Page:Works of Plato, vol. 1 (Dacier,1701).pdf/338

Rh Impiety is the ruin, both’ of particular Perons and States.

Socrates collects from this indefinite Anwer, that Holines is the Art of acrificing and praying. To actifice is to give, and to pray is to ask. So that Holines conits in giving and asking. Such things only are ask'd as are wanted, and uch thing only given as are neceary to thoe to whom they are given; for it would be ridiculous to give a thing which they have no occasion for.

From hence he drqaws this Concluion, that Holines is a a Traffick between God and Man. But what profit can God receive from our Offerings? For as for us ’tis very viible what profit we receive from him, ince we have not the leat Good but what proceeds from his Bounty: Are we then o crafty (ays he) to draw all the Advantage of this Commerce to our elves only, o that God gets nothing by it?

Eutyphron pre'd with this Argument, huts up all in aying, that God leaves what is profitable to us, and contents himelf with that which is pleaant, and that 'tis our Respect, and Gratitude that is o pleaant to him, which returns exactly to the former Definition, that that is Holy which is pleaing to the Gods.

Socrates hows him, that he has hitherto only made a Circle, and entreats him not to refué him the knowledge of o great a good. But Eutyphron like a true Votary of Superition, who is always preumptous, and, never confes his Ignorance, eeks only how to get rid of him, and refers this Enquiry to another time, telling him ome urgent Buines calls him elewhere.

Thus ends this Dialogue, which detroys the fale Opinions which then reign’d in the World, without etablihing the true. The Death of Socrates occaion’d Plato to write thus imperfectly and sparingly. Beides this is his Method, he always refutes before he teaches. But his manner of refuting fails not to make a dicovery by way of