History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. IV.] A FAMOUS ASSEMBLY. 195

one of the worst of sins. Industry, inasmuch as it is never unfruitful, and always a guard of innocence and a bar to temptation, is highly recommended, while idleness is represented as the parent of want and shame. Principles of hospitality, general philanthropy, and benevolence are strongly inculcated.

That the whole of the Zend-Avesta, the sacred work of the Parsis, abounds with high moral precepts does not admit of a doubt, and that it impresses wpon the minds of its believers the principles of moral duty is evident from the customs, mode of living, and character of the Parsis. With religion Zoroaster has combined moral philosophy in a remarkable degree ; and it was in the same spirit that Ardeshir Babekan attempted to revive his system. That monarch assembled all the learned men and priests of the empire to deliberate upon and devise the best plan for restoring the ancient purity of the national faith, which had been neglected and forgotten since the days of Alexander.

More than forty thousand men invited from all parts of the kingdom are said to have been assembled by the king; of these the ablest were selected, and under the guidance of the pious and learned Arda Viraf a code of morals, called the “ Revelations of Arda Viraf,” was composed and published for the

~\euidance of ‘the people. This celebrated work was

dictated by Arda Viraf. It professes to be a descrip-