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. VII. Against worshipping of things that are no substances.

WE find also that the Grecians, Romans, and others worshipped those things which have no subsistence, but are meer Acci∣dents of other things.

For to omit those uncouth Deities, the Fe∣ver, dame Impudence, and the like, let us name the better sort; such were health, which is nothing but a right temperature of the parts of the body: good fortune, which is an event that is correspondent to a Man's desire: The affections also, such as love, fear, anger, hope, and the rest, which proceed from the conside∣ration of something that is good or evil, easie or difficult; are certain motions or passions in that part of the mind which is united to the body, by the blood especially; not having any absolute power of themselves, but are subordinate hand maids to the commands of the will, their Mistress at least in their conti∣nuance and direction. Then for Vertues, whose Names are divers; Prudence, in chu∣sing what is profitable for us; Fortitude, in undertaking dangers; Justice, in abstaining from that which is another Man's; Tempe∣rance,

in the moderation of pleasures, &c. they are certain inclinations and propensions in the mind unto that which is right, grown up by long exercise and practice. Which as they may be augmented in a Man; so may they by neglect be diminished; nay quite lost and abolished. As for Honour (whereunto we read there were Temples dedicated) it is other Mens judgment, or good opinion, con∣cerning one whom they supposed indued with Vertue: which is often bestowed upon bad men, as well as good; by the natural prone∣ness there is in Men to erre in their judg∣ment.

These therefore having no subsistence, and therefore not to be compared in dignity and worth, with things that do subsist; nor ha∣ving any understanding of Mens prayers or veneration; it is most absurd and unreason∣able to worship them as Gods: when for this very thing He is to be worshipped, who can both give and preserve them.