This doubtless was great ; but it was,
1. Blind—
[Who was Diana ? What had she clone for them ? What could a senseless image do for them? Or what difference would there be in the power of that image, whether it was made with hands, or fell down (as they foolishly supposed) from Jupiter, who himself was only a creature of their vain imaginations? Yet for the honour of this idol are they transported beyond all bounds of sense and reason : and when Alexander beckoned to them with his hand, in order to engage their attention to what he had to say to them on the subject* they would not listen to him for a moment, but for the space of two hours cried out all together, " Great is Diana of the Ephesians ! " We wonder at the extreme blindness of these benighted heathens : but amongst Christians there are very many who can give no better reason for the hope that is in them, or for the religion they profess, than those could who were so zealous for the honour of Diana.]
2. Interested —
[Demetrius, and the workmen of the like occupation with himself, pretended not to regard their gains, or at least not to account them as any thing in comparison of their religion: but it is manifest, that a concern for their temporal interest was the real source of all their disquiet : and, had their gains been increased by the introduction of Christianity, instead of being diminished, they would have left to others the task of vin- dicating the honour of their goddess'"1. Now this gives us an insight into all the different religions that obtain in the world, not excepting even Christianity itself, as it has been debased by the great majority of its adherents. They are all founded in priestcraft. Men, with a view of exalting themselves, and advancing their own interests, have invented gods and god- desses, and ceremonies by which they were to be worshipped ; and have prevailed upon their fellow-countrymen to adopt their cunningly-devised fables : and, having once gained an ascendant over the minds of others, they have contrived to inspire them with reverence and zeal for the systems thus promulged, and to secure to themselves thereby a permanent support. Hence the priests have uniformly opposed all who have attempted to rectify the errors of the people : and this is the true reason of Popery having taken so deep a root in the minds of men : the Pope and the subordinate priests find their account in upholding all the superstitions with which they have obscured the Christian faith ; and the people, deluded and kept
» See ver. 25, 27.