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THE SECOND BOOKE 149
I will be dissolved, should we say, and be with Jesus
Christ. The forcible power of Platoes discourse of the
immortality of the soule provoked divers of his Schollers
unto death, that so they might more speedily enjoy the
hopes he told them of. All which is a most evident
token that we receive our religion but according to our
fashion and by our owne hands, and no otherwise than
other religions are received. We are placed in the
countrie where it was in use; where we regard her
antiquity, or the authority of those who have maintained
her; where we feare the menaces wherewith she
threatneth all misbeleevers, or follow her promises.
The considerations ought to be applied and employed
to our beleefe, but as subsidiaries : they be human
bonds. Another country, other testimonies, equall
promises, alike menaces, might semblaby imprint a
cleane contrary religion in us: we are Christians by
the same title as we are either Perigordins or Germans.
And as Plato saith: ' There are few so confirmed in
Atheisme but some great danger will bring unto the
knowledge of God's divine power.' The part doth not
touch or concerne a good Christian : It is for mortall
and worldly religions to be received by a humane
convoy. What faith is that like to be which cowardice
of heart doth plant and weakncsse establish in us ? A
goodly faith, that beleeves that which it beleeveth
onely because it wanteth the courage not to beleeve the
same. A vicious passion, as that of inconstancio and
astonishment is, can it possibly ground any regular
production in our mindes or soules ? They establish,
saith he, by the reason of their judgement, that whatsoever
is reported of hell, or of after-comming paines, is
but a fiction : but the occasions to make triall of it,
offering itselfe at what time age or sicknesse doth
summon them to death, the errour of the same, through
the horrour of their future condition, doth then replenish
them with another kind of beleefe. And because such
impressions make mens hearts fearfull, hee by his lawes
inhibiteth all instruction of such threats and the
perswasion that any evill may come unto man from the