Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…

2. They can give no account of what they so boldly assert. What Historian ever recorded, that in such an age, such a Prince introduced the belief of a Deity to make obedience to his Law's, to be a point of Religion. 'Tis true, Politicians have sometimes used artifice and deceit to accomplish their ends. Lycurgus pretended the direction of Apollo, and Numa of the Nymph Egeria, to recommend their Laws to the People. Scipio and Sertorious made some other God to be of their Council of War, to encourage their Soldiers in dangerous enterprises. ⟨p. 96⟩But this mask only deceived the ignorant. The more intelligent discerned the finesse of their politic contrivance.

2. They can give no account of what they so boldly assert. What Historian ever recorded, that in such an age, such a Prince introduc'd the belief of a Deity to make obedience to his Law's, to be a point of Religion. 'Tis true, Politicians have sometimes used artifice and deceit to accomplish their ends. Lycurgus pretended the direction of Apollo, and Numa of the Nymph Egeria, to recommend their Laws to the People. Scipio and Sertorious made some other God to be of their Council of Warr, to encourage their Souldiers in dangerous interprises. ⟨p. 96⟩But this mask only deceived the ignorant. The more intelligent discern'd the finess of their politick contrivance.

3. Is it conceivable that the belief of the Deity, if its original were from a civil decree, should remain in force so long in the World? False opinions in Philosophy, adorned with great eloquence by the inventors, and zealously defended for a time by their followers, though opposite to no Mans profit or pleasure, yet have lost their credit by further inquiries. And if the notion of a God were^* sophisticate Gold, though authorized with the Royal stamp, could it have endured the Touchstone, and the Fire for so many ages without discovery? could it have past the test of so many searching Wits, that never