240 REV. S. D. PEET ON THE TRADITIONS OF 
immortality is not without its witness also. In the sculp- 
tures of Santa Lucia Cosumal-whuapa, in Guatemala, there are 
figures which express this thought. Take thisone. Here isa 
ae ladder reaching upwards toward 
the sky. On the ladder is a 
human figure climbing; above 
| the ladder is a death’s head 
| with human arms attached; the 
head seems to smile upon the 
‘yi\] human figure; the human face 
\;\looks up with a mild and 
placid exression. Here there 
is no fear of death, but a 
clinbing to immortality. Here 
is another tablet. On one side 
is a face which smiles out from 
the sky above; it is surrounded 
by flames, symbolic of the sun; 
serpents form its head-dress 
symbolisng the lghtnings ; 
many other figures symbolise 
the nature-powers; below this 
face is a human form, one hand 
‘lifted as if in supplication, ano- 
ther hand outstretched as if to 
betoken some offering. The 
upturned face has the symbol 
of speech protruding from the 
mouth. ‘There are many sym- 
bols on the person, but the ex- 
— ~ presion of the form and face is 
that of a suppliant addressing a gracious God. Nothing 
could better express the hope of immortality. Take next 
the doctrine of sacrifice, and you will see it embodied in 
the sacrificial stones and the many other provisions which 
were made. ‘The temples and altars and pyramids are full of 
them. ‘Take next the doctrine of sin, and you will find 
that there are baptisms and lustrations, as well as sacrifices 
(even circumcision was common),—a marvellous resemblance 
to the Jewish ritual. All of these are the concomitants of 
nature-worship, and whatever their source, they show that the 
same ideas of the need of a sacrifice and the importance of a 
cleansing prevailed among the religions of the Toltecs, Aztecs, 
and other civilised American races. ‘The symbols in Central 
America remind us of the symbols of Egypt, Assyria, and 
