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operates on him more powerfully than on the rest of mankind
in any other circumstances； and self…interest with equal
force。 His auditors may not have； and commonly have not；
sufficient judgement to canvass his evidence： What judgement
they have； they renounce by principle； in these sublime and
mysterious subjects： Or if they were ever so willing to
employ it； passion and a heated imagination disturb the
regularity of its operations。 Their credulity increases his
impudence： And his impudence overpowers their credulity。
Eloquence； when at its highest pitch； leaves little
room for reason or reflection； but addressing itself
entirely to the fancy or the affections； captivates the
willing hearers； and subdues their understanding。 Happily；
this pitch it seldom attains。 But what a T/ULLY or a
D/EMOSTHENES could scarcely effect over a R/OMAN or
A/THENIAN audience； every ； every itinerant or
stationary teacher can perform over the generality of
mankind； and in a higher degree； by touching such gross and
vulgar passions。
The many instances of forged miracles； and prophecies；
and supernatural events； which； in all ages； have either
been detected by contrary evidence； or which detect
themselves by their absurdity； prove sufficiently the strong
propensity of mankind to the extraordinary and the
marvellous； and ought reasonably to beget a suspicion
against all relations of this kind。 This is our natural way
of thinking； even with regard to the most common and most
credible events。 For instance： There is no kind of report
which rises so easily； and spreads so quickly； especially in
country places and provincial towns； as those concerning
marriages； insomuch that two young persons of equal
condition never see each other twice； but the whole
neighbourhood immediately join them together。 The pleasure
of telling a piece of news so interesting； of propagating
it； and of being the first reporters of it； spreads the
intelligence。 And this is so well known； that no man of
sense gives attention to these reports； till he find them
confirmed by some greater evidence。 Do not the same
passions； and others still stronger； incline the generality
of mankind to believe and report； with the greatest
vehemence and assurance； all religious miracles？
。 It forms a strong presumption against all
supernatural and miraculous relations； that they are
observed chiefly to abound among ignorant and barbarous
nations； or if a civilized people has ever given admission
to any of them； that people will be found to have received
them from ignorant and barbarous ancestors； who transmitted
them with that inviolable sanction and authority； which
always attend received opinions。 When we peruse the first
histories of all nations； we are apt to imagine ourselves
transported into some new world； where the whole frame of
nature is disjointed； and every element performs its
operations in a different manner； from what it does at
present。 Battles； revolutions； pestilence； famine and death；
are never the effect of those natural causes； which we
experience。 Prodigies； omens； oracles； judgements； quite
obscure the few natural events； that are intermingled with
them。 But as the former grow thinner every page； in
proportion as we advance nearer the enlightened ages； we
soon learn； that there is nothing mysterious or supernatural
in the case； but that all proceeds from the usual propensity
of mankind towards the marvellous； and that； though this
inclination may at intervals receive a check from sense and
learning； it can never be thoroughly extirpated from human
nature。
； a judicious reader is apt to say； upon
the perusal of these wonderful historians； 。 But it is
nothing strange； I hope； that men should lie in all ages。
You must surely have seen instances enough of that frailty。
You have yourself heard many such marvellous relations
started； which； being treated with scorn by all the wise and
judicious； have at last been abandoned even by the vulgar。
Be assured； that those renowned lies； which have spread and
flourished to such a monstrous height； arose from like
beginnings； but being sown in a more proper soil； shot up at
last into prodigies almost equal to those which they relate。
It was a wise policy in that false prophet；
A/LEXANDER； who though now forgotten； was once so famous；
to lay the first scene of his impostures in P/APHLAGONIA；
where； as L/UCIAN tells us； the people were extremely
ignorant and stupid； and ready to swallow even the grossest
delusion。 People at a distance； who are weak enough to think
the matter at all worth enquiry； have no opportunity of
receiving better information。 The stories come magnified to
them by a hundred circumstances。 Fools are industrious in
propagating the imposture； while the wise and learned are
contented； in general； to deride its absurdity； without
informing themselves of the particular facts； by which it
may be distinctly refuted。 And thus the impostor above
mentioned was enabled to proceed； from his ignorant
P/APHLAGONIANS； to the enlisting of votaries； even among
the G/RECIAN philosophers； and men of the most eminent rank
and distinction in R/OME； nay； could engage the attention
of that sage emperor M/ARCUS A/URELIUS； so far as to make
him trust the success of a military expedition to his
delusive prophecies。
The advantages are so great； of starting an imposture
among an ignorant people； that； even though the delusion
should be too gross to impose on the generality of them
（） it has a
much better chance for succeeding in remote countries； than
if the first scene had been laid in a city renowned for arts
and knowledge。 The most ignorant and barbarous of these
barbarians carry the report abroad。 None of their countrymen
have a large correspondence； or sufficient credit and
authority to contradict and beat down the delusion。 Men's
inclination to the marvellous has full opportunity to
display itself。 And thus a story； which is universally
exploded in the place where it was first started； shall pass
for certain at a thousand miles distance。 But had
A/LEXANDER fixed his residence at A/THENS； the
philosophers of that renowned mart of learning had
immediately spread； throughout the whole R/OMAN empire；
their sense of the matter； which； being supported by so
great authority； and displayed by all the force of reason
and eloquence； had entirely opened the eyes of mankind。 It
is true； L/UCIAN； passing by chance through P/APHLAGONIA；
had an opportunity of performing this good office。 But；
though much to be wished； it does not always happen； that
every A/LEXANDER meets with a L/UCIAN； ready to expose and
detect his impostures。＇28＇
I may add as a reason； which diminishes the
authority of prodigies； that there is no testimony for any；
even those which have not been expressly detected； that is
not opposed by an infinite number of witnesses； so that not
only the miracle destroys the credit of testimony； but the
testimony destroys itself。 To make this the better
understood； let us consider； that； in matters of religion；
whatever is different is contrary； and that it is impossible
the religions of ancient R/OME； of T/URKEY； of S/IAM； and
of C/HINA should； all of them； be established on any solid
foundation。 Every miracle； therefore； pretended to have been
wrought in any of these religions （and all of them abound in
miracles）； as its direct scope is to establish the
particular system to which it is attributed； so has it the
same force； though more indirectly； to overthrow every other
system。 In destroying a rival system； it likewise destroys
the credit of those miracles； on which that system was
established； so that all the prodigies of different
religions are to be regarded as contrary facts； and the
evidences of these prodigies； whether weak or strong； as
opposite to each other。 According to this method of
reasoning； when we believe any miracle of M/AHOMET or his
successors； we have for our warrant the testimony of a few
barbarous A/RABIANS： And on the other hand； we are to
regard the authority of T/ITUS L/IVIUS； P/LUTARCH；
T/ACITUS； and； in short； of all the authors and witnesses；
G/RECIAN； C/HINESE； and R/OMAN C/ATHOLIC； who have
related any miracle in their particular religion； I say； we
are to regard their testimony in the same light as if they
had mentioned that M/AHOMETAN miracle； and had in express
terms contradicted it； with the same certainty as they have
for the miracle they relate。 This argument may appear over
subtile and refined； but is not in reality different from
the reasoning of a judge； who supposes； that the credit of
two witnesses； maintaining a crime against any one； is
destroyed by the testimony of two others； who affirm him to
have been two hundred leagues distant； at the same instant
when the crime is said to have been committed。
One of the best attested miracles in all profane
history； is that which T/ACITUS reports of V/ESPASIAN； who
cured a blind man in Alex