2 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



from every religion that takes its fource in the fantafticaf 

 imaginations and fears of mankind. If we compare, as 

 we Ihall do in another place, the religion of the Greeks 

 and Romans with that of the Mexicans, we (hall find the 

 former more fuperftitious and ridiculous, the latter more 

 cruel. Thefe celebrated nations of ancient Europe, 

 from the unfavourable opinion which they entertained of 

 the power of their gods, multiplied their number to ex- 

 cefs, confined their influence within narrow bounds, im- 

 puted to them the moll atrocious crimes, and ftained their 

 worlhip with the mofl fcandalous impurities ; for which 

 they have been juftly reproached by the advocates of 

 Chriftianity. The Mexicans imagined their gods more 

 perfect, and in their worfhip, however fuperftitious it 

 might be, there was nothing repugnant to decency. 



The Mexicans had fome idea, though a very imperfect 

 one, of a fupreme, abfolute, and independent Being, to 

 whom they acknowledged to owe fear and adoration. 

 They reprefented him in no external form, becaufe they 

 believed him to be invifible; and named him only by the 

 common appellation of God, in their language Teotl, a 

 word refembling ftill more in its meaning than in its pro- 

 nunciation the Theos of the Greeks : but they applied 

 to him certain epithets which were highly expreffive of 

 the grandeur and power which they conceived him to 

 polfefs. They called him Ipalnemoani^ that is, He by 

 whom we live ; and TIdque Nahuaque, He who has all in 

 himfelf. But their knowledge and worfhip of thrs fu- 

 preme Being was obfcured and in a manner loft in the 

 crowd of deities invented by their fuperdition. 



They believed in an evil fpirit, the enemy of mankind, 

 which they called Tlacatecolototl, or Rational Owl, and 



faid 



