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النشر الإلكتروني

CHAPTER IV.

NECESSITY OF A REVELATION PROVED FROM THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL STATE OF THE HEATHEN WORLD PREVIOUS TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY. IS THAT NECESSITY ANSWERED BY CHRISTIANITY?

SECTION I.

RELIGIOUS OPINIONS.

1. The conclusion at which we arrived in the preceding chapter with regard to a revelation, was, that it was reasonable and probable; which conclusion was drawn from an examination of facts. In the present chapter we shall attempt, pursuing the same course, to demonstrate the necessity of a revelation. In doing this, we shall call up in review the religious opinions and moral practices of the heathen world prior to Christ's appearance upon earth. It will be our object to show, that at that time its condition in these respects was such as to call loudly, so to speak, for a reform; to show that men universally, the learned and unlearned, the wise man and the fool, the philosopher and the peasant, were all reduced to a common level, had all become so bewildered, and blinded, and corrupted, that they were incapable of discovering truth, or of defining the great guiding principles of human duty. In connec

tion with this we shall endeavor to make it appear that the Christian religion was perfectly adapted to their condition, perfectly fitted to reform their errors of belief and practice, and to give them correct conceptions of those things, the knowledge of which was necessary to their happiness and to the welfare of society. Let it not, however, be inferred from this that we take it for granted Christianity is of God. This is not the intention. At the present stage of our inquiry, we look upon it simply as a religion professing to be suited to the then existing circumstances of mankind, and calculated to promote their highest interests; and by this rule we are disposed to test it. If it meets the test, and we discover in its principles and precepts this entire fitness and adaptation to the condition and wants of the world, we shall have reason, not perhaps to believe it true, but certainly to think favorably of it-yea, more, we shall have a strong presumptive proof of its divine origin.

2. In the examination of this subject, we shall, for the sake of convenience and perspicuity, take it up by separate particulars or articles; giving first the heathen opinions or practices, and following these with the principles proffered by Christianity as corrective substitutes.

I. OPINIONS RESPECTING GOD.

1. Heathenism. This particular has been noticed somewhat at length in the preceding chapter, so far as the views of the philosophers were concerned; and we shall therefore present in this place the views or belief of the great body of the people. In every respect they entertained the grossest and most inconsistent notions of Deity, or rather of deities, for they knew nothing of the one God, but believed in and worshiped gods innumerable, and of all characters and grades, from the thundering Jove to the

petty spirit presiding over a grove or pond.* To these they raised statues, altars, and temples, and to each and every one a peculiar and distinct service was allotted, consisting of rites and ceremonies the most absurd, and in many cases the most revolting and disgusting. At one time they worshiped this deity, at another, that; to-day they sought the protection of one god, to-morrow swore

* The following notice of the ancient heathen deities, designed to show how great was the need of a reformation in this respect, may not be unacceptable to the reader. Celestial gods. Jupiter, or Jupiters, for Varro reckons 300 of them-Apollo, Sol or the Sun, Mercury, Bacchus, Mars. Celestial goddesses. Juno, Minerva, Venus, Latona, Aurora. Terrestrial gods. Saturn, Janus, Vulcan, Eolus, Mormus. Terrestrial goddesses. Vesta, Cybele, Ceres, The Muses, of whom there were nine, Themis, Astræa, Nemesis. Rural deities. Pan, Silvanus, Silenus, Priapus, Terminus, the Satyrs and Fauns. Rural goddesses. Diana, Pales, Flora, Feronia, Pomona, the Nymphs, Rusina, Collina, Nallonia, Hippona, Bubona, Seia, Runcina, Proserpine, Volusia, Patelina, Lactucina, Matura, Hostilina, Tutelina, Mellona. Agricultural gods. Occator, Sator, Robigus, Stercutus, Nodosus. To show the folly and degradation of the people, we will mention some particulars connected with agriculture. They worshiped Stercutus, when they manured the ground; Sator, when they sowed; Occator, when they harrowed; Rucina, when they weeded. They worshiped Seia that she would take care of the seed in the ground; Proserpine, when it came out of the earth; Robigus, that he would avert blasting; Nodotus, that he would take care of the joints of the stalk; Flora, that she would take care of the blossom; Lactucina, of the ear in milk; Matura, of the ear in maturity; Hortilina, that the ears might grow even; Tutelina, when it was reaped; and Pilumnus, when it was made into bread. This will suffice to show their blindness, yet this is not all; they had separate deities who guarded the horses, oven, stables, &c. Sea deities. Neptune, Triton, Oceanus, Nereus, Palamon, Proteus, Glaucus, &c. Infernal deities. Pluto, Proserpine; three Fates-Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos; three Furies--Alecto, Tisiphone, and Magæra; and a host of monsters. They also erected altars and offered sacrifices to the various winds, to rivers, groves, fountains, &c. Besides these now mentioned, there are Penates, or household gods,

fidelity to another, perhaps the enemy of the former; this hour, they brought as an offering, gold and silver, the next, a little salt and meal; here they paid their devotions with groans, and prostrations, and scourgings, and there with revelling and drunkenness. Farther information may be gathered from the preceding note, whence some notion may be formed of the countless multitude of their gods.

2. Christianity. To do away this error, to remove this host of imaginary gods, Christianity addressed to the heathen world such testimonies as the following: -"There is ONE GOD." 1 Tim. ii. 5. "An idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords

belonging to every family; gods presiding over kingdoms, cities and houses. There were no less than sixteen deities worshiped, or to whom offerings were made, on the occasion of marriage, besides those presiding over women in labor. Thirteen presided over children at their birth and afterward. A deity was assigned to every member of the body—the head was sacred to Jupiter, the breast to Neptune, the feet to Mercury, &c. In addition to these, they built temples to, and worshiped, Virtue, Health, Hope, Justice, Clemency, Fidelity, Chastity, Peace, Science, Art; also, Fever, Fear, Pain, Indignation, Shame, Impudence, Calumny, Fraud, Discord, Suspicion, Envy, War, Triumph, Victory, Liberty, Money, Love, Laughter, &c. &c. The Egyptians worshiped beasts, birds, fishes, reptiles, insects, herbs, vegetables, &c. These absurdities subjected them to the sarcasm of Juvenal, who exclaims, alluding to the onions which they worshiped,

"O sanctas gentes

A devout people, whose gods grow in their gardens." This notice will satisfy the reader, we presume, that the world in this department, at least, needed to be enlightened. More may be seen in Tooke's Pantheon, Adam's Rom. Ant., and Anthon's Classical Dictionary. The scholar will of course consult original authorities.

many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things." 1 Cor. viii. 4--6. "Keep yourselves from idols." 1 John v. 21. "They be no gods which are made with hands." Acts xix. 26. "The Lord our God is one Lord." "Thou hast said the truth; for there is one God; and there is none other but he." Mark xii. 29, 32. "We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." Acts xvii. 29. "He that believeth there is one God, doeth well." James ii. 19. "There is one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Eph. iv. 6. Here then we see Christianity correcting the first great error of the pagan world, and teaching them that there is one God, and none other but one.

II. RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

1. Heathenism. In the worship paid their gods, the ancients gave place to all possible folly and extravagance. They erected magnificent temples and altars, and enriched them with the most splendid offerings. Augustus bestowed upon the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, at one time, gold and jewels to the value of six or eight millions of dollars. Their gifts were of various kinds, according to the character of the god, the first fruits of the field, salt, meal, cakes, oil, wine, incense, goats, oxen, &c. If any calamity came upon them, they referred it to the anger of some god; and immediately loaded his altar with presents and sacrifices. If prosperity attended them, it was referred to the favor of the gods, and the same course was pursued-sacrifices were decreed, offerings without number were brought to their temples, statues were raised to them, and every thing done which was thought to be pleasing to them.

2. Chistianity. In regard to these foolish superstitions, Christianity thus spake to the heathen world: "We

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