The master of superstition is the people, and in all
superstition wise men follow fools; and arguments
are fitted to practice in a reversed order. It was
gravely said by some of the prelates in the Council
of Trent,2 where the doctrine of the schoolmen
bare great sway, that the schoolmen were like as-
tronomers, which did feign eccentrics ^ and epicyles,*
and such engines of orbs to save^ the phenomena,
though they knew there were no such things; and,
in like manner, that the schoolmen had framed a
number of subtle and intricate axioms and theorems,
to save the practice of the Church. The causes of
superstition are, pleasing and sensual rites and cer>
emonies ; excess of outward and pharisaical holiness ;
over-great reverence of traditions, whic)i cannot but
load the Church; the stratagems of prelates for
their own ambition and lucre ; the favoring too much
of good intentions, which openeth the gate to con-
ceits and novelties; the taking an aim at divine
matters by human, which cannot but breed mixture

1 The primary motive power.
^ This Council cominenced In 1646, and lasted eighteen years.
It was convened for the purpose of opposing the rising spirit of
Protestantism, and of discussing and settling the disputed points
of the Catholic faith.
• Irregular or anomalous movements.
^ An epicycle is a smaller circle, whose centre is in the ciicam-
ference of a greater one.
* To account for.
132 ESSAYS.
