The religion of Babylonia and Assyria especially in its relations to Israel . erature, but the sad element in it is this, thatthis spiritual history does not represent agrowth that sloughed off the lower form as thehigher was attained. In the history of theBabylonian religion the lower continued avigorous existence all the way to the end. Ourknowledge, indeed, of the whole of the litera-ture is chiefly derived from the library ofAshurbanipal; and the fact that in his librarythe grossest forms of superstition were as care-fully copied and as sacredly preserved as thevery noblest and most beauti
The religion of Babylonia and Assyria especially in its relations to Israel . erature, but the sad element in it is this, thatthis spiritual history does not represent agrowth that sloughed off the lower form as thehigher was attained. In the history of theBabylonian religion the lower continued avigorous existence all the way to the end. Ourknowledge, indeed, of the whole of the litera-ture is chiefly derived from the library ofAshurbanipal; and the fact that in his librarythe grossest forms of superstition were as care-fully copied and as sacredly preserved as thevery noblest and most beautiful aspirationsafter God is eloquent of the persistence of thelower with the higher. THE MAGICAL OR INCANTATION TEXTS The gods of Babylonia and Assyria wereeverywhere approached by men for positiveand for negative influences. They were desiredto grant those blessings, to give those helpswithout which man could not attain his highesthappiness, and, on the other hand, they weredesired to remove the sorrows, griefs, afflictions,and especially ill health, which bulk so largely. THE SACRED BOOKS 145 in individual and in national life. For these twogreat boons, for help or for succor, men prayedto the gods, sacrificed to the gods, sang theirpraises, or wept in despair when the gods heardnot or postponed their answer. But the Baby-lonians did not think that the aid of the godswas to be expected in all sorts of little gods had a general surveillance over life andhistory, but beneath their realm of influencelay a great world of minor powers, which we maycall demons, or evil spirits. These demons wereeverywhere, they lurked in every corner, watch-ing for their prey. The city streets knew theirmalevolent presence, the rivers, the seas, thetops of mountains; they appeared sometimes asserpents gliding noiselessly upon their victims,as birds horrid of mien flying resistlessly to de-stroy or afflict, as beings in human form, gro-tesque, malformed, awe-inspiring through theirhideous
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