Disputation IX: On Superstition

I shall now treat of the sins and vices opposed to Religion, which indeed on both sides lie at the extremes, whether by excess or by defect; in excess the first place is occupied by Superstition: For since, according to the saying of Tertullian, the Daemon presents himself as the Ape of Divine worship, he strives above all that men, under the appearance of piety, should abuse the Most Sacred names, rites, and mysteries in his own worship; whence the sense of true Religion will often degenerate into the most wicked abominations, and he strives to take all creatures into the ministry of wickedness. Hence have arisen several species of superstitions, which I shall run through in order below.