second; for the fable of Jupiter and the Giants was told
many hundred years before that of Satan.

Thus far the ancient and the Christian mythologists differ
very little from each other. But the latter have contrived
to carry the matter much farther. They have contrived to
connect the fabulous part of the story of Jesus Christ with
the fable originating from Mount Etna; and, in order to
make all the parts of the story tye together, they have taken
to their aid the traditions of the Jews; for the Christian
mythology is made up partly from the ancient mythology,
and partly from the Jewish traditions.

The Christian mythologists, after having confined Satan
in a pit, were obliged to let him out again to bring on the
sequel of the fable. He is then introduced into the garden
of Eden in the shape of a snake, or a serpent, and in that
shape he enters into familiar conversation with Eve, who is
no ways surprised to hear a snake talk; and the issue of this
tête-à-tête is, that he persuades her to eat an apple, and the
eating of that apple damns all mankind.

After giving Satan this triumph over the whole creation,
one would have supposed that the church mythologists would
have been kind enough to send him back again to the pit, or,
if they had not done this, that they would have put a moun-
tain upon him, (for they say that their faith can remove a
mountain) or have put him under a mountain, as the former
mythologists had done, to prevent his getting again among
the women, and doing more mischief. But instead of this,
they leave him at large, without even obliging him to give
his parole. The secret of which is, that they could not do
without him; and after being at the trouble of making him,
they bribed him to stay. They promised him ALL the Jews,
ALL the Turks by anticipation, nine-tenths of the world
beside, and Mahomet into the bargain. After this, who can
doubt the bountifulness of the Christian Mythology?

Having thus made an insurrection and a battle in heaven,
in which none of the combatants could be either killed or
wounded -- put Satan into the pit -- let him out again -- given
him a triumph over the whole creation -- damned all mankind

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