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beginning of that nature-worship which has degenerated into that horrible 
and barbarous system which we now see practised in India. Then, again, it 
is interesting to watch those attempts at reformation that are not founded 
upon revealed religion, but on human intellect. Another thing which renders 
the Zendavesta and Persian thought a matter of interest, is the amazing 
influence the Persian thought had on early Christian thought and on the 
speculations of the Gnostics. 
Rev. J. James. — I should be glad to say a word or two in the same 
direction that has been pursued by the last two speakers ; namely, that I do 
not see in the paper the slightest tendency to disparage the revelation we 
have in the Bible. On the contrary, every reference to the Christian faith 
in this paper is a loyal and warm tribute to the doctrines of the Gospel. I 
wish also to say that I look upon the paper as a very valuable contribution 
to the true philosophy of Religion. As has been observed by the last speaker, 
it seems to be a valuable contribution to the argument, that the degraded forms 
of religion which are found in all the heathen nations of the earth are not 
aboriginal, but descendants from an original higher height, and that that 
higher height is the highest height of monotheism. One passage has been 
referred to as an objectionable one, but which I must say, in my opinion, is 
a very valuable thought. It is Max Muller who says, “ like an old precious 
metal, the ancient religion, after the rust of ages has been removed, will 
come out in all its purity and brightness, and the image which it discloses 
will be the image of the Father, the Father of all the nations upon earth.” 
True, the Gospel supplies us with religion free from rust ; but what we 
want is to see that that rust which has grown upon the earlier and purer 
forms of pagan faiths is capable of being rubbed away, and that underneath 
we shall find tokens if not proofs of an aboriginal religion, which is a faith in 
the one God. I wish to join in the thanks to the author of the paper for his 
valuable contribution to this important argument. I should like to know, 
with reference to the passage in Greek given in the paper, where the words 
are taken from. The words are these : — 
“ nXouroij', Tlepaerpoprj, &i]p))rtjo, Kinrpig,"Epioreg, 
Tpiroveg, Nt/pevg, Tr/9vg, k ai K vavoxairijg, 
'Ep/xfig 6’ f "H'pairTTng re nXvrbg, liar, Zeug re, icai Hpt], 
"Aprejxeg, r/d’ ' Eicdepyog ’AttoWoh’, elg Oeog earn'.” 
Mr. Brown. — I believe the passage is quoted in Athenaeus, and I think 
it has been attributed to Hermesianax. 
Mr. J. Ferguson (Ceylon). — Seventeen years’ residence in the East has 
led me to think that one important point in the preparation for missionary 
work is a knowledge of the religious beliefs of the people among whom 
Christianity is to be taught, and a sympathy, so far as possible, with precepts 
and doctrines not distinctly evil in their tendency. I believe our most suc- 
cessful missionaries in the East have been those who have not only learnt 
the language of the people amongst whom they have laboured, but who 
have been enabled to translate their sacred and other notable books, and 
