Letter VII His Ascribing it to State Policy
Sir,
I find you sensible in your
last, that fear could not be the cause, but the effect and consequent of
a belief of a deity; and that no tolerable reason can be given of the natural
fear and dread of a God, if there were no such being: so that the atheist
being beaten out of this subterfuge; I proceed in this to.
Another device, which
he seeks to take shelter in, and that is, to ascribe the notion of a deity,
to state policy, and to make the belief of it a contrivance of cunning
men, to keep the world in awe.
This is a new device invented and propagated
by some in this latter age who (as a great man hath told us) imagine that
great prince or politician, like Nebuchadnezer, set up this image of a
deity, and commanded all people and nations to fall down and worship.
Worship it: And this
being found an useful engine of state, to keep men in obedience to Government,
hath been receiv’d by all princes and states ever since. A goodly
device indeed ! and no doubt the issue of some wise and politick head-piece;
and to make it the more plausible; the insist at large, upon the reason
why it should be cherish’d and countenanc’d by all princess, viz. Because
of the good influence it hath upon the awing the people into obedience.
Again,
They tell us of the
peoples readiness to comply with the humours and practices of princes,
who giving their example and encouragement herein, are easily followed
and imitated by their subject: by which means this notion, having the stamp
of authority upon it hath pass’d current, and is generally embrac’d and
kept up in the world: This is the fumm of what they have to say in this
matter. Now here we may observe,
I. That this devise
plainly supposes the usefulness of religion, of mankind, and how greatly
it conduces to the good order and government of the world; which shows
it to be the interest of mankind to wish it true; and (one would think)
should rather incline men to embrace, than evade so useful a notion.
But by whom was this
engine of state devis’d? where or when did this great prince of politician
live, that first found out this Arcanum imperii, this great secret of mystery
of government? What proof is there alleg’d for any such contrivance? Why,
none at all; no such discovery hath been yet made of the author or this
invention; it still remains a mystery, as well as an engine of state, a
cobweb spun out of some fanciful and subtle brain; in a word, tis a mere
conjecture, taken up without the least appearance of reason, or proof for
any part of it.
Indeed, the
thing appears in it self impracticable; for how is it possible for the
wisest politician to rivet such a notion into the minds of all men, that
should never get out? Where is the person that ever did such a feat? And
if no such one be any where to be found, we may safely conclude the deep
and lasting impressions of a deity upon men’s minds, to proceed not from
the art of man, but from the finger of God.
Beside, this is an
improbable way of compassing the design: for the subtlest politicians are
wont to work upon the inclinations they find planted in men’s nature; but
do not hope to put new ones into them: They are wise enough to know , that
men are more easily led, then driven; and therefore chose rather to make
use of those principles they find them already possess’d of, than go about
to infuse new. Hence it come to past, the princes reap the benefit
of peace and order from principles they never sowed in the hearts of their
subjects, but found planted there: and ‘tis most certain, that the people
are much more aw’d and kept to their duty, by the natural imperfections
of religion, than by any artificial methods of policy of contrivance.
So that politicians promote their ends, not by making religion in the minds
of men: for tho’ reason of state may cherish, it can never create the notion
of a deity.
But have princes and
politicians been more free from the fears of a deity or the terrors of
another world, than other men? This would be, if religion were only a device
or engine of the state: where we see and find quite the contrary, for they
have the same sense and impressions of these things with other men, and
can no more rid there minds of them, then the meanest of their subjects:
History tells us, how some of the Roman emperors were wont to be frighten
with the noise of thunder; as thinking it was the voice of God: We read
how Caligula us’d to creep under a bed at the sound of it, taking it for
a sign of anger and displeasure of the heaven; and we read o many other
great persons and states men, who have been alarm’d with the fears of a
God, and the terrors of another world : Now if religion were only a juggle
of state, or a politick device of cunning men: how come they to be thus
terrified with there own contrivance? Men are not wont to be affrighted
with bugbears of their own making, or to tremble at that which they know
to be mere scarecrow; ‘tis plain, the greatest and wisest persons that
have ever been, have known of no such cheat in religion, for if they had,
no account could be given of those fears and troubles of conscience, which
they in all ages had about it.
Beside, ‘tis hard
to conceive, how all the princes and potentates of the earth should agree
together to entertain a fiction: and tho’ they have such different designs
and interest, should yet conspire to devise and promote a notion that is
void of all reason or truth.
Or if they could,
how is it to be imagin’d that the people should be all so ready to receive
it? They are not want so easily to believe their governours upon
their bare word, or embrace a notion that hath so plain a design upon their
peace and welfare: Yea the more subtle and politick they take their governours
to be, the more they are apt to suspect them; and to pry into the reasons
of their counsels and intentions.
Lastly, if the notions
of a God were only a politick contrivance to keep the world in awe, or
a device fram’d in some men’s heads, to cozen into obedience to them, how
comes it to pass, that this was never discover’d; in any age? Sure
it would have been found out one time other; Cheats do not always continue
undiscover’d; Truth commonly breaks out, and time lays open
the imposture: if then this pretended secret was never known or discover’d
any, but remains still as much a secret as ever, we may very well conclude
it to be it self a juggle and fiction of some men’s brain; or a device
of the atheist to cozen and deceive himself.
I am, Sir, Yours,
A.B.