তত্ত্ববোধিনী পত্রিকা ৷ না । অতএব শ্রদ্ধা ব্রহ্মবিদ্যার প্রারম্ভিকা झझेशांटझ 11 २ 1; -ஆe 9|*|அ0க Vardantic Docthinks WINDICATed, In a preceding number of this Periodical, we took occasion to publish some strictures on certain observations contained in a late eloquent work of the Revd. Dr. Duff, entitled * India and India Missions.” Since the publication of our reimarks, three alticles on the same subject have successively appeared, in the Calcutta Review, the Christian Herald and in a recent number of the Friend of India. In argumentative discussions on subjects of a strictly public nature, it would be superfluous, and probably unbecoining, to impute the publication of any sentiment or opinion to particular individuals. But as the Revd. writer in the Herald has been the first to depart ston this golden rule, we shall be excused when we state that there can be no mistake as to the authors of the articles in question. In our preceding number we established, in vindication of our religious opinions, on the strength of connected excerpts from the original text of the Vaidant, that the Valdantic Doctrines are founded on the most obvious and irrefragable principles of natural reason. We proved, fron a literal interpretation of the same text, that the early religion of lndia, wаварure, consistent, and unadulterated form of unitarianism. We naturally expected at least something like an attempt to refute our arguments, and show that our explanations of the subject were fallacious. We thought that the Revd. Gentleman, or some of his co-religionists would have met our objections on our own grounds, by combating our quotations with overwhelming authorities, derived from the same unimpeachable sourée. But in these anticipations we have been grievously disappointed. Instead of meeting us openly and fairly on the legitimate and only rational ground of debate, a fresh volley of vituperations has been opemed upon u§, and surmises indulged in, under the borrowed garb of a Reviewer, apparently criticising the native periodicals, and discourses delivered at the Hindoo Theophilanthrophic Society. But for the undeniable and the high reputation of the writers, we should be almost tempted at once to claim a complete victory. A spirit of reckless misrepresentation pervades, as usual, the whole text of the three specimens of criticism now before us ; and we could well have afforded to remain content" under their reiterated attacks, had not our anxiety for the weal *four countrymen, who might be led, in their t e, to mistake groundless assumptions for incontrovertible truths, induced us to offer someopassing remarks on, sew of the most
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Ꮌ©Ꮼ ever, we may be permitted to observe, that a considerable portion of the rising generation of our countrymen, is obliged, under the influence of various circumstances, to come in contact with the Christian Missionaries, either for the purpose of educational iıırproveineııt, or 'as enquirers after truth, seeking information respecting the eligious views and doctrines professed by different sects of believers. It is much to be regretted, that the major part of these inquisitive young men a e lamentablv Ig1, orant of the doctriues and principles realiv iiiculcated in the Shastras. We doubt whether two out of a hundred could be found capable of shtisfactorily explaining any sentence indiscrirninately taken tron anv work n, the Nanscrit language, which contains the great body of Hindoo Theology. To make proselytes of such inexperienced anti unlutored usinds, à “t:11.stoIII ed to entertain reverenti al regard foi, and sympathise with the feelings and opinions of their teachers, by taking advantage of then waitt of information, and induce them to alopt a new creed by addressing the passions of youths so incapable of exercising fieedom of thought. and so deficient in judgement, is, in our humble opinion, any thing but ingenuous or commenda ble it is, on the contrary, we think, highly unbe s 章 coming the professors of any religious tenet, whatsoever, far less of those of Christianity, * "reed, which has been enly aced by the most enlightened nations of the world. Whatever our Revd. Friends may say, we have enough of charity not to impute to them any unworthy motives. All we desire is fair play for bos!, creeds. Let a knowledge of the principles of Christianity and of true Hindooism be equally spread and if the merits of the two systems, be not found to balance each other, let the preference of the one over the othe be a matter of ohoice, without any attempts to bias the judgment ; and we shall have no fear for the result. Misrepresentation and calumnies ina y sometimes sei ve the cause of sectarian proselytisin, but can never bring any man a single step nearer the portals of divine knowledge and wisdom. It is, in our hulable орі njon, a most narrow view of the science of divinity to suppose, that the Lord of all nations can prefer a particular tribe and a parti important points at issue,. At the outset, how- "that what we do not find cular form of religion to the simpler belief which constitutes the eternal foundation of religion and piety. The Reverend Reviewer has been pleased, in the course of his strictures, to assiinilate the Doctrines we endeavor to meuleate to the * Alexandrian Platonism" or • Neo-Platonism” as he terms it, in as inuch as we have, in his opinion, simplified and spiritualized the original grossness and impurity of the Vaidantic precepts, and obtruded ourselves on the notice of the world, in all the “ Pride, pomp, and circumstance" of religious Reformers. The writer in the Herald has carried the idea far. ther, and given it a finishing stroke, yong l :: أمثلة هده
