Your last and greatest accusation, or rather railing (for an accusation should contain, whether true or false, some particular fact, or certain words, out of which it might seem at least to be inferred), is, that I am an enemy to religion. Your words are: “_It is said that Mr. Hobbes is no otherwise an enemy to the Roman religion, saving only as it hath the name of religion_.” This is said by Vindex. You, the geometrician, in your epistle dedicatory, say thus: “_With what pride and imperiousness he tramples on all things both human and divine, uttering fearful and horrible words of God_, (peace), _of sin, of the holy Scripture, of all incorporeal substances in general, of the immortal soul of man, and of the rest of the weighty points of religion_ (down), _it is not so much to be doubted as lamented_.” And at the end of your objections to the eighteenth chapter, “_Perhaps you take the whole history of the fall of Adam for a fable, which is no wonder, when you say the rules of honouring and worshipping of God are to be taken from the laws_.” Down, I say; you bark now at the supreme legislative power. Therefore it is not I, but the laws which must rate you off. But do not many other men, as well as you, read my _Leviathan_ , and my other books? And yet they all find not such enmity in them against religion. Take heed of calling them all atheists that have read and approved my _Leviathan_ . Do you think I can be an atheist and not know it? Or knowing it, durst have offered my atheism to the press? Or do you think him an atheist, or a contemner of the Holy Scripture, that sayeth nothing of the Deity but what he proveth by the Scripture? You that take so heinously that I would have the rules of God’s worship in a Christian commonwealth taken from the laws, tell me, from whom you would have them taken? From yourselves? Why so, more than from me? From the bishops? Right, if the supreme power of the commonwealth will have it so; if not, why from them rather than from me? From a consistory of presbyters by themselves, or joined with lay-elders, whom they may sway as they please? Good, if the supreme governor of the commonwealth will have it so; if not, why from them, rather than from me, or from any man else? They are wiser and learneder than I. It may be so; but it has not yet appeared. Howsoever, let that be granted. Is there any man so very a fool as to subject himself to the rules of other men in those things which so nearly concern himself, for the title they assume of being wise and learned, unless they also have the sword which must protect them. But it seems you understand the sword as comprehended. If so, do you not then receive the rules of God’s worship from the civil power? Yes, doubtless; and you would expect, if your consistory had that sword, that no man should dare to exercise or teach any rules concerning God’s worship which were not by you allowed. See therefore how much you have been transported by your