of chastity, of fidelity, which it is often so difficult to observe, and which there may be so many strong motives to violate? But upon the tolerable observance of these duties, depends the very existence of hu|man society, which would crumble into nothing if mankind were not generally im|pressed with a reverence for those impor|tant rules of conduct.
This reverence is still further enhanced by an opinion which is first impressed by nature, and afterwards confirmed by rea|soning and philosophy, that those impor|tant rules of morality, are the commands and laws of the Deity, who will finally re|ward the obedient, and punish the trans|gressors of their duty.
This opinion or apprehension, I say, seems first to be impressed by nature. Men are naturally led to ascribe to those myste|rious beings, whatever they are, which happen in any country, to be the object of religious fear, all their own sentiments and passions. They have no other, they can conceive no other to ascribe to them. Those unknown intelligences which they imagine but see not, must necessarily be formed with some sort of resemblance to
