would form the images of elephantine and pifmire-like, sheepish and lion-like gods.

THIS almoft general propenfity in men, of attributing to their deities the fame tempers, difpofitions, and paffions they experience in themselves, accounts clearly for the common opinion they have entertained of the cruelty of their gods; and this opinion, fo received, is also a strong and evident proof of the cruelty of mens hearts.

MEN experiencing, by and among themfelves, how closely power is generally connected with tyranny and cruelty, (inftances of which continually occur from the behaviour of the mafter to his fervants, the pedagogue

to

y In former times when, and in heathen countries where, fervants for the most part were flaves, they have been generally treated with extreme barbarity. The reverend Dr. Fortin, in his excellent Difcourfes concerning the Chriftian Religion, fays, that christianity hath in no fmall measure removed many enormities practised by pagans, and among others this vile treatment of fervants. It would have been very happy, and redounded greatly to the honour of chriftianity, if this religion had ftill more effectually cured all the evils he mentions, and this evil particularly. In European countries, where fervants are not flaves, but can quit their fervices in a manner when they please, and are under the protection of the laws, it is not in the power of mafters to use them with fo much cruelty as it may be justly feared many would otherwise do: but in the American plantations too many of our fellow-chriftians, I fpeak it with great concern,

ufe

to his pupils, and the abfolute monarch to his flaves) and having ascribed to their gods unlimited power, they have attributed to them alfo boundless tyranny and cruelty.

THAT far the greater part of mankind, of all ages, nations, and religions, have formed these opinions of the cruelty of the deities or deity they worshipped, is evident from numberless instances.

PAGANS have generally fuppofed that their gods frequently punished them with the most grievous calamitiés, as famine, pefilence, &c. and this many times only for omitting fome infignificant, ridiculous ceremony in their worship, or not giving credit to fome improbable idle tale told them by their foothfayers or priests, or on fuch-like frivolous accounts: and as they imagined that

their

ufe their flaves with fuch horrid barbarity, as could not be exceeded by any heathens. The worthy and learned author above-mentioned has, in a note, given us an inftance how Seneca (a heathen) hath pleaded the cause of fervants: this plea is so just, so reasonable and humane, that I cannot but transcribe it: Servi funt? imo homines. Servi funt? imo contubernales. Servi funt? imo humiles amici. Servi funt? imo confervi, fi cagitaveris tantundem in utrofque licere fortunæ, &c. p. 148. ex epist. Sen. 47.

We must nevertheless acknowledge, that too few fervants are so faithful, diligent, and affectionate, as to be justly esteemed humble friends: however, it is certain their fuperiors ought always to confider them as of the same fpecies with themfelves, and behave to them with humanity.

and cruel up

their deities were thus angry on very flight provocations, fo they fometimes believed as flight atonements would appease them: a fong and a dance, a feftival or a stage-play, were frequently made ufe of for that purpofe". And among the Romans particularly, when they were afflicted with the plague, to atone for their fins, and deprecate the anger of their gods, it was usual for them to chuse a dictator on purpose to drive a nail in the temple of Jupiter: and when the magistrate had performed this folemn feat, he immediately laid down his office.

THAT pagans, who frequently deified their fellow-creatures, particularly their most tyrannical and barbarous princes, and adored gods who were patrons of their vices as well as of their virtues, fhould believe their deities thus cruel, is not greatly to be wondered at: but that people profeffing to worship One God of infinite goodness, fhould entertain the fame fentiments concerning him, is both highly abfurd and astonishing

NOTWITHSTANDING which, it is notorious that the generality of Jews, Chriftians,

and

2 The reader will probably think, that in these kinds of atonements, as well as numbers of other religious per⚫ formances, pagans have been very nearly copied by many chriftians.

and Mohammedans, who all pretend at leaft to believe in this One God, do represent him ftill more cruel than the heathens did their gods.

THE Jews were taught to believe, and many chriftians are wife enough to entertain and propagate the fame opinion, that the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and tranf greffion and fin, will by no means clear the guilty, but vifit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the fourth generation":

THERE are also many other inftances in the Old Teftament of the Jews believing that God punished the innocent for the crimes of the guilty one more example of this kind, and a flagrant one it is, may fuffice.

In the book of Chronicles, chapter the xxist, it is written, that king David ordered Ifrael to be numbered. This was probably from a motive of pride: however, it does not seem to be a fin of the deepeft dye, nor to be compared, for the heinoufnefs of it, with many other crimes committed by this man after God's

a Exodus xxxiv. 6 & 7. The generality of chrrtians have indeed carried this opinion much farther than to the third and fourth generation: they have extended it from the first man to the laft; for all Adam's pofterity are, it seems, to be punished for his fin.

"

God's own heart: neverthelefs God, we are told, "was fo displeased with this thing, "that he therefore fmote Ifrael with a pesti"lence, and deftroyed feventy thousand "men. Now it is certain, if this numbering the Ifraelites was a crime, David was guilty of it, and not the people. David himfelf was fo fenfible of this, that he thus expoftulated with God: Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have finned, &c. but as for thefe fheep, what have they done? It is indeed evident that the people could no more prevent their being numbered than a flock of fheep could, nor were guilty of a greater fin in being fo. However, after God had on this account de ftroyed a multitude of them, even seventy thousand men, as we have juft feen, be repented him of the evil, and faid to the angel that deftroyed, It is enough, flay now thine bands:

4

SUCH were the opinions which pagans and Jews entertained concerning the cruelty of the deities or deity they worshipped, in thus inflicting temporal punishments on them in this world: but the greateft of temporal punishments are only light afflictions, if compared with everlafting torments, which the generality of men, who believe a future ftate,

e Chronicles xxi. 15.

fay,