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CONCERNING LAPLAND. 299
has beftowed order on the whole frame of nature, rather than in
deities retaining human paffions and appetites, together with cor-
poreal limbs and organs. The evident order of the univerfe, the
proper adjuftment of all things, the defign prevalent throughout
the whole, are totally unknown to them, and objeés about which
they are quite regardlefs, This general plan, to their limited con-
ceptions, is full of contrariety, and appears to be a conftant com-
bat of oppofite powers. To-day, profperity ; to-morrow, adverfity ;
naturally beget notions of protection and punifhment ; of bene-
volent and malignant deities.
Even when we have found an infant people believing in onc
fupreme God, yet have they not divefted themfelves of an opi-
nion, that all nature was full of other invifible powers ; and the
vulgar of all nations have fuch grofs notions of the Deity, fuppofe
him fo flexible by prayers and entreaties, attribute to him fo
much caprice, abfurdity, and even enormity, as render him in-
finitely below what we afcribe to a man of fenfe and virtue.
One general remark may, I believe, be made of polytheifm ;
that it has little tendency to influence its votaries with apprehen-
fions, terrors, or intolerance. The gloom and darknefs which
almoft inceffantly hang over Lapland, has not communicated to
the religion of its inhabitants either that morofenefs or dejection,
which too much pervaded the perverfion of our moft holy fyftem
of divine faith and worfhip during the dark ages. Though the
Laplanders were habituated to facrifices, yet they appear not to
Qq2 have
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