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

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

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

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5 20 Tlj<strong>of</strong>e Natures <strong>of</strong> Things deified., Book I,only according to <strong>the</strong> poetical, but alfo to <strong>the</strong> political <strong>and</strong> civil <strong>the</strong>ology <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Pagans, <strong>the</strong>fe accidental things <strong>of</strong> nature, <strong>and</strong> affetlions <strong>of</strong> fubftances,perfonated, were made fo many gods <strong>and</strong> goddefles ; Cicero himfelf in h<strong>is</strong>L. 2. book <strong>of</strong> laws approving <strong>of</strong> fuch political gods as <strong>the</strong>fe : Bene verb, quod menHy[Cap. XI. Y'-pietas, virtus, fides, confecralur tnanu ;quarum ctimium Romas dedicata pub-33S4-] lice templa funt, ut ilia, qui habeant (habent autem omnes boni) deos ipfos inanim<strong>is</strong>fu<strong>is</strong> collocates putent. It <strong>is</strong> well, that mind, piety, virtue, <strong>and</strong> faith, areconfecrated, (<strong>all</strong> which have <strong>the</strong>ir temples publickly dedicated at Romej thatfo <strong>the</strong>y, who p<strong>of</strong>fefs <strong>the</strong>fe things, (as <strong>all</strong> good men do) may think, that <strong>the</strong>y have<strong>the</strong> gods <strong>the</strong>mfelves placed in <strong>the</strong>ir minds. And himfelf makes a Jaw for<strong>the</strong>m in h<strong>is</strong> own commonwealth, but with a cautionary provifion, that noevil <strong>and</strong> vicious things be confecrated amongft <strong>the</strong>m : Aft olla, propter quadatur homini adfcenfus in coelum, mentemy virtutem, pietatem, fidem, earumquelaudum delubra funto. Nee ulla vitiormn folcmnia obeunto. Let <strong>the</strong>m alfo'joorfhip th<strong>of</strong>e things, by means where<strong>of</strong> men afcend up to heaven ; <strong>and</strong> let <strong>the</strong>re beflmnes or temples dedicated to <strong>the</strong>m. But let vo religious ceremonies he performedto vicious things.Notwithft<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>all</strong> which, according to that <strong>the</strong>ology <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pagans,which was c<strong>all</strong>ed by Varro natural, (whereby <strong>is</strong> meant not that whichwas phyfiological only, but that which <strong>is</strong> true <strong>and</strong> real) <strong>and</strong> by Sccevolaphil<strong>of</strong>ophical ; <strong>and</strong> which <strong>is</strong> by both opp<strong>of</strong>ed, not only to <strong>the</strong> poetical<strong>and</strong> fabulous, but alfo to <strong>the</strong> political <strong>and</strong> civil: I fiy, according to th<strong>is</strong><strong>the</strong>ology <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>irs, <strong>the</strong>fe accidental things <strong>of</strong> nature deified could by nomeans be acknowledged for true <strong>and</strong> proper gods ; becaufe <strong>the</strong>y were f<strong>of</strong>ar from having any life <strong>and</strong> fenfe in <strong>the</strong>m, thiU <strong>the</strong>y had not fo much asuVor-aa-iu j^ »C'''^^ (iny real fubfiflence or fubflantial efjence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own.And thus does Origen difpute againft Minerva^ godfhip, as tropologic<strong>all</strong>yTag. ifiz, interpreted to prudence, 'iW Si ^ r^oTro^^oyvrxt ^ xiy-iuon (p^im^K; mai ri 'A^riw,voi^x^H

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