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III.
INFLUENCE OF THE ASA-FAITH ON
THE POPULAR LIFE AND CUS-
TOMS OF THE NORTHMEN.
CHAPTER XVI.
MINISTEES OF EELIGION.
The belief in Siiperipr Beings who control the
powers of ITg.ture and the destiny of mankind, must
always create in man an effort to make these beings
propitious, and thus give rise to Difine "Worship.
The more humanlike the Gods have been conceived
to be, the more sensual has their worship been ; and
it happened with the votaries of the Asa-faith as
v?ith so many other heathens, that sacrifices, gifts,
vQws, and ceremonies were regarded by the multi-
tude to be fully as acceptable to the Gods as an up'
right life. These sacred performances were always
more or less symbolical, as they were intended to express
and harmonize with the presumed essence and
attributes of the Deity invoked . They sliould, there-