ence in restoring the worship of Christians to that calm, simple and pure manner, recommended by our Saviour, and thus prove serviceable to the cause of rational and scriptural piety; while at the same time it tends to suppress all fanatical conduct, inimical to the religion of Christ, and injurious to the health and physical advancement of mankind.

ination

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Remarks on the Religious Sentiment, 13-24.

CHAPTER I.

OF HUMAN SACRIFICES.

Of Human Sacrifices among the ancient Egyptians, Scy-

thians, Persians, &c. 26-Among the Greeks and Ro-

mans, 27-Gauls, Germans, and Northern Nations, 28-

Manner in which men were sacrificed, 29-Human Sacri-

fices among the Hebrews, 30-Carthagenians, 32-Re-

marks of Plutarch, 33-Human Sacrifices among the

South American Indians, 36—In North America, 38—

In the British Islands, 39-China, 40-India, 41-In the

islands of the South sea and the Pacific Ocean, 45—De-

cline of the Custom, 46--Concluding Remarks 47.

CHAPTER II.

RELIGIOUS RITES WHICH MUTILATE THE HUMAN BODY.

CUMCISION, EMASCULATION, FLAGELLATION,

CIR.

WOUNDING

THE BODY BY CUTTING INSTRUMENTS, ANCHYLOSIS OF JOINTS

BY RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.

Circumcision, 49-Prevailed before the time of Abraham—
Physical reasons for it-Covenant with Abraham respect-
ing, 50-Practiced on Females, 51-Mahometans have re-
course to it, 52-Not commanded by Christ, 53. Emas-
culation. Syrian priests practiced it-The Almighty