Page images
PDF
EPUB

others, and to gratify their unconquered inclinations, though it be the ruin of the unfortunate sufferers, who unhappily fall in their way. With these proofs of the lamentable conduct of the professors of your religion before our eyes, we do not see that we should gain any thing by changing our sentiments: there is no inducement for us to forsake the ancient profession of our venerable fathers.

When the missionaries inform them, that there are two descriptions of professors among christians, viz. those who worship God in sincerity, with a pure devotion, and those who are careless concerning this matter; they reply, that it would not be pleasing to God, should they meet before him and worship in sincerity, in the company of others, who, to their certain knowledge, were living in open violation of the precepts of morality, and blaspheming the very God, whom they pretended to worship. I shall here extract a paragraph from the Rev. Dr. Buchanan's Christian Researches in India, which justifies the above remarks. Page 50, he says, "the missionaries told me that religion had suffered much in Tranquebar of late years, from European infidelity, which was, therefore, hostile to the conversion of the Hindoos. It flourishes more among the natives of Tanjore, and in other provinces where there are few Europeans, for we find that European example, in the large towns, is the bane of christian instruction."

But there are other nations, in the more interior part of India, who worship idols literally. The idol Juggernaut is worshipped by immense numbers, who make a pilgrimage at their various feasts to the town of Juggernaut. On the 18th of June, at 12 o'clock, the idol is brought forth on a car sixty feet in height, amidst the acclamations of hundreds of thousands of deluded

worshippers, who have resorted thither from various parts of the British dominions; so infatuated are these people, that many of them think it an honour to sacrifice themselves to this idol. This is said to be done in the presence of the company's servants, the country being under their jurisdiction. They have levied a tax* on this deluded people, which amounts to a great sum annually, sanctioning the worship of this idol, and permitting them to offer human sacrifices. Surely, the just judgment of God will fall on the heads of those, who are the authors and sharers of this bloody Molochian plunder.

THE WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT AFRICANS.

It has been supposed by some writers, that the descendants of Japhet peopled Europe; some might settle in this part of the world, though we have no satisfactory proof that this was so. But it will appear, if we consult the Hebrew scriptures, that a great part of his posterity were the first settlers in Africa.

The sons of Japhet, were Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. Gen. x. 2. The grandsons of Japhet are also mentioned, who, with these, gave their names to their posterity, forming different nations, each preserving the name of their progenitor. We are then informed in the fifth verse, as it stands in the translation, that, "by these were the isles of the Gentiles divided; in their lands,

* This tax was levied, according to Dr. Buchanan, p. 32, by the Bengal government, under "A regulation for levying a tax on pilgrims resorting to the temple of Juggernaut, and for the superintendance and management of the temple." Passed April 3, 1806.

every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." But the word which is rendered Gentiles, should be translated nations; and the word Jyee, which is translated isles, cannot be confined to such a signification. It means countries, which are far remote beyond the sea, and these countries may be either islands, or continents. Jer. xxv. 22. and the kings of the Jyee, COUNTRIES which are beyond the sea. But the countries of Europe are not beyond, or divided by the sea from the land of Canaan where the patriarchs resided; therefore Europe cannot be meant by the word Jyee, countries, which are beyond the sea.

The descendants of Ham settled in the country of Palestine, including Babylon; the descendants of Shem in the most eastern part, including Persia, Arabia, India; and as Africa is divided by the Mediterranean sea, and the Red sea, from Europe, and the land of Canaan which joins Egypt, it must be allowed that the descendants of Japhet were the first settlers in Africa. This is confirmed by the prophet Ezekiel, xxxii. 26. where Meshech, and Tubal, the sons of Japhet, whose names distinguished their descendants as nations, are mentioned as being a considerable people in Africa, when Pharaoh was threatened with destruction.

Mitzraim, the second son of Ham, was also the father of a mighty nation. His descendants settled in Egypt, which in Hebrew is called by his name, Mitsraim, and not Egypt. It is also said, from him came the Caphtorim. The word means to interpret-the solution of difficult things; properly the priests of the most ancient order. The priests of Apollo were so called, from the pretended oracular predictions, and prophetic qualifications of their god of wisdom. Bochart, v. i. p. 666. This will account for the representative worship of the

Egyptians.

For as the descendants of Ham introduced the worship of their progenitor, who established the order of the Antediluvian worship, when it had sunk into idolatry, but which, in its pure state, was sacredly figurative, and representative; so Mitzraim his son would naturally fall into that kind of worship, which was observed in Egypt at the time of Moses.

of

The descendants of Japhet then, it appears unquestionably, were the first settlers in Africa, which land was well known, before the flood, to the patriarch Noah, who, on account of its proximity to the land of Canaan, assigned these divisions to his posterity. From which we are authorized to draw this conclusion: that, as Japhet worshipped the true God so he must have established this worship among his descendants in Africa, exclusive of Egypt, where Mitzraim established the worship of Ham. The worship of the ancient Ethiopians appears to have been retained in its purity longer than in any the other nations of Africa. For when the queen went to visit Solomon, they had the knowledge of the true God; they used most of the Mosaic ceremonies, many of which were like those of the first patriarchs; and the eunuch of queen Candace was acquainted with the Hebrew scriptures in the days of the apostles. The Christian religion flourished in Africa, at the time of the council of Nice in the fourth century: but at this day, agreeably to the best information, ignorance and superstition have spread their baneful influence over the greatest part of this once enlightened country.

MODERN AFRICANS.

The religious professions of the modern Africans are three: Paganism, Mahometanism, and Christianity. The Pagans are those who do not receive the Bible, Koran, or books esteemed sacred by any nation. Those who have travelled among them give a description of their theology, more consistent with reason than has been defined by writers in general.

They inform us, that the "intelligent Pagans believe in the existence of one Supreme Being; that man`shall rise again after death, and that there are rewards and punishments after this life;" this belief is universal among the African Pagans. They have exalted ideas of the majesty of the Deity, and believe that the superintendance of things in this world is under the direction of invisible beings, to whom God has committed it. Respecting a future state, they speak with great humility, and conclude that this state of things will be far better suited to our inclinations and final happiness, than the present. Negroland, upper and lower Guinea, Caffraria, the land of the Hottentots, and Ethiopia inferior, universally profess Paganism. Egypt, Barbary, including the empire of Morocco, Nubia, Biledulgerid, or Zaara, profess Mahometanism. And the people of Ethiopia superior, or Abyssinia, profess Christianity.

PAGANISM.

The word Pagan is derived from the Hebrew yaÐ Phagang, which means to approach, to intercede. But

« PreviousContinue »