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AlettertoincitetothesearchafterGod.
AndthentomakepeopleseekHimamongthephilosophers, sceptics, anddogmatists, whodisquiethimwhoinquiresofthem.
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TheconductofGod, whodisposesallthingskindly, istoputreligionintothemindbyreason, , butterror, terorrempotiusquamreligionem.
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Nisiterrerenturetnondocerentur, improbaquasidominatiovideretur (Aug., Ep.48or49), ContraMendaciumadConsentium.
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Order.—Mendespisereligion; theyhateit, , wemustbeginbyshowingthatreligionisnotcontrarytoreason; thatitisvenerable, toinspirerespectforit; thenwemustmakeitlovable, tomakegoodmenhopeitistrue; finally, wemustproveitistrue.
Venerable, becauseithasperfectknowledgeofman; lovable, becauseitpromisesthetruegood.
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Ineverydialogueanddiscourse, wemustbeabletosaytothosewhotakeoffence, "Ofwhatdoyoucomplain?"
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Tobeginbypityingunbelievers; ; butthisdoesthemharm.
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Topityatheistswhoseek, foraretheynotunhappyenough? Toinveighagainstthosewhomakeaboastofit.
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Andwillthisonescoffattheother? Whooughttoscoff? Andyet, thelatterdoesnotscoffattheother, butpitieshim.
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ToreproachMiton[85] withnotbeingtroubled, sinceGodwillreproachhim.
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Quidfiethominibusquiminimacontemnunt, majoranoncredunt?
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