129 
to be, nor is there a grand flourish of some wonderful eleva- 
tion which is to compensate for the loss of the wealth and 
honour they were leaving, but it is simply said “ they were 
gathered to their people ” — a record which satisfied their 
own hope and the desire of their mourning friends. Immor- 
tality, therefore, although more ostentatiously expressed by 
the Aryans, is not an advance beyond the Hebrew original, 
but shows an identity of source. 
In the early times of Yedic religion, so far as diversity of 
time can be fixed, we find these facts in religious operation : — 
there is a Creator of the universe ; He also upholds it, and He 
is the King under whose rule man is continually. Man has 
broken His law and is under His anger, but he can obtain 
forgiveness by means of sacrifice, and thus communion may 
be restored. That communion is such as exists between “ old 
friends,” and may result in immediate blessing to the man 
while praying ; and this prayer is so direct and personal, that 
he may offer it on his journey, and, after enjoying the blessing 
of God on earth, he may be raised by Him to immortality, 
in an abode of happiness and delight, where the desires of 
our desire ” are attained. It was from this knowledge that the 
Indian Aryans advanced to their truer knowledge and deeper 
love of God,” by paying worship to the sun, the sky, fire, and 
sundry other material objects and forces. What this worship 
was may be learned by the following selections from “ hymns 
addressed to individual deities whose names have become 
centres of religious thought and legendary traditions — deities, 
in fact, like Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, or Minerva — no longer 
mere germs, but fully developed forms of early thought and 
language.” Here, therefore, the other half of the journey 
has been achieved. Not only the predicate but the subject 
has been found. 
“ Hymx to Indra. Ev. i. 53. 
“ 1. Keep silence well ! we offer praise to the great Inclra in the house of 
the sacrifices Does he find pleasure for those who are like sleepers ? Mean 
praise is not valued among the munificent. 
“ 2, Thou art the giver of horses, Indra ; thou art the giver of cows, the 
giver of corn, the strong lord of wealth ; the old guide of man, disappoint- 
ing no desires, a friend of friends : — to him we address this song. 
“ 3. 0 powerful Indra, achiever of many works, most brilliant god — all 
this wealth around here is known to be thine alone ; take from it, conqueror ! 
bring it hither ! Do not stint the desire of the worshipper who longs for 
thee ! 
“ 5. Let us rejoice, Indra, in treasure and food, in wealth of manifold 
delight and splendour. Let us rejoice in the blessing of the gods, which 
gives us the strength of offspring, gives us cows first and horses. 
“ 6. These draughts inspired thee, 0 lord of the brave ! these were vigour, 
