infinite swarms of people that are seduced by them.
In the other extreme or in defect, march those impious
epicures, libertines, atheists, hypocrites, infidels,
worldly, secure, impenitent, unthankful, and carnal-minded
men, that attribute all to natural causes, that will
acknowledge no supreme power; that have cauterised
consciences, or live in a reprobate sense; or such
desperate persons as are too distrustful of his mercies.
Of these there be many subdivisions, diverse degrees
of madness and folly, some more than other, as shall
be shown in the symptoms: and yet all miserably
out, perplexed, doting, and beside themselves for
religion’s sake. For as [6341]Zanchy well
distinguished, and all the world knows religion is
twofold, true or false; false is that vain superstition
of idolaters, such as were of old, Greeks, Romans,
present Mahometans, &c. Timorem deorum inanem,
[6342]Tully could term it; or as Zanchy defines it,
Ubi falsi dii, aut falso cullu colitur Deus,
when false gods, or that God is falsely worshipped.
And ’tis a miserable plague, a torture of the
soul, a mere madness, Religiosa insania, [6343]Meteran
calls it, or insanus error, as [6344]Seneca,
a frantic error; or as Austin, Insanus animi morbus,
a furious disease of the soul; insania omnium insanissima,
a quintessence of madness; [6345]for he that is superstitious
can never be quiet. ’Tis proper to man
alone, uni superbia, avaritia, superstitio,
saith Plin. lib. 7. cap. 1. atque etiam
post saevit de futuro, which wrings his soul for
the present, and to come: the greatest misery
belongs to mankind, a perpetual servitude, a slavery,
[6346]_Ex timore timor_, a heavy yoke, the seal of
damnation, an intolerable burden. They that are
superstitious are still fearing, suspecting, vexing
themselves with auguries, prodigies, false tales,
dreams, idle, vain works, unprofitable labours, as
[6347]Boterus observes, cura mentis ancipite versantur:
enemies to God and to themselves. In a word,
as Seneca concludes, Religio Deum colit, superstitio
destruit, superstition destroys, but true religion
honours God. True religion, ubi verus Deus
vere colitur, where the true God is truly worshipped,
is the way to heaven, the mother of virtues, love,
fear, devotion, obedience, knowledge, &c. It
rears the dejected soul of man, and amidst so many
cares, miseries, persecutions, which this world affords,
it is a sole ease, an unspeakable comfort, a sweet
reposal, Jugum suave, et leve, a light yoke,
an anchor, and a haven. It adds courage, boldness,
and begets generous spirits: although tyrants
rage, persecute, and that bloody Lictor or sergeant
be ready to martyr them, aut lita, aut morere,
(as in those persecutions of the primitive Church,
it was put in practice, as you may read in Eusebius
and others) though enemies be now ready to invade,
and all in an uproar, [6348]_Si fractus illabatur
orbis, impavidos ferient ruinae_, though heaven should