Bible creeds) so as to save the intellectual labor and mental toil of discovering the rule of right and the road to duty by an investigation of the great laws of cause and effect, the nature and constitution of the human mind, and the moral fitness of things. As a finale to creation, and a final consummation and triumph of their peculiar faith, each imagines and portrays a great prospective millennial epoch, at which juncture the heavens are to be "rolled together as a scroll;" the oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers to take fire, and be reduced to ashes; "the New Jerusalem to descend from God out of heaven;" and peace, righteousness, and happiness unalloyed to rule and to reign thenceforth and for ever. Hence all Bibles and religions are of divine origin, or none. Note.--Sir William Jones says the ancient religions borrowed from each other. II. SUPERIOR FEATURES OF HEATHEN BIBLES. There is not one Oriental Bible in all the number but that is superior in some respects in its teachings to the Christians' Bible. None of them sanction so explicity every species of crime; none of them contain so much obscene language. On the contrary, the Chinese Bible, as Mr. Meadows says, "_contains not one sentence but that may be read with propriety in any drawing-room in England._" Strikingly different from that of the Christian Bible, as shown in Chap. XXIII. The Mahomedan Bible is quite superior in its teachings, both with respect to intemperance and the treatment of women. It forbids both the use and the traffic in intoxicating drinks, and also the manufacture; while the Christian Bible, although condemning one, sanctions both (see Chap. LVIII.). With respect to women, it contains some commendable precepts. It not only enjoins husbands to treat their wives properly, and provide for them, but provides for their divorce in case this is not done; while the Christian Bible, by the authority of Christ, allows divorce for no crime, abuse, cruelty, or inhuman treatment on the part of tyrannical, wicked, or drunken husbands, but that of fornication (see Matt, v. 32). The Koran also enjoins a tax of two and one-fourth p. ct. on its disciples to support the poor; while the Christian Bible says, "Thou shalt not countenance a poor man in his cause" (Ex. xxiii. 3), though it is true it contains counter-precepts. These examples are sufficient to lead to the conclusion that nothing would be gained to the cause of practical morality by supplanting any of the Oriental Bibles with the Christian Bible. CHAPTER XIV.--THE INFIDELS' BIBLE.