We ought, it is true, to remove superstition from the persuasion we
have of the gods, as we would the gum from our eyes; but if that be
impossible, we must not root out and extinguish with it the belief
which the most have of the gods; nor is that a dismaying and sour
one either, as these gentlemen feign, while they libel and abuse
the blessed Providence, representing her as a witch or as some fell
and tragic fury. Yea, I must tell you, there are some in the world
that fear God in an excess, for whom yet it would not be better not
so to fear him. For, while they dread him as a governor that is
gentle to the good and severe to the bad, and are by this one fear,
which makes them not to need many others, freed from doing ill and
brought to keep their wickedness with them in quiet and (as it
were) in an enfeebled languor, they come hereby to have less
disquiet than those that indulge the practice of it and are rash
and daring in it, and then presently after fear and repent of it.
Now that disposition of mind which the greater and ignorant part of
mankind, that are not utterly bad, are of towards God, hath, it is
very true, conjoined with the regard and honor they pay him, a kind
of anguish and astonished dread, which is also called superstition;
but ten thousand times more and greater is the good hope, the true
joy, that attend it, which both implore and receive the whole
benefit of prosperity and good success from the gods only.
And this is manifest by the greatest tokens that can be;
for neither do the discourses of those that wait at the temples,
nor the good times of our solemn festivals, nor any other actions
or sights more recreate and delight us than what we see and do
about the gods ourselves, while we assist at the public ceremonies,
and join in the sacred balls, and attend at the sacrifices and
initiations. For the mind is not then sorrowful depressed, and