Let. 1. Lord HERBERT f Cherbury. 11

going to the temple to pray, prons to him that he knew not ho w to perform that duty aright, and that therefore it was not ſafe for him to do it; but that he ſhould wait for a divine In- ſtructor to teach him how to behave both towards the gods and men; and that it was neceſſary that God ſhould ſcatter the dark- neſs which covered his ſoul, that he mignt be put in a condi- tion to diſcern good and evil. To the ſame purpoſe, Iambli- chus in Vita Pythag. cap. 28. ſpeaking of the principles of di- vine worſtip faith, It is manifeſt that thoſe things are to be „* done which are pleaſing to God, but what they are it is not ¹«*eaſy to know, except a man were taught them by God him- ſell, or by ſome perſon that had received them from God, or *«obtained the knowlege of them by ſome divine means.*

The third article mentioned by his Lordſhip as univerſally agreed on is, that piety and virtue is the principal part of God's vorldin, But not to urge that the proof he brings of an uni- verſal agreement in this prineĩple ſeems to be very defective, this article would be of no great uſe, except men were alſo gene-

rally agreed as to the nature and extent of true piety and virtue.

And it can ſcarce be reaf ſonably denied, that a revelation from God pointing out our way to us, and containing a clear ſigni- fication of the divine will, with regard to the particulars of the duty required of us, would be of great uſe. Lord Herbert himſelf, after having mentioned ſome virtues which were ho- noured among the aennn acknowlegeth, that beſides theſe there were many other things looked upon to be neceſſary to true piety, eſpecially thoſe things which ſhewed a devout or grateful temper towards the gods, and the obſervation of the public rites and ceremonies of religion“; which is in other words to ſay, that the joining in ſuperſtitious and idolatrous worſhip, for ſuch the eſtabliſned public worſhip was, made up a neceſſary part of the heathen piety and virtue, and was counted a principal ingredient in a good man's character.

As to the fourth article, that men muſt repent of their ſins, and that if they do ſo God will pardon them, it might eaſily be ſhewn that the Gentiles were far from being agreed what are to be accounted ſins; ſince ſome ſins and vices of a very enor- mous kind were not only practiſed and pleaded for by ſome of their philoſophers, but permitted and countenanced by the public laws, nor were they agreed what is included in a true repentance. His Lordſhip himſelf acknowlegeth, that the Antients ſeldom uſed the word repentance in the ſenſe ir rhich

f De Relig. Gentil. p. 250. Wée