding.

The religious passion or feeling is called devotion. It is of a very mixed nature, and is composed of the passions of fear, amazement, and admiration.

From ignorance and weakness, men are often led to reflect with terror upon the Unknown Power that governs this world, and that dispenses unforeseen tempests, earthquakes, pestilence, famine, and death.

Both as a whole, and in the detail of its parts, the universe exhibits a splendid example of skil

ful contrivance and arrangement. From what passes within ourselves, however, we know that skilful arrangement can only proceed from the labour of mind or intelligence. But the objects of Nature are so vast and so various, that we can form no clear conception of the character of the Being who could contrive and attend without distraction to the execution of so immense and so intricate a plan. Hence we are apt to think of the Power that rules the universe in a confused, amazed, and indistinct manner, but at the same time with high admiration.

Thus the Being that governs the universe comes to be regarded at once with terror, with wonder, and with high approbation. The mixture and union of all these sentiments form the sentiment of devotion. It is irrational in proportion to the degree in which it is made up of fear and unthinking amazement; and it becomes more allied to reason in proportion as it consists of intelligent admiration, or approaches to the perception and approbation of excellence. Like every other pleasing or painful sentiment, it is apt, when much indulged or repeated, to take complete possession of the mind, and to become a powerful passion; which is sometimes of an ardent, and sometimes of a timid nature, according to the view that is taken of the character of the Deity, and his disposition towards the humar.

race.

The passion of devotion produces good effects, It assists in subduing the minds of barbarous men, and of leading them into just and regular conduct, by impressing strongly the idea of an intelligent Power that superintends the affairs of the world. The dread of offending this unknown Power controuls their actions when they have no reason to fear any human punishment or interference. Intelligent individuals rise up in the character of legislators; and, taking advantage of the devotional feelings of their countrymen, persuade them to submit to useful laws, as ordained by the gods. They also establish such religious solemnities as may confirm the idea that human actions are rewarded or punished by an Over-ruling power; and thus devotion is rendered the means of civilizing mankind.

But, like every other passion, devotion produces many bad effects. By agitating the mind, it enfeebles the exercise of the understanding, and renders us credulous of every marvellous tale that is told about the Power that rules the world, or the subordinate agents whom, it is pretended, he employs. Interested men take advantage of it to work upon our hopes and fears, till the human mind becomes the prey of the most contemptible superstitions. It leads to a misapprehension of the nature of our duty, and induces us to substitute the effects of devotional feelings, such as prayers, praises, and sacrifices, in honour

of the Deity, to the proper business for which we were placed in this world, the improvement of our intellectual character, and the diffusion of reason and of virtue among men.

A religion that is instituted to gratify the passion or sentiment of devotion must always, among a vigorous people, be in a state of fluctuation. Regarding devotion as highly meritorious, men endeavour, by all possible means, to increase it in themselves and others. They erect magnificent edifices under the name of temples, in which they may worship the Deity on extraordinary occasions. They set apart particular men who are to live with uncommon sanctity, and to offer up prayers for the people. To stimulate their own devotional feelings, they form beautiful paintings and statues of the supposed rulers of the universe, and institute expensive musical establishments to sing or celebrate their praises. In consequence of all these, the devotional feelings of the people are gradually increased beyond bounds. They become credulous and a prey to superstitious terrors. They regard the temples which they themselves have built as real dwellings of the divinity; and they consider the images which they have formed as representations of his person, which he actually animates and inhabits as the human mind inhabits the body. They regard their priests as vicegerents of God, and as possessing his power

upon earth. They even imagine that all their crimes will be forgiven by the Deity, if they are only constant and fervent in their devotions, and sufficiently liberal that they may obtain the intercession of his priests.

Thus matters proceed for a while; but it is the nature of extreme evils to destroy themselves. Men of penetrating minds are always, from time to time, appearing in the world. These perceive and expose to view the gross delusions into which the people have fallen. The priests, corrupted by ambition and luxury, having relinquished their original severity of manners, have lost their influence. Mankind, awakening from their dream of superstition, are astonished to find that, instead of paying due homage to the Deity, they have actually been dishonouring him, by comparing him to images made of wood and stone, and by supposing him to inhabit temples built by mens hands. The devotional passion, uniting with the disapprobation of past folly, is kindled to its highest vehemence. The priests are driven away as impostors; the altars and images are broken down as instruments of an idolatry unworthy of God, and degrading to the human mind; and men resolve henceforth to honour the Author of the universe only by the pure contemplation and the spiritual admiration and worship of his excellent

nature.