Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

But suppose it were a Tradition, was it likely to be a mere intention and figment of the first Man? Had there been no reason for it, this Posterity would soon have found out the weakness of its Foundation: What advantage had it been to him to transmit so great a falsehood to kindle the fears or raise the hopes of his Posterity, if there were no God? It cannot be supposed he should be so void of that natural affection, men in all ages bear to their Descendants, as so grossly to deceive them, and be so contrary to the simplicity and plainness which appears in all things nearest their Original.

But suppose it were a Tradition, was it likely to be a meer intention and figment of the first Man? Had there been no reason for it, this Posterity would soon have found out the weakness of its Foundation: What advantage had it been to him to transmit so great a falshood to kindle the fears or raise the hopes of his Posterity, if there were no God? It cannot be supposed he should be so void of that natural affection, men in all ages bear to their Descendents, as so grosly to deceive them, and be so contrary to the simplicity and plainness which appears in all things nearest their Original.

2. Neither was it by any mutual Intelligence of Governors among themselves to keep people in subjection to them. If it were a political design at first, it seems it met with the general nature of Mankind very ready to give it entertainment.

2. Neither was it by any mutual Intelligence of Governours among themselves to keep people in subjection to them. If it were a political design at first, it seems it met with the general nature of Mankind very ready to give it entertainment.

I. It is unaccountable how this should come to pass. It must be either by a joint Assembly of them, or a mutual Correspondence. If by an Assembly, who were the persons? let the name of any one be mentioned, When was the time? Where was the place of this appearance? By what Authority did they meet together? Who made the first motion, and first started this great Principle of Policy? By what means could they assemble from such distant parts of the World? humane Histories are utterly silent in it, And the Scripture, the ancientest History gives an account of the attempt of Babel, but not a word of any design of this nature.