the cheerful manners, the affectionate communion, and the unosten- 

 tatious, but dignified, piety of the first Christians. With respect to 

 those more refined points of doctrine, in their respective systems, that 

 may appear to have some resemblance, and there certainly are such 

 points, the similitude may be accounted for and the difficulty ex- 

 plained, by recurring once more to Jtrst principles. It is neces- 

 sary for me again to impress on the reader's mind, and, as we are 

 now reaching the conclusion of the AVATARS, it is the last opportu- 

 nity which I shall have of so doing, the solemn and often repeated 

 fact, that, in the ancient system of theology derived to the Asiatics 

 from their venerable ancestors, the patriarchs, there were certain 

 grand and fundamental truths, which, in the degrading systems of 

 idolatrous worship that succeeded, were still retained, and never 

 could be wholly obliterated from them, even amidst the profoundest 

 darkness of Paganism. The similitude, then, in those points, is to be 

 accounted for by a reference to the pure primeval principles 

 which formed the creed of those patriarchs, and on which, corrupted 

 or misunderstood, all the wild doctrines and superstitious practices 

 of the Mithriacs and the Samanaeans were founded. 



THE MORAL AND ASTRONOMICAL ALLUSION OP THE BUDDHA- 

 AVATAR. 



The general moral tendency of the preceding Avatar, however 

 rigidly severe the precept inculcated, and however overcharged the 

 picture exhibited in it, will be readily acknowledged. A greater 

 Deity than the fabulous Veeshnu of India has declared, that a pure 

 and contrite heart is to him the most acceptable sacrifice ; and in those 

 sacred oracles, where truth beams forth unobscured by mythology, 

 has denounced his vengeance against that infatuated race who sub- 



