wherein all the reason and philosophy of atheism is confuted, and

Chap. IV. PlutarchV Agreement of Pagan Religions. 459and then of Thcutes, and Theutates. Laftly, the generality of the Pagansat this very day, as the Indians^ Chinefes, Sic.menfes and Guiuea.'is, the inhabitantsof Peru, Mexico, Virginia, and ISlsiv England, (feme of which arefufficiently barbarous) acknowledge one fupreme or greateft God ; theyhaving their fevcral proper names for him, as Parmifcer, Fct'Jfo, IViracocha^Pachacamac, Vitzilipulzti, &c. though worfhipping with.il other gods andidols. And we fhali conclude this with the teftimony of Jcfephus Accjla :d^ ^,.,^_ /„.Hoc commune apiid omnes pe?;e Barbaras eft, ut Beum quidem omnium rcrum fu- dor. i,al. I 5,fremitm (3 fumme bonuni fateantur \ fpirituum vera quorundam perverforumM'inonobfcura opinio fit, qui a nof.rii Barbaris Zupay vocari folent. Jgitur tfqu}S ille fiimmus, idemque fernpiternus rerum omnium opifcx, quern il!i ignoraniescohint, per omnia doceri debent ; viox quantum ab illo, illiufque fidelibus m:~niftris ayigelis, atfint gens pejfima cacodsir.onum. "This is common ahnoft to allthe Barbarians, to cotifefs one fupreme God over all, who is pcrfe£t'y good ; asalfo they have a perfuafon amon'^ft them of certain evil fpirits, ivhich are calledby our Barbarians Zv.p.xy. II herefore they ought to be firft trjell inftruHedywhat that fupreme and eternal mcker of all things is, whom they ignorantly•aafip ; and then bow great a difference there is betwixt thofe wicked damans,and his faithful miniftcrs, the angels.XXVIII, It hath been already declared, that according to Themiftius andSymmachus, two zealous Pagans, one and the fame fupreme God was wor-(hipped in all the fcveral Pagan religions throughout the world, though afterdifferent manners. Which diverfiry of religions, as in their opinion itwas no way inconvenient in itfclf, fo neither was it ungrateful nor unacceptableto Almighty God, it being more for his honour, ftate, and grandeur,to be worfhipped wiih liiis variety, than after one only manner. Now, thatthis was alio the opinion of o.hcr ancienter Pagans before them, may appearfrom this remarkable teflimony of P!utarch*s in his book De I/ide,where defending the Egyptian worfliip, (which was indeed the main defij,nof that whole book;) but withal declaring, that no inanimate thingought to be looked upon or worlLipped as a God, he writeth thus : » yx^ Sv P. 377.Sfa? ivofAta-xy-iv, v^ tTf.'Kj Ttao !«'«*