That it is plaine by this discouery of the Pagan gods vanity, that they cannot giue eternall life, hauing not power to helpe in the temporall. CHAP. 12.
NOw for the three Theologies, mythycall, physicall and politicall: or fabu∣lous, naturall and ciuill: That the life eternall is neither to be expected from the fabulous, for that the Pagans themselues reiect and reprehend, nor from the ciuill, for that is prooued but a part of the other: if this bee not sufficient to proue, let that bee added which the fore-passed bookes containe, chiefely the 4. concerning the giuer of happinesse: for if Felicity were a goddesse, to whom should one goe for eternall life but to her? But being none, but a gift of GOD, to what god must we offer our selues, but to the giuer of that felicity, for that eter∣nall and true happinesse which wee so intirely affect? But let no man doubt that none of those filth-adored gods can giue it: those that are more filthyly angry vnlesse that worship be giuen them in that manner, and herein proouing them∣selues direct deuills: what is sayd I thinke is sufficient to conuince this. Now hee that cannot giue felicity how can he giue eternall life? eternall life, wee call end∣lesse felicity, for if the soule liue eternally in paines, as the deuills do, that is rather * 1.1 eternall death. For there is no death so sore nor sure, as that which neuer endeth. But the soule beeing of that immortall nature, that it cannot but liue some way, therefore the greatest death it can endure is the depriuation of it from glory, and constitution in endlesse punishment. So hee onely giueth eternall life (that is endlessely happy) that giueth true felicity. Which since the politique gods can∣not giue, as is proued: they are not to bee adored for their benefits of this life as wee shewed in our first fiue precedent bookes: and much lesse for life eternall, as this last booke of all, by their owne helpes hath conuinced. But if any man thinke (because old customes keepe fast rootes) that we haue not shewne cause sufficient for the reiecting of their politique Theology, let him peruse the next booke, which by the assistance of GOD I intend shall immediately follow this former.