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[179]
And this very thing it is that principally creates such a wonderful
agreement of minds amongst us all; for this entire agreement of ours in
all our notions concerning God, and our having no difference in our course
of life and manners, procures among us the most excellent concord of these
our manners that is any where among mankind; for no other people but the
Jews have avoided all discourses about God that any way contradict one
another, which yet are frequent among other nations; and this is true not
only among ordinary persons, according as every one is affected, but some
of the philosophers have been insolent enough to indulge such contradictions,
while some of them have undertaken to use such words as entirely take away
the nature of God, as others of them have taken away his providence over
mankind. Nor can any one perceive amongst us any difference in the conduct
of our lives, but all our works are common to us all. We have one sort
of discourse concerning God, which is conformable to our law, and affirms
that he sees all things; as also we have but one way of speaking concerning
the conduct of our lives, that all other things ought to have piety for
their end; and this any body may hear from our women, and servants themselves.
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