inscriptions were made on the monuments, some of which bear evidence of being eight thousand or nine thousand years old. If there has been no essential change in her religion for eight thousand or nine thousand years, it is _prima facie_ evidence that she did not borrow any of her religious tenets of the Jews. Such facts settle the question more conclusively than the most elaborate argument could do. CHAPTER VII.--THE PERSIAN BIBLES. I. THE ZEND AYESTA. The Persians, properly speaking, had two Bibles, or Testaments, regarded as inspired and of divine authority,--the _Zend Avesta_ and the _Sadder_, which may be denominated their Old and New Testaments. With these may be classed other sacred books of Persia, known as the "Desatur" (or Revealed Will of God), the "_G. Javidan_" (or Eternal Wisdom), and the "_Sophi Ibraham"_ (Wisdom of Ibraham). Hyde, in his Biography of Brittain, eighth chapter, pronounces the _G. Javidan_ older than the writings of Zoroaster, which were penned 600 B.C. The Zend Avesta presents a detailed account of creation in six _kappas_, or indefinite periods of time; the temptation and fall of man, and his final restoration; the immortality of the soul, &c. II. PERSIAN BIBLE--THE SADDER. The Sadder depicts "the war in heaven," in which the great dragon, or devil, Ahrimanes, is finally slain. This sacred book, as well as the Zenda Avesta, contains many beautiful precepts. The Persian sacred writings are all full of prayer and praise to God. One portion addresses him as _Ormuzd_, another as _Ahura Mazda_. None of their Holy Books countenance or show any favor either for idolatry or polytheism. The Persians have alway's opposed the making and worship of deific images; and they worship but one God, with the above names. One of their prayers, as a specimen, will show this: "O Ahura Mazda, thou true and happy being! aid us to think and speak of thee, and do only those things which promote the true welfare of body and soul. I believe in thee as the just and holy God, thou living Wise One! Thou art the author of creation, the true source of light and life. I will praise thee, thou Holy Spirit, thou glorious God Mazda! Thou givest with a liberal hand good things to the impious, as well as to the pious." In that portion of the Zenda Avesta called the "Yacna," constituting seven chapters, it is declared, "We worship Ahura Mazda, and pray for the spread of his religion. We praise Mazda's religion, and the pure brotherhood which it established. From the Holy Spirit Mazda proceeds all good, and he is the source of perfection and immortality." Here let it be noted that Cyrus of Persia was teaching the doctrine of immortality of the soul, while Moses seems never to have thought of such a thing: he is silent on the subject. Zenda Avesta means "The Living Word of God." It has also been called by its disciples "The Revealed Word;" and Ahura Mazda has been called the "God of gods," as the Jews called Jehovah. Who is to settle