Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

property, which by all is held inviolable? It is totally unhinged.

[ocr errors]

The propofition then is untenible as far as light can be drawn from reafon. At the fame time, the tribunal of reafon may be justly declined in this cafe. Reafon is the only touchstone of truth and falfehood: but the moral fenfe is the only touchstone of right and wrong. And to maintain, that the qualities of right and wrong are discoverable by reason, is no less abfurd than that truth and falfehood are difcoverable by the moral fenfe. The moral fenfe dictates, that on no pretext whatever is it lawful to do an act of injuftice, or any wrong (a) : and men, confcious that the moral fenfe governs in matters of right and wrong, fubmit implicitly to its dictates. Influenced however by the reafoning mentioned, men, during the nonage of the moral fenfe, did wrong currently in order to bring about a good end; witness pretended miracles and forged writings, urged without referve by every fect of Christians against their antagonists. And I am forry to obferve, that the error is not entirely

(4) See the fit part of this sketch, Sect. 3. at the end,

[blocks in formation]

eradicated miffionaries employ'd in converting infidels to the true faith, are little fcrupulous about the means: they make no difficulty to feign prodigies in order to convert those who are not moved by argument. Such pious frauds tend to fap the very foundations of morality.

SKETCH

SKETCH III.

Principles and Progrefs of Theology.

[ocr errors]

S no other fcience can vie with theology, either in dignity or importance, it juftly claims to be a favourite study with every perfon endued with true taste and folid judgement. From the time that writing was invented, natural religion has employ'd pens without number; and yet in no language is there found a connected hiftory of it. The prefent work will only admit a flight sketch which I fhall glory in, however imperfect, if it excite any one of fuperior talents to undertake a complete history.

CHAP.

CHA P. I.

Existence of a Deity.

THat there exist beings, one or many, powerful above the human race, is a propofition univerfally admitted as true, in all ages, and among all nations. I boldly call it univerfal, notwithstanding what is reported of fome grofs favages; for reports that contradict what is acknowledged to be general among men, require more ablet vouchers than a few illiterate voyagers. Among many favage tribes, there are no words but for objects of external fenfe: is it surprising, that fuch people are incapable to express their religious perceptions, or any perception of internal fenfe? and from their filence can it be fairly prefumed, that they have no fuch perception *? The

* In the language even of Peru, there is not a word for expreffing an abftract idea, fuch as time, endurance, Space, exiftence, fubftance, matter, body. It is no lefs defective in expreffing moral ideas, fuch

The conviction that men have of fuperior powers in every country where there are words to exprefs it, is fo well vouched, that in fair reasoning it ought to be taken for granted among the few tribes where language is deficient. Even the groffeft idolatry affords evidence of that conviction. No nation can be fo brutifh as to worship a stock or a stone, merely as fuch: the visible object is always imagined to be connected with fome invisible power; power; and the worship paid to the former, is as representing the latter, or as in fome manner connected with it. Every family among the ancient Lithuanians, entertained a real serpent as a household god; and the fame practice is at present univerfal among the negroes in the kingdom of Whidah it is not the ferpent that is worshipped, but fome deity imagined to refide in it. The ancient Egyptians were not idiots, to pay divine honours to a bull or a cat,

as virtue, justice, gratitude, liberty. The Yameos, a tribe on the river Oroonoko defcribed by Condamine, ufe the word poettarraroincoureac to exprefs the number three, and have no word for a greater number. The Brafilian language is nearly as barren.

as

« AnteriorContinuar »