Hugo Grotius · 71 of 132

SECT. VI. Against the worship given to brute creatures.

BUT that which is of all things most abominable, is, that some men, particularly the Egyptians, fell into the worship even of beasts. For though in some of them there do appear, as it were, some shadow of understanding, yet it is nothing compared with man; for they cannot express their inward conceptions either by distinct words or writings; nor do they perform actions of different kinds, nor those of the same kind, in a different manner; and much less can they attain to the knowledge of number, magnitude, and of the celestial motions. But, on the other hand, man, by his cunning and subtlety, can catch the strongest creatures, wild beasts, birds, or fishes; and can in some measure bring them under rules, as elephants, lions, horses, and oxen; he can draw advantage to himself out of those that are most hurtful, as physic from vipers: and this use may be made of them all, which themselves are ignorant of, that by viewing the structure and situation of the parts of their bodies, and comparing together their several species and kinds, he learns his own excellency, and how much more perfect and noble the frame of the human body Is than others; which, if rightly considered, is so far from inclining him to worship other creatures, that he should rather think himself appointed their god in a manner, under the Supreme God.