Author: AnonymousPublisher: Rarebooksclub.com
ISBN: 9781230153612
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 202
Book Description
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1809 edition. Excerpt: ... of the inhabitants of the western coast of America. Human sacrifices are also very frequently offered, so that scarce a week elapses without instances of this kind. They are in general poor, barbarous, naked pagans, as destitute of civilization, as they are of true religion. Secondly, Barbarous as these poor heathens are, they appear to be as capable of knowledge as we are; and in many places, at least, have discovered uncommon genius and tractableness j and I greatly question whether most of the barbarities, practised by them, have not originated in some real or supposed affront, and are therefore, more properly, acts of selfdefence, than proof of inhuman and bloodthirsty dispositions. Thirdly, In other parts, where they have a written language, as in the East Indies, China, Japan, Sec. they know no thing of the gospel. The Jesuits indeed once made many converts to popery among the Chinese; but their highest aim seemed to be to obtain their good opinion; for though the converts professed themselves Christians, ytl they were allowed to honour the image of ConfuCius their great lawgiver; and at length their ambitious intrigues brought upon them the displeasure of government, which terminated in the suppression of the mission, and almost, if not entirely, of the Christian name. It is also a melancholy fact, that the vices of Europeans have been communicated wherever they themselves have been; so that the religious state of even heathens has been rendered worse by intercourse with them! Fourthly. A very great proportion of Asia and Africa, with some part of Europe, are mahometana; and those in Persia, who are of the sect of flali, are the most inveterate enemies to the Turks; and they in return abhor the Persians. The Africans are some of..
