I3ELIEF IN A SUPREME BEING. 



301 



things imagined and made by mans invention. The first LlB&amp;gt; v - 

 is divided into two ; for eyther the thing they worship is 

 general!, as the Sunne, Moone. Fire, Earth, and Elements, 

 or else it is particular, as some certayne river, fountaine, 

 tree, or forrest, when these things are not generaly wor 

 shipped in their kindes, but onely in particular. In this , 

 first kind of idolatry they have exceeded in Peru, and they 

 properly call it lluaca. The second kinde of idolatry, which 

 depends on mans inventions and fictions, may likewise bo 

 divided into two sortes, one which regards onely the pure arte 

 and invention of man, as to adore the images or statues of. 

 gold, wood, or stone, of Mercury or Pallas, which neyther 

 are, nor ever were any thing else but the bare pictures ; 

 and the other that concerncs that which really hath beene/ 

 and is in trueth the same thing, but not such as idolatry 

 faines, as the dead, or some things proper vnto them, 

 which men worshippe through vatiitio and flatterie, so as 

 we reduce all to fouro kindes of idolatry, which the infi- 

 dells vso; of all which it behooveth us to speakc some 

 thing. 



CHAP. in. That the Indians have some knowledge of God. 



First, although the darknesse of infidelitie holdeth these 

 Nations in blindenessc, yet in many thinges the light of 

 truth and reason works somewhat in them. And they com 

 monly acknowledge a supreame Lord and Author of all 

 things, which they of Peru called Viracocha, 1 and gave him 

 names of great excellence, as Pachacamac, or Pachayacha,- 

 chic, 2 which is the Creator of heaven and earth : and Vsapu, 3 



1 Sec G. ilc la Viga (ii, p. GG) for the meaning of the word Viracocha, 

 properly, Uira-ccocha. 



Pachacamac t Creator of the World. Pachayachachic, Teacher of 

 the World. 3 ;///, Only. 



