ínonttítíng an'g .eaentptíon, 3z; ing to it, yet they are but frigidly expreff, and fo ob- Chap.' y. fcurely,that like Infcriptions in ancient Medals or Mar - bles which are defaced, they are hardly legible. This is the fingular Chara&er ofthe Gofpel,that diftinguifhes it from all humane Inftitutions ; it reprefents the infi- nite Amiablenefs ofGod, and his Goodnefs tous,to ex- cite our AffeEtions to him in a faperlative manner : it commands us tofollowhim as dear Children, and prefles us to Peek for thofe Difpofitions which may qualifie us for the enjoyment of him in a way of Friendfhip and Love. 3 .The bell Philofophers laid down this fervile and pernicious Maxim, That a wife Man fhould always con - form to the Religion of his Country. Socrateswho acknowledged one Su- preme God, yet (according to the cuuiifèl of the Oracle that directed all toSacrifice according to the Law ofthe City`advifed his Friends to comply with thecom- mon Idolatry,without any difference in the outwardwor- fhipofHim andcreatures;and thofewho did otherwife he branded as fuperftitious and vain. And his prai`fice was accordingly. For hefrequented the Temples, affifted at their Sacrifices, which he declares before his Judges, topurge himfelf from the Crime ofwhich he was accu- fed. Seneca fpeaking ofthe Heathen-worfhip acknow- ledges 'twas unreafonable, and only the multitude of fools rendred itexcufable; yet he would have a Philofo- pher to conform to thofe cuftoms in Obedience to the Law, not as pleating to the gods. Thus they made Religion adependence on theState. They performed the Rites of heathenifh Superftition, that were either filthy, phantaftical, or cruel,, fuch as1 the Devil the mailerofthofe Ceremonies ordained - They became T t z lets sr Xenop. 1. T. minor. Plato , agnor it unum Deum, íitmmGm Opifieenr u- lilyerfi,fcd pr,zter cum i}atuit`Deosdu- pikes, DRmonlU&Heroar, quibusfa- cra fieri juflit. Apul. Ut ucmo fue- rit dubiraturusfurore cos, fi cum pau- eioribusfure!cnt, nunc fani!atis parro- cinium infanienriumturba, qum omnia fapiens fervabit ranquam legibus infra, non ranquarn Diis grata. Arrg. liG.s. c. io. de Giroitat.
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