The truth of Christian religion in six books / written in Latine by Hugo Grotius ; and now translated into English, with the addition of a seventh book, by Symon Patrick ...

SECT. IV. Against the worship, which in Paganisme is exhibited to Men after their Death.

MOreover there were heretofore and now also are Pagans, that tell us, they give honour and worship to the Souls of Men departed. But first they should have here also made some manifest distinction between this honour and that which is due unto the most high God: Then again, all prayers made to them are but vain and fruitless, unless those Spirits were able to give us something; of which their worshippers have no certainty: nor is there any more ground to say that they can, than that they cannot. But another thing is worst of all, to wit, that many of them to

whom such glory is given by the Heathen, in their life time were notoriously wicked, and addicted to one filthy vice or other: Thus Bacchus was a drunkard, and Hercules effe∣minate; Romulus proved a very villain to his Brother, and Jupiter a traytor to his own Fa∣ther. So that their honour redounds to the disgrace of the true GOD, and of Vertue which he loves: whilst Vices which are in∣ticing enough of themselves, it recommends to Men by Religion.