Page:Evan's (sic) sketch of all religions abridged.pdf/4

 in the government thereof. The second are those who believe in the being and providence of God, but deny that he takes any notice of the good or evil actions of men. The third class are those who believe that men perish entirely at death, and that one generation shall perpetually succeed another, without any further restoration or renovation of things. The fourth class of Deists are those who believe in the existence and providence of a supreme Being, and the obligations of natural religion, but so far only as these are discoverable by the light of nature alone, without the intervention of any divine revelation.

Under the term Pagan, are comprehended those nations who worship stocks or stones, idols or false gods; in other words, the whole heathen world.

The most cursory view of Paganism presents its striking features as essentially the same. Human sacrifices are the first and the most distinguishing of the horrible atrocities of the Pagans. The slavery and degradation of the female sex is another common feature, discoverable in all the domestic occupations and restrictions of heathen life, but chiefly in the dreadful sacrifice of wives upon the death of their husbands. Infanticide naturally follows. Another revolting trait is the murder of the aged, when unable to support themselves.

But the most inhuman feature of the Pagan is displayed in Cannibalism. This repulsive custom exists still upon the continent of Africa, in New Zealand, New Caledonia, and many of the South Sea Islands.

The regions where Paganism prevails are especially the dark places of the earth, the habitations of horrid cruelty; and it must be to Christians a lamentable truth, that of the whole population of the world, at least one-half is living in ignorance of the true God, degraded and debased by the absurdity idolatry, and immorality of heathenism.

Judaism is the religious doctrines and rites of the Jews, the descendants of Abraham, a person of eminence, chosen by God soon after the flood to preserve the doctrine of the divine unity among the idolatrous nations of the earth. А complete system of Judaism is contained in the five books of Moses, their great lawgiver, who was raised up to deliver them from their bondage in Egypt, and to conduct them to the possession of Canaan, the promised land.

The expectation of a Messiah is the distinguishing feature of