atis amici_?
but when I see them make matters of conscience of such toys and trifles, to
adore the devil, to endanger their souls, to offer their children to their
idols, &c. I must needs condole their misery. When I see two superstitious
orders contend _pro aris et focis_, with such have and hold, _de lana,
caprina_, some write such great volumes to no purpose, take so much pains
to so small effect, their satires, invectives, apologies, dull and gross
fictions; when I see grave learned men rail and scold like butter-women,
methinks 'tis pretty sport, and fit [6479]for Calphurnius and Democritus to
laugh at. But when I see so much blood spilt, so many murders and
massacres, so many cruel battles fought, &c. 'tis a fitter subject for
Heraclitus to lament. [6480]As Merlin when he sat by the lake side with
Vortigern, and had seen the white and red dragon fight, before he began to
interpret or to speak, _in fletum prorupit_, fell a weeping, and then
proceeded to declare to the king what it meant. I should first pity and
bewail this misery of human kind with some passionate preface, wishing mine
eyes a fountain of tears, as Jeremiah did, and then to my task. For it is
that great torture, that infernal plague of mortal men, _omnium pestium
pestilentissima superstitio_, and able of itself alone to stand in
opposition to all other plagues, miseries and calamities whatsoever; far
more cruel, more pestiferous, more grievous, more general, more violent, of
a greater extent. Other fears and sorrows, grievances of body and mind, are
troublesome for the time; but this is for ever, eternal damnation, hell
itself, a plague, a fire: an inundation hurts one province alone, and the
loss may be recovered; but this superstition involves all the world almost,
and can never be remedied. Sickness and sorrows come and go, but a
superstitious soul hath no rest; [6481]_superstitione imbutus animus
nunquam quietus esse potest_, no peace, no quietness. True religion and
superstition are quite opposite, _longe diversa carnificina et pietas_, as
Lactantius describes, the one erects, the other dejects; _illorum pietas,
mera impietus_; the one is an easy yoke, the other an intolerable burden,
an absolute tyranny; the one a sure anchor, a haven; the other a
tempestuous ocean; the one makes, the other mars; the one is wisdom, the
other is folly, madness, indiscretion; the one unfeigned, the other a
counterfeit; the one a diligent observer, the other an ape;