DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0104
ON THE HINDOO RELIGION. xci
gods, to lead him to perdition. How necessary to the happiness
of a good man, are just ideas of the wisdom, and equity, and
beneficence, of providential dispensations :—the reader has seen
how impossible it is for a Hindoo to derive the smallest consola-
tion in adversity from the doctrine of the shastriis respecting the
government of the world. How consoling to a person, sensible
of many failings, is the doctrine of the Divine Mercy:—but these
heathens have nothing held out to encourage the hopes of the
penitent; nothing short of perfect abstraction, and the extinc-
tion of every desire, qualify for deliverance from matter.—The
sincere Christian, with his knowledge of God, '■ casteth all hi3
care on his Father, who is in heaven;' and the language of his
mind, invigorated by the living waters flowing from the foun-
tain of eternal truth, is,' Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel;'
' Though I walk through the valley and even the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and'
thy staff they comfort me.'
The Hindoo writings farther teach, that it is the Great Spirit"
which is diffused through every form of animated matter; that
actions of every kind are his; that he is the charioteer, and the
body the chariotx; that it is the highest attainment of human
wisdom to realize the fact, that the human soul and Briimhu are
one and the same. By this doctrine all accountability is de-
stroyed, and liability to punishment rendered preposterous. How
often has the author heard it urged by the most sensible Hin-
doos, that the moving cause of every action, however flagitious,
is God; that man is an instrument upon which God plays what
tune he pleases. Another modification of this doctrine is that of
fate, or unchangeable destiny, embraced, without a dissentient
voice, by all the Hindoos. Thus the Deity on his throne is in->
suited as the author of all crimes, and men are emboldened to
rush forward in the swiftest career of iniquity.
The sacred writings of the Hindoos encourage the bramhuns
* See the VedantSi-sariS,
I» 3
gods, to lead him to perdition. How necessary to the happiness
of a good man, are just ideas of the wisdom, and equity, and
beneficence, of providential dispensations :—the reader has seen
how impossible it is for a Hindoo to derive the smallest consola-
tion in adversity from the doctrine of the shastriis respecting the
government of the world. How consoling to a person, sensible
of many failings, is the doctrine of the Divine Mercy:—but these
heathens have nothing held out to encourage the hopes of the
penitent; nothing short of perfect abstraction, and the extinc-
tion of every desire, qualify for deliverance from matter.—The
sincere Christian, with his knowledge of God, '■ casteth all hi3
care on his Father, who is in heaven;' and the language of his
mind, invigorated by the living waters flowing from the foun-
tain of eternal truth, is,' Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel;'
' Though I walk through the valley and even the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and'
thy staff they comfort me.'
The Hindoo writings farther teach, that it is the Great Spirit"
which is diffused through every form of animated matter; that
actions of every kind are his; that he is the charioteer, and the
body the chariotx; that it is the highest attainment of human
wisdom to realize the fact, that the human soul and Briimhu are
one and the same. By this doctrine all accountability is de-
stroyed, and liability to punishment rendered preposterous. How
often has the author heard it urged by the most sensible Hin-
doos, that the moving cause of every action, however flagitious,
is God; that man is an instrument upon which God plays what
tune he pleases. Another modification of this doctrine is that of
fate, or unchangeable destiny, embraced, without a dissentient
voice, by all the Hindoos. Thus the Deity on his throne is in->
suited as the author of all crimes, and men are emboldened to
rush forward in the swiftest career of iniquity.
The sacred writings of the Hindoos encourage the bramhuns
* See the VedantSi-sariS,
I» 3