The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
_Yet is it to be referred to sins of imprudence._] Many find fault
that I have referred atheism to imprudence, and not to injustice;
yea by some it is taken so, as if I had not declared myself an
enemy bitter enough against atheists. They object further, that
since I had elsewhere said that it might be known _there is a God_
by natural reason, I ought to have acknowledged that they sin at
least against the law of nature, and therefore are not only guilty
of imprudence, but injustice too. But I am so much an enemy to
atheists, that I have both diligently sought for, and vehemently
desired to find some law whereby I might condemn them of
injustice. But when I found none, I inquired next what name God
himself did give to men so detested by him. Now God speaks thus of
the atheist: _The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God_.
Wherefore I placed their sin in that rank which God himself refers
to. Next I show them to be enemies of God. But I conceive the name
of an enemy to be sometimes somewhat sharper, than that of an
unjust man. Lastly, I affirm that they may under that notion be
justly punished both by God, and supreme magistrates; and
therefore by no means excuse or extenuate this sin. Now that I
have said, that it might be known by natural reason _that there is
a God_, is so to be understood, not as if I had meant that all men
might know this; except they think, that because Archimedes by
natural reason found out what proportion the circle hath to the
square, it follows thence, that every one of the vulgar could have
found out as much. I say therefore, that although it may be known
to some by the light of reason that there is a God; yet men that
are continually engaged in pleasures or seeking of riches and
honour; also men that are not wont to reason aright, or cannot do
it, or care not to do it; lastly, fools, in which number are
atheists, cannot know this.
[Sidenote: What the sin of treason is.]