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The number of their gods, saith Dr. Priestly, exceeds that of any other people, that we are acquainted with. "I have often been told, says an American missionary, who left Bombay, on account of his health, there are three hundred and thirty millions of gods.

They apply to different deities, according to their different occasions. In sickness, they apply to one god; on a journey, to another; and, when engaged in war to a third.

"Notwithstanding the general opinion, that Brimha, Vishnou, and Sheevah, had the same origin, and bear the same relation to the Supreme Being, some of the Hindoos attach themselves to one of them, and others, to another; and the generality only worship one of the three." What ideas they have of the moral character of these gods, may be conjectured from the following fact. "They say, that these divine personages quarrelled and fought; that, during the battle, the earth trembled, and the stars fell from the firmament." From other sources, and those the most authentic, it appears, that the moral character of Hindoo gods is absolutely abominable.

Worship, paid to the souls of the dead, is a great article in the Hindoo system; and is mentioned we are told, in almost every page of the Institutes of Mence.

All these neighboring nations, whose religions bear some affinity to that of the Hindoos, are polytheists. The Siamese say, that the reign of a deity is limited to a certain number of years; after which he sinks into eternal repose, and another succeeds him in the government of the universe.

It appears, that there was before the christian era, a sect of philosophers in India, denominated Sammanes. These Dr. Priestly supposes to be the same with those, who are now called Schammans, in Siberia. In the tenets and practices of the Schammans, saith he, we may see a faint outline of the religion of the Hindoos. They believe in one God, the maker of all things; but they think, that he pays no attention to the affairs of men, leaving the government of the

world to inferior beings, to whom, therefore, all their devo. tioes are addressed.

Perfectly accordant with this, is the representation of Mr. Nott, lately missionary from this country at Bombay, "It is not to be understood," says he," that those who wor ship the gods, by means of images, pay, at the same time, an indirect worship to the great Supreme. The worship of their gods is not a mode of worshipping the Supreme, but a substitute for it."

The Hindoos suppose, not only, that there are superior beings of very different dispositions, some friendly, and others unfriendly to men, but think, the best disposed of them are sometimes partial, obstinate, and vindictive; and, over the manevolent deities, they place one of much superior power, whom they call Shaitan. But though he is very wicked, they think it possible to appease him; and therefore to him they address much of their worship.

In Japan, the religion, as in India, appears to be polytheism in subordination to theism; i. e. they acknowledge numerous gods; but one is believed to be supreme over the rest. Many of them consider this supreme god, as far above all human adoration; and for this cause, address their devotions to deities of subordinate rank. They are gross idolators, as will appear from the following testimony of Dr. Thunberg, as quoted by Bigland. "In the midst of their temple, saith he, sat Quanwon, (the name of one of their divinities,) furnished with thirty six hands. Near him were placed sixteen images about the size of men, but much less than the idol. These occupied a separate room, and parti? tioned off as it were to themselves. On both sides next to these, stood two rows of gilt idols, each with twenty hands. Afterwards were placed in rows on each side, idols of the size of a man, quite close to each other, the number of which I could not reckon. The whole number of idols in this solemn recess of superstition, is said to be not less than thirty three thousand three hundred and thirty three." Bigland, iv. 395.

It was remarked in the last lecture, that not only departed spirits, but living men have received divine worship. The emperors of Rome were worshipped as gods. In that extensive country called Thibet, lying west of China, we find a whole nation paying divine honors to a living mortal, under the title of the grand Lama. He is the great object of adoration, not only to the inhabitants of Thibet, "but to the various tribes of heathen Tartars, who roam through the vast tract of continent, which stretches from the banks of the Wolga to Korea, or the Japan sea." He is considered by some, as the vicegerent of deity, and by others as Deity himself. He is never to be seen, but in a secret place of his palace, amidst a great number of lamps, sitting cross legged on a cushion, and adorned all over with gold and precious stones; where, at a distance they prostrate themselves before him, it not being lawful for any to kiss, even his feet. The orthodox opinion is, that, when the grand Lama seems to die, either of old age or infirmity, his soul, in fact, only quits a crazy habitation to look for another, younger and better: and it is discovered again in the body of some child, by certain tokens known only to the lamas, or priests, in which order he always appears."

In the Mahratta country, not far from Bombay, divine honors are paid to a god denominated the Deo of Chimchose; i. e. to a boy about twelve years old, in whom Ganesa, the god of prudence, is supposed to have become incarnate. The deity was visited in the year 1809 by Mr. Graham, whose testimony was confirmed to Mr. Nott, by an eye witness, who accompanied him in the visit, which he describes. Nott's Ser. 71.

It has long since been reported, that in the south of Africa there were whole nations, among whom were to be found no ideas of God or religion. This has been recently confirmed by Mr. Kicherer, who resided as missionary, among the Boschemen. "They have," says he, "no idea of the Supreme Being; consequently they practise no kind of worship."* In

The Rev. E. Evans. was told that the Hottentots worshipped a little insect. Has not Mr. Kircherer suggested the same. See Recorder, No. 40. vol 3.

the same deplorable ignorance, we find the vast island, orrather continent of New Holland.* In Pelew, there is no appearance of religion of any kind; though they have an idea that the soul survives the body. In Otaheite, they have numerous gods, each family having a guardian spirit, whom they worship. "The religion of the ancient Mexicans seems to have been founded chiefly on fear; the temples being decorated with figures of destructive animals." Their wor ship appears to have been directed, not to a benevolent, but to a malignant deity, who delighted in destruction. One of their idols was composed of certain seeds, pasted together with human blood. Their principal deities were thirteen in number; but they also acknowledged a variety of local divinities, who presided over the mountains and valleys.

Of the religion of the Sumatrans, Mr. Marsden as quoted by Goldsmith, gives the following account. "If, by religion is meant a public or private worship of any kind, if prayers, processions, meetings, or priests, be necessary to constitute it, these people are totally without religion.§ They neither worship God, devil, nor idol. They have no word in their language, to express the person of God, except the Allah of the Malays," which I suppose, was introduced by the Mahometans.||

Having briefly considered the character of the gods, worshipped, by modern pagans, we are, in the second place, to inquire by what kind of services, it was attempted to render these deities propitious.T

It will not appear, upon examination, that, in the religion of modern pagans, there is less, either of the impure or ferocious, than was noticed, as belonging to the ancient hea

The inhabitants of Paraguay appear, says Bigland, to have no idea of a Supreme Deity: but acknowledge an evil principle, whose malevolence they endeav our to avert. v. 501.

See a very interesting accouut of the Druses in Clarke's Trav. 251.

then worship. Indeed it must not be forgotten, that the religion of the Hindoos, which, in some form or other, has overspread the most populous countries of the east, is of very high antiquity, and bears no inconsiderable resemblance to the mythology of Greece and Italy. Dr. Priestly, speaking of this system, as contained in the sacred books, observes, that it enjoined human sacrifices. Sir William Jones informs us that the ancient solemn sacrifice of the Hindoos, was a man, a bull, and a horse. Human sacrifices were anciently offered by the Chinese. They were likewise offered in the north of Europe.

In Scandinavia they held a festival every ninth month, which lasted nine days; and every day they offered nine living victims, men, or brute animals. But every ninth year, the most solemn sacrifices were offered at Upsal, when the king, the senate, and all the citizens of any distinction attended in person; and they chose among the captives in time of war, and among the slaves in time of peace, nine persons to be sacrificed. But, in times of great calamity, they sacrificed persons of more consequence. The first king of Vermland* was burned in honor of Odin to put an end to a great dearth. Hacon, king of Norway, offered his son in sacrifice to obtain the victory over his enemy Harold. Aune, king of Sweden, devoted to Odin, the blood of his nine sons, to prevail on that god to prolong his life. The ancient history of the North, says Priestly abounds with similar examples. In confirmation of which he quotes from Mallet's Northern Antiquities, the following account." In the capital of Denmark, they offered every ninth year, ninety nine men, with as many horses and dogs. In Iceland, there were two temples, in which they offered human victims, and a pit or well, into which they were tbrown headlong."

The missionaries, who were sent to Otaheite in the year 1797, inform us, "that the inhabitants of that island, though

* In Sweden.