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and statesmen , her lawyers and philosophers , similarly disposed . Miaucius Felix , in his eloquent work entitled Octavius , which contains an account of a discussion between two Roman barristers , one of them a Christian convert , when on a
visit to a watering-place in the long vacation , has given an interesting sketch of the principles of the sceptical supporters of the Established religion in ancient Rome in the character of Caecilius , one of the least
objectionable of the tribe , who thus inveighs against the then prevailing Nonconformity of the early Christians : * 46 It will be easy to shew that all things amongst men are doubtful , uncertain , pendulous , and rather probable than true , to the less wonder of
many who , weary in the clear search of truth , rather quickly yield to any opinion than persevere in a pertinacious diligence to find it out . Wherefore , with indignation or pity we ought to look on some who , unstudied , illiterate , uucunnins in all arts
but sordid , dare peremptorily decree maxims of Divine Majesty , whereiu philosophy itself , through so many ages and variety of sects , can but yet deliberate : and not without cause ; since human mediocrity is so far from reaching divine things , as those things which are above us in heaven
suspended and sublimated , or hid in the profundity of the earth beneath us , no ability have we to know , ' tis not permitted to search , neither religious to question . But since over indulgent to a mad . vain enrinsitv- wp will np ^ rle to a madvain curiositwe will needs
, y , wander beyond the limits of our mean condition , and transcend with a bold desire even heaven and the stars themselves , let us see whether we may a little stay this error with an earnest and undaunted disquisition . " If the seeds of the elements do
naturally come together and crondensate themselves , why must God be here an author ? If by casual concursion the members of the universe do join , are digested and formed , why must Divinity contrive the work ? If
* The old translation of Richard James , ¦ 16 3 G , though somewhat pedantic and antiquated , is here preferred to that of P . B . ** ° n < l . 1708 , the style of which is tame and mean .
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fire kindle the stars , and the ccelestiai matter sublime itself , if the earth have foundation in his own weight , and the sea flow out of moisture , why is this religion , this fear , this
superstition ? Man and ever \ creature that is born hath his being from breath and nourishment ; this is the voluntary concretion of I lie elements into which man aud ev ^ rv creature else is
divided , dissolved and scattered . So all things return into the fountain of themselves with a natural revolution , without artificer , judge or author . So we every day see new suns , from the elementary seeds of fire collected together , new clouds growing from
the exhaled vapours of the earth $ these rise , thicken and coagulate in the air , then with their own weight fall down into flux of rain , blast of wind and storm of hail , or in collision make rolling claps of thunder , flashes of lightning ; and if bolts fls out they
fall any where , rush on mountains , bear down trees , touch temples no less than profane houses , strike irnpioiivS men and often the most religious . What shall J speak of tempests alike various and uncertain , without orderwithout examinationhnrlinor orderwithout examinationhurling
, , , , impetuously where they light ? In shipwrack alike destiny mixeth the good with the bad , and confounds their merits ; fire discerns not the innocent from the guilty , and when any tract of heaven is infected with
pestilent contagion , all die without difference . When the fury of war rageth , the best people fall soonest ; also in peace many times wickedness is not only equalized , but exalted above virtue ; and in manv wicked a man knows not whether he should
more hate their impiety or bless their fortune . But , if the world were governed by Divine Providence and -. authority , never should Phalaris and Dionysius merit a kingdom , Rutilius and Camillus be rewarded with
banishment , and Socrates with poison . Behold the trees laden with fruit , the fields white unto the harvest ; these and the full-grown vintage are corrupted with showers or beaten down with hail . So is truth either hidden and kept to us uncertain , or , that which is most credible from these divers lubricities of chance , fortune free from all laws doth seignorize the world .
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Tlw Nonconformist . ! No . X . SOQ
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1819, page 309, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1772/page/29/
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