第15部分(第3/7 頁)

eft　in　some

degree　of　obscurity；　that　in　this　primary　condition　men　were　in　possession　of　an　indefinitely

extended　and　already　expanded　body　of　religious　truths　immediately　revealed　by　God。　This　theory

affirms　that　all　religions　had　their　historical　mencement　in　this　primitive　knowledge；　and　that

they　polluted　and　obscured　the　original　Truth　by　the　monstrous　creations　of　error　and　depravity；

though　in　all　the　mythologies　invented　by　Error；　traces　of　that　origin　and　of　those　primitive　true

dogmas　are　supposed　to　be　present　and　cognisable。　An　important　interest；　therefore　accrues　to

the　investigation　of　the　history　of　ancient　peoples；　that；　viz。；　of　the　endeavour　to　trace　their　annals

up　to　the　point　where　such　fragments　of　the　primary　revelation　are　to　be　met　with　in　greater　purity

than　lower　down。

§　66

We　have　to　thank　this　interest　for　many　valuable　discoveries　in　Oriental　literature；　and　for　a　renewed　study　of

treasures　previously　known；　in　the　department　of　ancient　Asiatic　Culture；　Mythology；　Religions；　and　History。

In　Catholic　countries；　where　a　refined　literary　taste　prevails；　Governments　have　yielded　to　the　requirements　of

speculative　inquiry；　and　have　felt　the　necessity　of　allying　themselves　with　learning　and　philosophy。　Eloquently

and　impressively　has　the　Abbé　Lamennais　reckoned　it　among　the　criteria　of　the　true　religion；　that　it　must　be

the　universal　—　that　is；　catholic　—　and　the　oldest　in　date；　and　the　Congregation　has　laboured　zealously　and

diligently　in　France　towards　rendering　such　assertions　no　longer　mere　pulpit　tirades　and　authoritative　dicta；

such　as　were　deemed　sufficient　formerly。　The　religion　of　Buddha　—　a　god　man　—　which　has