d confine them in a cell where, in order to amuse himself
he could observe incognito their conduct through a trap-door, in order
to have occasion to cruelly punish all those who in walking should hurt
each other; but who would reward splendidly the small number of those to
whom the sight was spared, for having the skill to avoid an encounter
with their comrades. Such are the ideas which the dogma of gratuitous
predestination gives of Divinity!

Although men repeat to us that their God is infinitely good, it is
evident that in the bottom of their hearts they can believe nothing of
it. How can we love anything we do not know? How can we love a being,
the idea of whom is but liable to keep us in anxiety and trouble? How
can we love a being of whom all that is told conspires to render him
supremely hateful?

LXIII.--ALL RELIGION INSPIRES BUT A COWARDLY AND INORDINATE FEAR OF THE
DIVINITY.

Many people make a subtle distinction between true religion and
superstition; they tell us that the latter is but a cowardly and
inordinate fear of Divinity, that the truly religious man has confidence
in his God, and loves Him sincerely; while the superstitious man sees in
Him but an enemy, has no confidence in Him, and represents Him as a
suspicious and cruel tyrant, avaricious of His benefactions and prodigal
of His chastisements. But does not all religion in reality give us these
same ideas of God? While we are told that God is infinitely good, is it
not constantly repeated to us that He is very easily offended, that He
bestows His favors but upon a few, that He chastises with fury those to
whom He has not been pleased to grant them?

LXIV.--THERE IS IN REALITY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND THE MOST
SOMBRE AND SERVILE SUPERSTITION.

If we take our ideas of God from the nature of the things where we find
a mixture of good and evil, this God, according to the good and evil
which we experience, does naturally appear to us capricious, inconstant,
sometimes good, sometimes wicked, and in this way, instead of exciting
our love, He must produce suspicion, fear, and uncertainty in our
hearts. There is no real difference between natural religion and the
most sombre and servile superstition. If the Theist sees God but on the
beautiful side, the superstitious man looks upon Him from the most
hideous side. The folly of the one is gay of the other is lugubrious;
but both are equally delirious.

LXV.--ACCORDING TO THE