﻿190 
  PRIMEVAL 
  MAN. 
  

  

  in 
  that 
  history 
  the 
  more 
  clear 
  become 
  the 
  

   traces 
  of 
  some 
  pure 
  traditions, 
  and 
  the 
  rays 
  

   of 
  some 
  primeval 
  light. 
  Such 
  evidence 
  as 
  

   history 
  and 
  philosophy 
  and 
  criticism 
  afford 
  

   on 
  the 
  course 
  of 
  religious 
  knowledge 
  is 
  not 
  

   in 
  favour 
  of 
  the 
  doctrine 
  of 
  a 
  gradual 
  rise, 
  

   but, 
  on 
  the 
  contrary, 
  of 
  continuous 
  corruption 
  

   and 
  decline. 
  "If 
  there 
  is 
  one 
  thing," 
  says 
  

   Professor 
  Max 
  Muller, 
  "which 
  a 
  comparative 
  

   study 
  of 
  religions 
  places 
  in 
  the 
  clearest 
  light, 
  

   it 
  is 
  the 
  inevitable 
  decay 
  to 
  which 
  every 
  

   religion 
  is 
  exposed 
  .... 
  Whenever 
  we 
  can 
  

   trace 
  back 
  a 
  religion 
  to 
  its 
  first 
  beginnings, 
  

   we 
  find 
  it 
  free 
  from 
  many 
  blemishes 
  that 
  

   affected 
  it 
  in 
  its 
  later 
  stages."* 
  One 
  of 
  the 
  

   most 
  ancient 
  religions 
  of 
  the 
  world 
  is 
  re- 
  

   * 
  " 
  Chips 
  from 
  a 
  German 
  Workshop," 
  vol. 
  i., 
  pref., 
  xxiii. 
  

  

  