🚀 go-pugleaf

threats is not to put religion there,
but terror; terorrem potius quam religionem.22

186. Nisi terrerentur et non docerentur, improba quasi dominatio videretur
(St. Augustine, Epistle 48 or 49),[23] Contra Mendacium ad Consentium.

187. Order.--Men despise religion; they hate it and fear it is true. To
remedy this, we must begin by showing that religion is not contrary to
reason; that it is venerable, to inspire respect for it; then we must make
it lovable, to make good men hope it is true; finally, we must prove it is
true.

Venerable, because it has perfect knowledge of man; lovable because it
promises the true good.

188. In every dialogue and discourse, we must be able to say to those who
take offence, "Of what do you complain?"

189. To begin by pitying unbelievers; they are wretched enough by their
condition. We ought only to revile them where it is beneficial; but this
does them harm.

190. To pity atheists who seek, for are they not unhappy enough? To inveigh
against those who make a boast of it.

191. And will this one scoff at the other? Who ought to scoff? And yet, the
latter does not scoff at the other, but pities him.

192. To reproach Milton with not being troubled, since God will reproach
him.

193. Quid fiet hominibus qui minima contemnunt, majora non credunt?[24]

194. ... Let them at least learn what is the religion they attack, before
attacking it. If this religion boasted of having a clear view of God, and of
possessing it open and unveiled, it would be attacking it to say that we see
nothing in the world which shows it with this clearness. But since, on the
contrary, it says that men are in darkness and estranged from God, th