28. Can any man, who has
accepted the first principles even of reason, be found to mar or
dishonour the unchanging nature of Deity with morals so vile? to credit
the gods with natures such as human kindness has often charmed away and
moderated in the beasts of the field? How,3998
| 3998
Lit., “where, I ask, is the (assertion) that,” etc. |
I ask, can it be said that the gods
are
far removed from any feeling of passion? that they are
gentle,
lovers of
peace, mild? that in the completeness of their excellence
they reach
3999
the height of
perfection, and the highest
wisdom also? or, why should we
pray them to
avert from us misfortunes and calamities, if we find that they are
themselves the
authors of all the ills by which we are
daily
harassed? Call us impious as much as you please, contemners of
religion, or
atheists, you will never make us believe in gods of
love
and
war, that there are gods to sow strife, and to disturb the mind by
the stings of the furies. For either they are gods in very truth,
and do not do what you have related; or if
4000
| 4000 In
the ms. these words, aut si, are
wanting. |
they do the things which you say, they are
doubtless no gods
at all.
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