covered the barren earth with fruits, herbs, and flowers, and peopled it with rational men. They suppose that an evil spirit, who was displeased with the happiness of mankind, brought about death, against which there is no remedy. These islanders have neither temples, nor carved, or any other images; and they never think it necessary to make any offerings, or sacrifices, except a few of those who seem to worship their deceased friends.* PELEW ISLANDS. Those who visited these islands did not find any place appropriated to religious rites: yet there was strong evidence that the natives of Pelew believed that the spirit existed when the body was no more. They have also an idea of an evil spirit, who often counteracted human affairs.† NEW ZEALAND. The inhabitants of this island believe that the soul of a man who is killed, and whose flesh is devoured, is doomed to a perpetual fire, while the souls of all who die a natural death ascend to the habitations of the gods.‡ NEW HOLLAND. The people inhabiting this vast island appear to be all of one race :§ but no account can yet be produced which indicates their entertaining any ideas of religion. The New Hollander is a mere savage; nay, more, he possesses the lowest rank in that class of beings.|| A number of missionaries, who removed from Otaheite, arrived at Fort Jackson, in New Holland; and from the accounts received in 1798, it appears that a door is opened for their more extensive usefulness among their countrymen in that place. Their congregations were numerous, and a considerable subscription made already by their hearers for the erection of one or more places of worship; and a competent appointment offered them by the colonists and military, if they would open schools, and undertake the tuition of their children. The missionaries were received by the convicts at Botany Bay with every mark of kindness and regard they preached among them, and were heard with great attention.¶ * Foster's Geographical Observations, pp. 604, 605, ¶London Evangelical Magazine for 1799. SUMMARY. FROM the foregoing view of the various religions of the different countries of the world, it appears that the christian religion is of very small extent, compared with those many and vast countries overspread with paganism or mohammedism. This great and painful truth may be further evinced by the following calculation, ingeniously made by some, who, dividing the inhabited world into THIRTY PARTS, find that nineteen of them are possessed by pagans, six by jews and mohammedans, two by christians of the Greek church, three by those of the church of Rome and protestant communion. If this calculation be accurate, christianity, taken in its largest latitude, bears no greater proportion to the other religions than five to twentyfire." * Agreeable to a calculation made in a pamphlet, entitled "An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to use Means for the Conversion of the Heathen,"+the inhabitants of the world amount to about seven hundren and thirty-one millions; four hundred and twenty millions of whom are still in pagan darkness, an hundred and thirty millions. the followers of Mahomet, an hundred millions catholics, forty-four millions protestants, thirty millions of the Greek and Armenian churches, and perhaps one million of jews. It is worthy of observation that the above calculation was made before the late discoveries of the north-west part of America, the north-east part of Asia, the vast tract of New Holland, New Guinea, and the numerous other islands in the Pacific Ocean. How much greater then must the numerical difference appear at the present day between that part of mankind who enjoy the light of christianity, and that part who are now groping in pagan darkness! [ By Mr. William Carey, one of the Baptist missionaries THE Perhaps it may be pleasing to those of a speculative turn to trace the central points in which the varions denominations of christians agree.* * The following articles + are generally acceded to by all who profess to believe in divine revelation. HE diversity of senti- timent, which will appear less ment among christians surprising, if we consider the has been exhibited in the additional force of education, preceding pages. The candid and the prejudices to which mind will not consider those we are all, in some degree, various opinions as an argu- exposed. ment against divine revelation. The truth of the sacred writings is attested by the strongest evidence: such as the miracles recorded in the new testament; the exact accomplishment of the prophecies; the rapid spread of the gospel, notwithstanding the most violent opposition; the consistency of 1. That there is one suthe several parts of the in- preme Being of infinite perspired pages with each other; fection.--The Manicheans the purity and perfection of may seem an exception to the precepts of christianity; this article, because they their agreement with the moral attributes and perfections of the Deity; and their benevolent tendency to promote the good of society, and advance our present and future happiness. There may be as great a variety in the moral as in the material world. Hence naturally results a diversity of sen maintained the doctrine of two principles. But as they supposed the good principle would finally be victorious, and reign supreme, their evil principle may only be considered as a powerful demon. 2. That the supreme Being is the object of religious worship.-This appears naturally to result from the preceding *The compiler of the View of Religions means strictly to adhere to the plan of the Compendium. She does not say what doctrines are or are not essential. The articles generally agreed upon are collected as a matter of fact only, from which the various denominations of christians may make what inferences they please. The seeming exceptions to the articles are mentioned. If what is said to make the coincidence nearer should appear forced, and that is given up, still the central points which are collected, are generally maintained, which is all that is asserted. Admitting what is said to be just, christians now universally agree in five articles, article: if we admit the being of a God, the propriety of worshipping him is obvious.--Trinitarians pray to one God in three persons. Unitarians address God in the person of the Father only. Moravians pray only to Christ; but as they consider him a divine person, and the agent between God and man, their devotions are directed to one God. Roman Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary, and other saints; but they profess to address them only as intercessors and mediators, and that one God is the ultimate object of their religious worship. Swedenborgeans address all their prayers to Jesus Christ, because they believe he is the supreme and only God of heaven and earth; being the invisible and unapproachable Deity, made visible and approachable in a divine human form; and therefore alone to be worshipped. Christ's person and the ends of his mission are different.* 4. That there will be a resurrection. The doctrine of a literal resurrection was indeed denied by the Manicheans, by most of the Gnostics, and by some modern denominations: yet all who advocate divine revelation suppose there will be a resurrection of some kind, though they differ in explaining the term. 5. That piety and virtue will be rewarded, and impiety and vice punished.-This article seems to include the idea that piety and virtue are indispensably necessary to happiness. This point was universally acceded to, except by a few of the Gnostics; and it is to be considered that our knowledge of their sentiments is derived from the representations of their adversaries, who probably may, as Dr. Lardner supposes in his Histoy of 3. That Jesus of Nazareth Heretics, have misrepresented is the Messiah. That is, the their sentiments. However anointed of God, to whom all that may be, upon every relithe prophecies in the old tes- gious system now embraced, tament refer; who abolished it is our duty and interest to death, and brought life and im- be virtuous and pious. The mortality to light. All who wretched state of the world at profess to believe in divine the time of our Saviour's aprevelation agree in this article, pearance, which is exhibited though their ideas respecting in the introduction to this The three capital differences respecting Christ's person are, the belief of his simple humanity; his superiority to man, and pre-existence; and bis supreme divinity. |