24.8. 8. Of the Connection between the moral Laws and those of Religion.
In a country so unfortunate as to have a religion that God has not
revealed, it is necessary for it to be agreeable to morality; because
even a false religion is the best security we can have of the probity of
men.
The principal points of religion of the inhabitants of Pegu
[5]
are,
not to commit murder, not to steal, to avoid uncleanliness, not to give
the least uneasiness to their neighbour, but to do him, on the contrary,
all the good in their power. With these rules they think they should be
saved in any religion whatsoever. Hence it proceeds that those people,
though poor and proud, behave with gentleness and compassion to the
unhappy.
Footnotes
[5]
"Collection of Voyages that Contributed to the Establishment of
the East India Company," vol. iii, part I, p. 63.
