The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

I need not tell you of the 288 Sects or Opinions de summo bono, which Varro said was in his days: The difference which you may find in Laertius, Hesechius, and others, between the Cynics, Peripatetics, Academics, Stoics, Sceptics, Epicureans, &c. with all their sub-divisions, are enow. In Japan, the twelve Sects, have their subdivisions. In China, the three general Sects, have so many subdivisions, that Varenius saith of them, [Singuli fonts Jabentibus paulatim seculis, à fraudum magistris in tot maeandros derivati sunt, ut sub triplici nomine trecentae mihi sectae inter se discrepantes numerari posse videantur: sed & hae quotidianis incrementis augentur, & in pejus ruunt.] Petrus Texeica saith of the Indians, [In Regno Gazeratensivarii sunt ritus & sectae incolarum, & quod mirum, vix familiam invenias in qua omnes congruant: alii comedunt carnem, alii nequaquam; alii comedunt quidem, sed non mactant animalia: alii nonnulla tantum animalia comedunt; alii tantum pisces; alii tantum lac & herbas, &c. Johan. a Twist. saith of the Indian Bramenes, Numerantur sectae praecipui nominis octoginta tres: sed praeter has minus illustrium magna est multitudo, ita ut singulae familiae peculiarem fere foveant religionem. It were endless to speak of all the Sects in Africa and America; to say nothing of the beastly part of them in Brazil, the Cape of good hope, that is, Soldania, and the Islands of Cannibals, who know no God, (nor Government, nor Civility some of them.) They are not only of as many minds as countries, but of a multitude of sects in one and the same country.

I need not tell you of the 288 Sects or Opinions de summo bono, which Varro said was in his days: The difference which you may find in Laertius, Hesechius, and others, between the Cynicks, Peripateticks, Academicks, Stoicks, Scepticks, Epicureans, &c. with all their sub-divisions, are enow. In Japan, the twelve Sects, have their subdivisions. In China, the three general Sects, have so many subdivisions, that Varenius saith of them, [Singuli fontes Iabentibus paulatim seculis, à fraudum magistris in tot maeandros derivati sunt, ut sub triplici nomine trecentae mihi sectae inter se discrepantes numerari posse videantur: sed & hae quotidianis incrementis augentur, & in pejus ruunt.] Petrus Texeica saith of the Indians, [In Regno Gazeratensivarii sunt ritus & sectae incolarum, & quod mirum, vix familiam invenias in qua omnes congruant: alii comedunt carnem, alii nequaquam; alii comedunt quidem, sed non mactant animalia: alii nonnulla tantum animalia comedunt; alii tantum pisces; alii tantum lac & herbas, &c. Johan. a Twist. saith of the Indian Bramenes, Numerantur sectae praecipui nominis octoginta tres: sed praeter has minus illustrium magna est multitudo, ita ut singulae familiae peculiarem fere foveant religionem. It were endless to speak of all the Sects in Africa and America; to say nothing of the beastly part of them in Brasil, the Cape of good hope, that is, Soldania, and the Islands of Cannibals, who know no God, (nor Government, nor Civility some of them.) They are not only of as many minds as countries, but of a multitude of sects in one and the same country.