“ conclude, that he is eternal, omnipotent, know-“ ing all things, and prefent every .where !0 .

To men capable of forming fuch ideas of theDeity , the public fervice in the Pagodas mufthave appeared to be an idolatrous worfhip ofimages, by a fuperftitious multiplication of frivo-lous or immoral rites ; and they mutt have feenthat it was only by fandlity of heart, and purityof manners, men could hope to gain the approba-tion of a Being perfect in goodnefs. This truthVeins labors to inculcate in the Mahabarat, butwith the prudent referve, and artful precautions,natural to a Brahmin, Studious neither to offendhis countrymen , nor to diminiffi the influence ofhis own order. His ideas concerning the mode ofworshipping the Deity , are explained in manyftriking palfages of the poem, but, unwilling tomultiply quotations, I Satisfy myfelf with referringto them “.

When we reqolletff how Slowly the mind ofman opens to abftracft ideas, and how difficult(according to an observation in the Mahabarat)an invisible path is to corporeal beings , it isevident that the Hindoos mu ft have attained ahigh degree of improvement before their Sentimentsrofe So far Superior to the popular fupcrftition oftheir country. The different Slates of Greece hadfubfifted long, and had made confiderable progrefsin refinement, before the errors of falfe religion

* Dow’s Differt. p. xl.

Baghvat-Geeta, p. 67. 75. 97. 119*