Classical Theology.

CLASSICAL THEOLOGY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , APRIL 4 , 1863 .

XI . —JUTTO AND JA 3 T 7 AET . The Indian Monarchs proceeded and were all chosen from the second class , AA'hich , as formerlystated , "was entrusted with the administration of the government and the management of the army ; but among their subjects they there was no order of

Hindoos in confraternity , so conscious of their sanctity , as the ministers of religion , and of their supremacy as the teachers of wisdom , who by their own laws , the laivs of the land ( lest they should expect favour and honour from kings ) condemned themselves to degradation ancl pollution , to partake of the

same food with their soi'ereigns , and as a duty compelled them to receive their admonition and censure with reverence and submission ; while , on the other hand , the contumacious arrogance and bigoted intolerance of the Calephs , and all rigorous Mussulmans , toAvards the Avhole human race , who declined accepting Mahomet , or Mahomed , as the Prophet and Lord

of the only true faith , with the like pre-pollent zealotry and fanaticism , staining with blood their darkness , may account for the inveterate rancom with which Mahmud and Tamerlane , or Timur , overwhelmed Hindostan , and still more increase the brightness of that tolerant spirit displayed in the

acts of the magnanimous Soldan Akber , and of all such mildly firm administrators , whose spirits shine with the light of immortal loving kindness and fraternal magnanimity on all men . With what clemency Akber ruled his subjects , and the impression his merciful government made upon

the Hindoos will be sufficiently comprehended in the remarkable sentiments of Jesswant Sing , Eajah of Joudpore , contained in a letter ( which has been styled beautiful ) , to Aurengzebo Saltutin , his fiercely zealous and persecuting successor , which we extract as ^ translated from Ormes' Indian Fragments , n . p ., xcvii .:

—" Your royal ancestor , Akber , whose throne is now in Heaven , conducted the affairs of this empire in equity and firm security for the space of fifty-two years , preserving every tribe of men in ease and - happiness , Avhether they were followers of Jesus , or of Moses , of David , or of Mahomed ; were they

Brahmins , were they of the sect of Dharians , which denies the eternity of matter , or of that which ascribes the existence of the world to chance , they all equally enjoyed his countenance and favour ; insomuch that his people , in gratitude for the indiscriminate protection which he afforded themdistinguished

, him by the apjiellation of Juggot Grow , Guardian of mankind . If your Majesty places any faith in those books , by distinction called Divine , you will then be instructed that God is the God of all mankind , not the God of the Mahomedans alone . The Pagan and the Mussulman are equal in His presence .

Distinctions of colours are of His ordination . It is he who gives existence in your temples , to His name , the voice ] s raised in prayer ; in a house of images , where the bell is shaken , still He is the object of adoration . To vilif y the reli gion and customs of other men , is to set at naught the pleasure of the Almighty . "When we

deface a picture we naturally incur the resentment of the painter , and justly has the poet said , ' Presume not to arraign or to scrutinise the various works of Power Divine . ' "When we say that two armies might be contending for victory in some field or plain of Hindostan , and hard by it was not uncommon for

peasants to be at work , taking no offensive notice , and quite fearless of being disturbed , it is evident that both forces and the peasants were guided by the same humane laws and highly civilised policy . If there are to be wars and rumours of wars , we should like such times as we ' have just been mentioning' to return .

But we trust to see the occurence of an event at no distant day , that will crush warfare in itself and turn the use of arms solely to the protection and welfare of the nations to which they belong . Our subject is theology , and we do not diverge from it in our variformed discourse . "

There is more Christian preception m Jesswant Sing ' s epistle than might be expected , or found generally alloived ; it has been practised in the Church until of late it has met with many followers . But what is the religion of the Brahmins ? Their orthodoxy is seen to coincide with the doctrine of the stoicsfrom whichindeedthe latter was

theoreti-, , , cally derived , that is in supposing the Deity to be a vivifying p rinci ple anima animatis intelligentia or the universal Creator diffused through and animating every part of creation , intelligent nature being subdivided portions of this same one vast spirit , passing in a long succession of

transmigrations through different animal bodies , until thoroughly purified and rendered sufficiently intellectual and refined , it came to be re-united , like a breath exhaled upon the air , with the divine essence or ethereality in which it had originated ; in fine , the similar doctrine of the Pythagoreans , and the anima , mundi of Plato . Still the chief and choice tenets of

the Stoici , or philosophers of the sect of Zeno , were fatal necessity , mental freedom , quiescence of temper , and , in a word , the complete immobility of the passions . But the deep learning of the Hindoo hierarchy endoived them with a theology distinct and far superior to the popular superstition they encouragedstudiously concealing the cause and course

, of their own sanetifical truths . The reli gious institutions established throughout India , uniformly present a regular ancl entire system of superstition , maintained by every species of excitement that can promote the awe , and attach the reverence of the multitude . The temples consecrated to their

supposed divinities , are of imposing grandeur , adorned with costly offerings , and the most attractive works of painting and sculpture that their most celebrated artists could devise and execute . The solemnities and ceremonies of their worship , equally renowned for their pomp and

splendour , essentially mingle with their performance the most cherished , joyful , and important transactions that form the gay gatherings and common life stirrings of a people . As ministers of its sacred rites , and elevated above the order of man by an origin deemed to be divinethe Brahmins possess an absolute

do-, minion over the minds , spiritually and morally , of the whole community over which they preside , from the wealthy devotee to the poorest votary ; and the better to secure authority and subordination in their oivn