Thus, mythology, as we call it now, is simply a collection of the sayings by which men once described whatever they saw and heard in the countries where they lived. […] In the union of Zeus with most of his immortal wives, we shall find that an allegorical meaning is conveyed. […] She was the goddess of agriculture, and represented that portion of Gæa (the whole solid earth) which we call the earth’s crust, and which produces all vegetation. […] Iulus cried out in sport, “See; we are eating our tables!” […] As we see and learn by sight and light, it was natural to attribute to the light-god the progress in the arts.

Bacchus, on thee we call, in hymns divine, And hang thy statues on the lofty pine. […] Pleas’d with the false review secure he lies, And leaden slumbers press his drooping eyes, Shouting we seize the God; our force to evade, His various arts he summons to his aid. […] Even we, on earth, at intervals descry Gleams of the glory, streaks of flowing light, Openings of heaven, and streams that flash at night In fitful splendour, through the northern sky. […] How thankful should we be for these sublime, rational, encouraging, delightful ideas of the Deity, the all-directing mind; for this most precious knowledge, communicated unto us by our Lord Jesus Christ! How earnestly should we desire, how diligently endeavour, that this unsullied beam of celestial splendour, may enlighten our understandings, may purify our hearts, may elevate our affections, may guide our steps through all the changing scenes of this imperfect state, and may cheer our fainting spirits, in the awful hour of dissolution; that thus we may not have received the grace of God in vain.