then, must the unbeliever have received from nature, to prefer, in so great an inequality of proofs, the belief that he is created only for this earth, and favourably to regard himself as a vile assemblage of dirt and the companion of the ox and bull! What do I say? What a monster in the universe must be the unbeliever, who mistrusts the general belief only because it is too glorious for his nature; and believes that the vanity of men has alone introduced it on the earth, and has persuaded them that they are immortal.
But no, my brethren! These men of flesh and blood, with reason reject the honour which religion does to their nature, and persuade themselves that their soul is merely of earth, and that all dies with the body. Sensual, dissolute, and effeminate men, who have no other check than a brutal instinct; no other rule than the vehemence of their desires; no other occupation than to awaken, by new artifices, the cupidity already satiated; men of that character can have little difficulty to believe that no principle of spiritual life exists within them; that the body is the only being; and, as they imitate the manners of beasts, they are pardonable in attributing to themselves the same nature. But let them not judge of all men by themselves: there are still on earth chaste, pure, and temperate souls: let them not ascribe to nature the shameful tendencies of their own mind; let them not degrade humanity in general, because they have unworthily debased themselves. Let them seek out among men such as themselves; and, finding that they are almost singular in the universe, they shall then see that they are rather monsters than the ordinary productions of nature.
Besides, not only is the freethinker foolish, because that, even in an equality of proofs, his heart and glory should decide him in favour of faith, but likewise his own interest: for, as I have already said, what does he risk by believing? What disagreeable consequences will follow his mistake? He will live with honour, probity, and innocence 5 he will be mild, affable, just, sincere, religious, a generous friend, a faithful husband, and an equitable master: he will moderate his passions, which would otherwise have occasioned all the misfortunes of his life: he will abstain from pleasures and excesses which would have prepared for him a painful and premature old age, or a deranged fortune: he will enjoy the character of a virtuous man, and the esteem of mankind. Behold what he risks. — When all should even finish with this life, that surely is still the way to pass it with happiness and tranquillity: such is the only inconveniency I can find. If no eternal recompense shall follow, what will he have lost by expecting it? He has lost some sensual and momentary gratifications, which would soon have either fatigued him by the disgust which always follows their enjoyment, or tyrannized over him by the new desires they light up. He has lost the wretched satisfaction of being, for the instant he appeared on earth, cruel, unnatural, voluptuous, without faith, morals, or constancy; perhaps despised and disgraced in the midst of his own people. I can see no other misfortune: he sinks back to his original non-existence, and his error has no other consequence.
