And, first, in regard to the institution of sacrifices. This, again, was an accommodation to the ideas and usages of a barbarous age. By an examination of the early history of nations, it will be found, that throughout the whole world, in ancient times, worship by sacrifices existed. Among the tribes of Asia, of Europe, and even of distant America,—amongst Greeks, Romans, and barbarians of all descriptions,—sacrificial worship was practised. More than this, the offering up of human sacrifices very widely prevailed. The Phoenicians offered up children to their idol Moloch; as did also the German nations, and the Mexicans and Peruvians, to their gods. When Cortez took the city of Mexico, he found it full of altars, from which continually streamed the blood of human victims. Among the Greeks, the famous tale of Agamemnon offering up his daughter Iphigenia, shows the same idea existing with that people. Whence arose so strange a custom? It doubtless had its origin in a tradition, widely spread at an early day through the world, and derived no doubt from ancient prophecy, that the Son of God was to offer Himself up a sacrifice for mankind. Hence, it was thought meritorious and pleasing to the Deity, to offer up their children in sacrifice.
Now, the Israelites, in common with other nations, had this mistaken but deeply rooted idea of the meritoriousness of worship by sacrifices, and especially by human sacrifices. We see this tendency, throughout their history. We see this pictured in the touching narrative of Jephtha's vow.[1] We see the same in their inclination to sacrifice their children, and to "cause their sons and daughters to pass through the fire," in
- ↑ See Judges xi. 30—40.
