lf of the expense which their
frivolous worship cost the nations, would have sufficed to enlighten
them perfectly upon morality, politics, philosophy, medicine,
agriculture, etc. Superstition nearly always absorbs the attention, the
admiration, and the treasures of the people; they have a very expensive
religion; but they have for their money, neither light, virtue, nor
happiness.

CCIV.--CONTINUATION.

Some ancient and modern philosophers have had the courage to accept
experience and reason as their guides, and to shake off the chains of
superstition. Lucippe, Democritus, Epicurus, Straton, and some other
Greeks, dared to tear away the thick veil of prejudice, and to deliver
philosophy from theological fetters. But their systems, too simple, too
sensible, and too stripped of wonders for the lovers of fancy, were
obliged to surrender to the fabulous conjectures of Plato, Socrates, and
Zeno. Among the moderns, Hobbes, Spinoza, Bayle, and others have
followed the path of Epicurus, but their doctrine found but few votaries
in a world still too much infatuated with fables to listen to reason.

In all ages one could not, without imminent danger, lay aside the
prejudices which opinion had rendered sacred. No one was permitted to
make discoveries of any kind; all that the most enlightened men could do
was to speak and write with hidden meaning; and often, by a cowardly
complaisance, to shamefully ally falsehood with truth. A few of them had
a double doctrine--one public and the other secret. The key of this last
having been lost, their true sentiments often became unintelligible and,
consequently, useless to us. How could modern philosophers who, being
threatened with the most cruel persecution, were called upon to renounce
reason and to submit to faith--that is to say, to priestly authority--I
say, how could men thus fettered give free flight to their genius,
perfect reason, or hasten human progress? It was but in fear and
trembling that the greatest men obtained glimpses of truth; they rarely
had the courage to announce it; those who dared to do it have generally
been punished for their temerity. Thanks to religion, it was never
permitted to think aloud or to combat the prejudices of which man is
everywhere the victim or the dupe.

CCV.--WE COULD NOT REPEAT TOO OFTEN HOW EXTRAVAGANT AND FATAL RELIGION
IS.

Every man who has the boldness to announce truths to the world, is sure
to receive the hatred of the p