The Hebrews first worshipped a calf, and then a box; they believed that their God taught them to build a tabernacle first, then a temple, and to It is not the practice of the Perform altars for sacrifice. The Hebrews sians to erect statues, or temples, also believed that Elohim had one or or altars, and they charge with folly more human forms--see Gen. xviii. 1, those that do. They do not think 2, and the following chap. xix. 1--see the gods have human forms, also Gen. xxxii. 1 and 24-80, also Josh. v. 13, 14, 15, Jud. ii. 1-5. The anthropomorphism of the Jewish Scriptures has already been referred to in Vol. I. of Ancient Faiths. The Persians are accustomed to ascend the highest parts of the mountains, and offer sacrifice to Jupiter, calling the whole circle of the heavens by that name. The Persians sacrificed to the son and moon, to the earth, fire, water, and the winds. Amongst the Persians, sacrifices were attended by invocations and prayers, and were always offered up by a priest. The Persians, next to bravery in battle, considered the greatest proof of manliness was to be able to exhibit many children. Whoever has the leprosy or scrofula is not permitted to stay within a town, nor have communication with other Persians; and it is supposed that the infliction is caused by some offence against the deity (sun god). Herodotus, book I., chaps. 131,138. The eldest son of the Persian king was instructed during youth in the learning of the Magi according to Zoroaster the son of Oromazes--by this learning is meant the worship of the gods--and likewise in the art of kingly government. Plato, in Alcibiades. The Hebrews sacrificed on high places for a long period. Sacrifice in an enclosed place seems to have been adopted from the Phoenicians by David and Solomon, but not to have been popular for some centuries. The Jewish people sacrificed to sun, moon, and some planets--had a sacred fire in the temple, and regarded clouds and wind as the ministers of God. The God that answered by fire was the one adopted by Elyah. The so-called orthodox Jews only acknowledged one God, and subsequently one devil. The Jews neither offered invocation nor prayer at their sacrifices, and prophets and kings offered victims without priestly assistance. In later times every sacrifice was offered by a priest. The Hebrews regarded a large family as a gift from Jehovah. The Hebrews had the same practice; and, as we learn in the book of Job, and Deuter. xxviii, notably in the 27th verse, they deemed that botch, scab, itch, and emerods were punishments sent by Jehovah. The royal families of Judah received no instruction, either in political matters or in religion, and were allowed to grow up and do much as they liked in regard to worship. The only power which influenced them was that assumed by some man who professed to be divinely inspired.