rguments. Thus
perverse men cavil. So it will ever be, some of all sorts, good, bad,
indifferent, true, false, zealous, ambidexters, neutralists, lukewarm,
libertines, atheists, &c. They will see these religious sectaries agree
amongst themselves, be reconciled all, before they will participate with,
or believe any: they think in the meantime (which [6661]Celsus objects, and
whom Origen confutes), "We Christians adore a person put to [6662]death
with no more reason than the barbarous Getes worshipped Zamolxis, the
Cilicians Mopsus, the Thebans Amphiaraus, and the Lebadians Trophonius; one
religion is as true as another, new fangled devices, all for human
respects;" great-witted Aristotle's works are as much authentical to them
as Scriptures, subtle Seneca's Epistles as canonical as St. Paul's,
Pindarus' Odes as good as the Prophet David's Psalms, Epictetus'
Enchiridion equivalent to wise Solomon's Proverbs. They do openly and
boldly speak this and more, some of them, in all places and companies.
[6663]"Claudius the emperor was angry with Heaven, because it thundered,
and challenged Jupiter into the field; with what madness! saith Seneca; he
thought Jupiter could not hurt him, but he could hurt Jupiter." Diagoras,
Demonax, Epicurus, Pliny, Lucian, Lucretius,--_Contemptorque Deum
Mezentius_, "professed atheists all" in their times: though not simple
atheists neither, as Cicogna proves, _lib. 1. cap. 1._ they scoffed only at
those Pagan gods, their plurality, base and fictitious offices. Gilbertus
Cognatus labours much, and so doth Erasmus, to vindicate Lucian from
scandal, and there be those that apologise for Epicurus, but all in vain;
Lucian scoffs at all, Epicurus he denies all, and Lucretius his scholar
defends him in it:

[6664] "Humana ante oculua foede cum vita jaceret
In terris oppressa gravi cum religione,
Quae caput a coeli regionibus ostendebat,
Horribili super aspectu mortalibus instans," &c.

"When human kind was drench'd in superstition,
With ghastly looks aloft, which frighted mortal men," &c.

He alone, like another Hercules, did vindicate the world from that monster.
Uncle [6665]Pliny, _lib. 2. cap. 7. nat. hist._ and _lib. 7. cap. 55_, in
express words denies the immortality of the soul. [6666]Seneca doth little
less, _lib. 7. epist. 55. ad Lucilium, et lib. de consol. ad Martiam_, or
rather more. Some Greek Commentators would put as much upon Job, that he
should