[2]. Professor Max Müller, Gifford Lectures for 1888, on Natural Religion, p. 11.
[3]. T. W. Rhys Davids, Hibbert Lectures, 1881, “On the Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by some points in the History of Indian Buddhism,” p. 10.
[4]. Max Müller, Introduction to the Science of Religion, p. 38.
[5]. John v. 39.
[6]. Baring Gould, Origin and Development of Religious Belief, vol. i. p. 121.
[7]. Westcott, Victory of the Cross, pp. 3, 6.
[8]. T. W. Rhys Davids estimates the number at five hundred millions (Handbook of Buddhism, p. 6). The previous general estimate was about four hundred millions; but Dr. A. J. Happer, missionary at Canton for forty-five years, reduces this number to seventy-three millions. Sir Monier Williams, in his recent book on Buddhism, quoting Professor Legge’s introduction to Travels of Fa-Hian, calculates the number at one hundred millions, and claims for Christianity, with its four hundred and thirty millions of adherents, the numerical preponderance over all others.
[9]. T. W. Rhys Davids, Buddhism, pp. 4, 7; Sir Monier Williams, Buddhism, p. 171.
[10]. Dr. Caird, Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, Croall Lectures, 1878-9, pp. 82 seq.; T. W. Rhys Davids, Hibbert Lectures, 1881, On the Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by Buddhism, p. 7.
[11]. To draw proper inferences from statistics of the spread and supremacy of a religion, we must first investigate the circumstances in which it was propagated, and the intellectual and moral conditions of the peoples whom it has converted. If it has gained only the belief of one section of the human race, it is evidently not entitled to rank with another which proves itself influential among all sections. A religion dominant only over inferior races is manifestly of less value than another which, while satisfying the wants of the lowest and most degraded peoples, is yet fulfilling the spiritual aspirations of the highest. The first, if in any way related to the second, can only be so as preparatory and prophetic of the mission which the second alone can accomplish.