Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. It is unaccountable how it should endure so long a time. That this Policy should be so fortunate as to gain ground in the Consciences of men, and exercise an Empire over them, and meet with such an universal success. If the Notion of a God were a a State-Engine and introduced by some Politic Grandees for the ease of Government, and preserving people with more facility in order, how comes it to pass the first broachers of it were never upon record? there is scarce a false opinion vented in the World, but may as a stream be traced to the first head and fountain. The Inventors of particular forms of worship are known, and the reasons why they prescribed them known; but what Grandee was the Author of this? who can pitch a time and person that sprung up this Notion? If any be so insolent as to impose a cheat, he can hardly be supposed to be so successful as to deceive the whole world for many ages: Impostures pass not free through the whole world without Examination and discovery; Falsities have not been universally and constantly owned without control and question. If a cheat imposeth upon some Towns and Countries, he will be found out by the more piercing enquiries of other places; and it is not easy to name any Imposture that hath walked so long in its disguise in the World, without being unmasked and whipped out by some Nation or other: If this had been a mere trick, there would have been as much craft in some to discern it as there was in others to contrive it. No Man can be imagined so wise in a Kingdom, but others may be found as wise as himself: And it is not conceivable, that so many clear sighted men in all ages should be ignorant of it, and not endeavour to free the world from so great a falsity.^* It cannot be found that a trick of State should always beguile men of the most piercing insights, as well as the most credulous: That a few crafty men should befool all the wise men in the world; and the world lie in a belief of it and never like to be freed from it. What is the reason the succeeding Politicians never knew this Stratagem, since their Maxims are usually handed to their Successors?²

2. It is unaccountable how it should indure so long a time. That this Policy should be so fortunate as to gain ground in the Consciences of men, and exercise an Empire over them, and meet with such an universal success. If the Notion of a God were a a State-Engine and introduced by some Politick Grandees for the ease of Government, and preserving people with more facility in order, how comes it to pass the first broachers of it were never upon record? there is scarce a false opinion vented in the World, but may as a stream be traced to the first head and fountain. The Inventors of particular forms of worship are known, and the reasons why they prescribed them known; but what Grandee was the Author of this? who can pitch a time and person that sprung up this Notion? If any be so insolent as to impose a cheat, he can hardly be supposed to be so successful as to deceive the whole world for many ages: Impostures pass not free through the whole world without Examination and discovery; Falsities have not been universally and constantly owned without controul and question. If a cheat imposeth upon some Towns and Countries, he will be found out by the more peircing enquiries of other places; and it is not easy to name any Imposture that hath walked so long in its disguise in the World, without being unmasked and whipped out by some Nation or other: If this had been a meer trick, there would have been as much craft in some to discern it as there was in others to contrive it. No Man can be imagined so wise in a Kingdom, but others may be found as wise as himself: And it is not conceivable, that so many clear sighted men in all ages should be ignorant of it, and not endeavour to free the world from so great a falsity.