ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.' 



nations, is very inftruclive, and throws great 

 light on thefe objects. 



V. (2.) bt ancient religion of tbc Cbinefe : 

 which is but little known to us. We know 

 that they adored the heavens, under the name 

 of <Tkicn , and that they had in their devotion 

 fome mixture of that of the Jews, though we 

 know not from whence they had ir. There is a 

 very ancient tradition among the Orientals, that 

 there are a great number ot Jews in China, and 

 that God having opened a pafiage, they went 

 thither in the time of Jofhua. However that 

 be, it is certain that a large portion of idolatry, 

 fome principles of natural religion, and of that 

 of the Hebrews, formed the religion of the an- 

 cient Chineie. But about 550 years before the 

 birth of Guilt, that is about the year of the 

 world 3450, the renowned Confucius was born 

 in the kingdom of L#, which is the province 

 that is now called Xantung. This philoibpher 

 was of an illuftrious family, that descended from 

 the emperor Ti-Ye, of the fecond race. He 

 began by profefilng philofophy, and ended by 

 inventing a nc.v f/ftem of religion and politics. 

 His reputation acquired him more than three 

 thoukmd difciples, among whom there were 

 feventy-two th:u cd themfclvcs, and are 



ftill held in great veneration by the Chinefe. 

 Conl iividcd his doftrine into four parts, 



and his difciples into a like number of cla 

 The firft were thofe who applied themfclves to 



the 



