Page:Works of Plato, vol. 1 (Dacier,1701).pdf/17

6  A Discourse on Plato. There are some who pretend the abovementioned Passage of Plato is a Prophecy, because the Terms don't agree with the Circumstances of Socrates, who was put to death only by a draught of Poyson, but precisely sute with those of the Saviour of the World, who was both scourged and crucified. But we shall not presume to make a Prophet of our Philosopher, from whom Reason alone, when mov'd by the injustice of Men, might extort such exaggerated Expressions; but shall content our selves' to enquire what there may be in his Writings conformable to the designs of God, who always desir'd the Salvation of Men, and often made use of the Pagans for the execution of his eternal Decrees. We understand by the Holy Scripture, which is the only Lamp of Truth, that natural Religion was the first use Men made of their Reason, that Lust and irregular Passions having corrupted their Reason, they abandon'd themſelves to the sacrilegious worship of Idols, and that God to stop the course of this Abomination made himself known a second time, and gave the Jewish Law; which as it reviv'd in the minds of Men the Principles of the Law of Nature, so it promis'd a more sacred and perfect Covenant which the Righteous were to expect, and which alone was capable of triumphing over Death, and so alone able to conduct Men to a glorious Immortality. Plato seems to have been acquainted with the Divine Conduct in this matter, and to endeavour to reclaim the Heathens by the same means. He endeavours to reestablish Natural Religion by opposing Paganism which was the corruption of it. &nbsp He gives a Law which in its principal heads is entirely conformable to the Tradition of the Hebrews, and the Precepts of Moses and the Prophets; from whom he has borrowed that which is most rational and substantial in his Works. And he supports this Law by a great many Principles more sublime than those of natural Religion, Dated by Google