The oracles of old were thus delivered by priests dedicated to the
service of the God who was supposed to inspire them. The glare of
worldly pomp which surrounded these impostors, and the respect paid to
them by artful politicians, who knew how to avail themselves of this
useful engine to bend the necks of the strong under the dominion of
the cunning, spread a sacred mysterious veil of sanctity over their
lies and abominations. Impressed by such solemn devotional parade, a
Greek, or Roman lady might be excused, if she inquired of the
oracle, when she was anxious to pry into futurity, or inquire about
some dubious event: and her inquiries, however contrary to reason,
could not be reckoned impious.- But, can the professors of
Christianity ward off that imputation? Can a Christian suppose that
the favourites of the most High, the highly favoured, would be obliged
to lurk in disguise, and practise the most dishonest tricks to cheat
silly women out of the money- which the poor cry for in vain?
Say not that such questions are an insult to common sense- for it is
your own conduct, O ye foolish women! which throws an odium on your
sex! And these reflections should make you shudder at your
thoughtlessness, and irrational devotion.- For I do not suppose that
all of you laid aside your religion, such as it is, when you entered
those mysterious dwellings. Yet, as I have throughout supposed
myself talking to ignorant women, for ignorant ye are in the most
emphatical sense of the word, it would be absurd to reason with you on
the egregious folly of desiring to know what the Supreme Wisdom has
concealed.
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