_1st_, He discovers himself a downright Atheist. This Charge will be easily Made good against him by Comparing his _Nubes_ with his other _Plays_. The Design of his _Nubes_ was to expose _Socrates_, and make a Town jest of him. Now this Philosopher was not only a Person of great Sence and Probity, but was likewise suppos'd to refine upon the Heathen Theology, to throw off the Fabulous part of it, and to endeavour to bring it back to the Standard of Natural Religion. And therefore _Justin Martyr_ and some others of the _Fathers_, look'd on him as a Person of no Pagan Belief, and thought he suffer'd for the Unity of the God-Head. This Man _Aristophanes_ makes fine sport with as he fancies: He puts him in a Fools Coat, and then points at him. He makes _Socrates_ instruct his Disciple _Strepsiades_ in a new Religion, and tell him that _he did not own the Gods in the vulgar Notion_. He brings him in elswhere affirming that the _Clouds are the only Deities_.[67] Which is the same Lash which _Juvenal_ gives the _Jews_, because they worship'd but one single Soveraign Being. _Nil præter Nubes & Coeli numen adorant._[68] _Socrates_ goes on with his Lecture of Divinity and declares very roundly that there is no such thing as _Jupiter_.[69] Afterwards he advances farther, and endeavours to get _Strepsiades_ under Articles to acknowledge no other Gods, but _Chaos_, the _Clouds_, and the _Tongue_.[70] At last the _Poet_ brings the Philosopher to publick Pennance for his Singularities. He sets fire to his _School_ for teaching Young People (as he pretends) to dispute against Law and Justice; for advancing Atheistick Notions, and burlesquing the Religion of the Country.[71]