to adore that, of which we cannot possibly judge? To admire these
views, is it not to admire without knowing why? Admiration is always
the daughter of ignorance. Men admire and adore only what they do not
comprehend.


47. All those qualities, ascribed to God, are totally incompatible
with a being, who, by his very essence, is void of all analogy with
human beings. It is true, the divines imagine they extricate themselves
from this difficulty, by exaggerating the human qualities, attributed
to the Divinity; they enlarge them to infinity, where they cease to
understand themselves. What results from this combination of man with God?
A mere chimera, of which, if any thing be affirmed, the phantom, combined
with so much pains, instantly vanishes.

Dante, in his poem upon _Paradise_, relates, that the Deity appeared
to him under the figure of three circles, forming an iris, whose
lively colours generated each other; but that, looking steadily upon
the dazzling light, he saw only his own figure. While adoring God,
it is himself, that man adores.


48. Ought not the least reflection suffice to prove, that God can
have none of the human qualities, all ties, virtues, or perfections?
Our virtues and perfections are consequences of the modifications
of our passions. But has God passions as we have? Again: our good
qualities consist in our dispositions towards the beings with whom
we live in society. God, according to you, is an insulated being.
God has no equals--no fellow-beings. God does not live in society.
He wants the assistance of no one. He enjoys an unchangeable felicity.