A DISSERTATION, &c. CHAPTER I. The TRINITY, a Doctrine revealed to Man in Innocence. On his Fall, Polytheism erected itself on the Mifapprehenfion of that Doctrine. The Indians divided into Four great Tribes, and various inferior Cafts, but all unite in the Adoration of One grand TRIAD, Brahma, Veefonu, and Seeva.- Hence the Neceffity of thoroughly investigating the Subject, and inquiring whence they derived a Tenet fo congenial with a fundamental Doctrine of Chriftianity. The Difficulty flated of penetrating into the more hidden Myfteries of their Theology. The fuccessful Attempt of Akber, and the affecting Story of Feizi and his Brahmin-Pre ceptor. Feizi, the first Foreigner ever admitted to an intimate Acquaintance with the Arcana of their Religion and the facred Sanfcreet Language. Some curfory Remarks on that The Three mythologic Perfonages of the Indian TRINITY are Copies of the true; the Office of Brahma being to create, of Veefnu to preserve and mediate, and of Seeva to quicken and regenerate. It confequently defcended to them from their Anceflors, the Patriarchs, who fettled in that Region of Afia. But, Doubts having been entertained whether the Patriarchs themselves believed it, and, in fhort, whether fuch a Doctrine exifted in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Author commences an extended Difcuffion of that interesting Question. A general View is now taken of what is meant by the scriptural Doctrine of the TRINITY. Not likely to have originated in human Invention or in the School of Plato. Christianity only the Completion of the Jewish Theological Code; therefore, this Doctrine to be looked for with Confidence in the Old Teftament, and there it is indifputably, though obfcurely, revealed. The true Origin of that Contempt and Rancour, with which the Jews are enflamed against the Meffiah, unfolded. Hence the Rejection of the Doctrine of the TRINITY by the |