one Agamemnon had a
daughter whom he dearly loved, and she was deserving of his affection.
He was commanded by God, through the Delphic Oracle, _to offer her up as
a sacrifice_. Her father long resisted the demand, but finally
succumbed. Before the fatal blow had been struck, however, the goddess
Artemis or Ashtoreth interfered, and carried the maiden away, whilst in
her place was substituted a stag.[39:3]

Another similar _Grecian_ fable relates that:

"When the Greek army was detained at Aulis, by contrary winds,
the augurs being consulted, declared that one of the kings had
offended Diana, and she demanded the sacrifice of his daughter
Iphigenia. It was like taking the father's life-blood, but he
was persuaded that it was his duty to submit for the good of
his country. The maiden was brought forth for sacrifice, in
spite of her tears and supplications; but just as the priest
was about to strike the fatal blow, Iphigenia suddenly
disappeared, and a goat of uncommon beauty stood in her
place."[39:4]

There is yet still another, which belongs to the same country, and is
related thus:

"In _Sparta_, it being declared upon one occasion that the
gods demanded a human victim, the choice was made by lot, and
fell on a damsel named Helena. But when all was in readiness,
an eagle descended, carried away the priest's knife, and laid
it on the head of a heifer, which was sacrificed in her
stead."[40:1]

The story of Abraham and Isaac was written at a time when the Mosaic
party in Israel was endeavoring to abolish idolatry among their people.
They were offering up _human sacrifices_ to their gods Moloch, Baal, and
Chemosh, and the priestly author of this story was trying to make the
people think that the Lord had abolished such offerings, as far back as
the time of Abraham. The Grecian legends, which he had evidently heard,
may have given him the idea.[40:2]

Human offerings to the gods were at one time almost universal. In the
earliest ages the offerings were simple, and such as shepherds and
rustics could present. They loaded the altars of the gods with the first
fruits of their crops, and the choicest products of the earth.
Afterwards they sacrificed animals. When they had once laid it down as a
principle that the effusion of the blood of these animals appeased the
anger of the gods, and that their justice turned aside upon the victims
tho