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subjection or punishment of the bad.” The of the Hindus, by W. Ward Vol. I1 page 5. “From the passages quoted alone from the Geeta and those by which they are followed, the belief is pressed upon us that, in the earliest times, 13rahminical philosophy held as its grand idea the absolute unity of the Supreme God and that their religious ritual corresponded therewith. Idolatry is an aftergrowth, springing from minds incapable of entertaining the elevated abstract notions of the primitive creed. This declension explains itself. The obscuration and weakening of the idea of the Divine unity were indicated first by the impersonation of the several discoveries made of the Supreme Being in his operations and effects. These impersonations were not so many distinct and independent deities, but representations of one and the same great deity, contempluted under particular aspects. This is the true key to the ancient mythology of all countries. The next step in the downward course was to insulate these representations of the particular attributes and operations of God into independent objects of worship; and hence the indefinite multiplication of idols. Idolatry therefore we hold to be a gross accommodation of the pure and sublime religion of India to the capacities of uneducated people. Hindus themselves hold this opinion, and not without good authority:- “Corresponding to the nature of different powers or qualities, numerous figures have been invented, for the benefit of those who are not possessed of sufficient understanding.’ Mahanirvana quoted by Ram Mohun Roy. ‘For the benefit of those who are inclined to worship, figures are invented to serve as representations of God and to them either male or female forms and othere circumstances are fictitiously assigned.' Yamadagni cited by Room Mohun Roy.’ ‘The three chief divinities are repeatedly admitted to be nothing more than personifications of the power of Göd in action. With the vulgar the personifications become reakties—the types become the things typified. This is the natural progress of all