Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 2.djvu/313

intend their devotions to some invisible power, of greatest goodness and ability to help them; which, perhaps, will take in the brightest attributes, ascribed to the divinity. Others again inform us, that those idolaters adore two principles; the principle of good, and that of evil: which, indeed, I am apt to look upon, as the most universal notion, that mankind, by the meer light of nature, ever entertained of things invisible. How this idea has been managed by the Indians, and us, and with what advantage to the understandings of either, may well deserve to be examined. To me, the difference appears little more than this, that they, are put oftener upon their knees by their fears, and we, by our desires; that the former, set them a praying, and us, a cursing. What I applaud them for, is, their discretion in limiting their devotions and their deities, to their several districts, nor ever suffering the liturgy of the white God, to cross or to interfere with that of the black. Not so with us, who, pretending by the lines and measures of our reason, to extend the dominion of one invisible power, and contract that of the other, have discovered a gross ignorance in the natures of good and evil, and most horribly confounded the frontiers of both. After men have lifted up the throne of their divinity to the cœlum empyræm, adorned with all such qualities and accomplishments, as themselves seem most to value and possess: after they have sunk their principle of evil to the lowest centre, bound him with chains, loaded him with curses, furnished him with viler dispositions than any rake-hell of the town, accoutred him with tail, and horns, and huge claws, and saucer eyes; I laugh aloud to see these rea-