LECTURE VII.

THE TRACES OF A PRIMITIVE MONOTHEISM 222

Two Conflicting Theories on the History of Religion--That of the
Old and New Testaments--That of Modern Evolution--The Importance of
this Question--Professor Henry B. Smith's Estimate of Ebrard's
Discussion of it--Ebrard's Summing-up of the Argument--Professor
Naville's View of the Subject--Conclusions of Rev. W.A.P. Martin,
D.D., and Max Müller--How far May we Attempt to Establish the Fact
of an Early Monotheism from Heathen Traditions?--Conceptions
Differing in Different Nations--Evidences of Monotheism in the
Vedas--Professor Banergea's Testimony--The Views Held by the Modern
Somajes--Monotheism in China--Monotheistic Worship in the Days of
Yao and Shun, 2300 B.C.--The Prayer of an Emperor of the Ming
Dynasty Quoted by Professor Legge--Remarkable Monument of
Monotheism in the Temple of Heaven--A Taouist Prayer--Zoroaster a
Monotheistic Reformer--The Inscription at Behistun--Testimony of
the Modern Parsee Catechism--No Nation without some Notion of a God
Supreme over All--Buddhists in Thibet--Egyptian Monotheism--The
Greek Poets--Old Monotheism in Mexico and Peru--Evidences of
Ramification and Decline in Polytheism--Egypt and India Give
Abundant Proofs--Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taouism all Show
Degeneration--Mohammedan Corruption since the Days of the Early
Caliphs--The Religions of Greece and Rome Became Effete--Even
Israel, in Spite of Instruction and Reproof, Lapsed into Idolatry
again and again--Even the Christian Church has Shown Similar
Tendencies.