the propliesies to Abraham and his children, might be thought to rún contrary to the views and interests of the kings and heads of nations; and they might there: fore think it good policy to divert their people from attending too much to them. And for this end, they being in their kingdoms the chief directors in religion, they might, upon the foundation of literature, and human science, form such schemes of augury, astros lógy, vaticination, omens, prodigies and enchantments, as the magicians of Egypt became famous for, in order to make religion more subservient to their interests; and in these they proceeded from one step to another, in what they undoubtedly thought to be the result of rational enquiry; until in Moses' time the rulers of the Egyptian nation, who were then the most learned hody in the world, beguiled by the deceit of vain philosophy, and too politically engaged to attend duly to any arguments which might convince them of their errors, were arrived at so intrepid an infidelity, that the greatest miracles had no effect upon them. I am sensible that these points have been set in a different light by some writers; but perhaps there may be reason to re-examine them. The Pagan divinations, 'arts of prophesy, and all their sorceries and enchantments, as well as their idolatry and worship of false gods were founded, not upon superstition, but upon learning and philosophical study; not upon too great a belief of and adherence to revelation, but upon a pretended knowledge of the powers of nature. Their great and learned men erred in these points, not for want of free-thinking, such as they called it; but their opi. nions upon these subjects were in direct opposition to the true revelations which had been made to the world, and might be called the deism of these ages; for such certainly was the religion of the governing and learned part of the heathen world in these times. The un. learned populace indeed in all kingdoms adhered, as they thought, to revelation ; but they were imposed upon, and received the political institutions of their rulers, invented by the assistance of art and learning, instead of the dictatos of true revelation. In this manner I could account for the beginning of the heathen idolatries in many nations. They took their first rise from the governors of kingdoms having too greata dependance upon human learning; and entertaining a conceit, that what they thought to be the religion which nature dictated, would free them from some imaginary subjections, which they apprehended revealed religion was calculated to bring them under. Length of time, advance of science falsely so called, and political views, had carried on these errors to a great height, when God was pleased in a most mira. culous manner to deliver his people from the Egyptian hondage ; to re-establish true religion among them, and to put the priesthood into different hands, from those who had hitherto been appointed to exercise the offices of it. But the pursuing these subjects, must belong to the subsequent parts of this undertaking. Convert verdhe es afere prezi 25 to ne ditetas apillant whether to of this om de Lite being he mat be Page. ade torb 103 ABRAHAM goes to Egypt......... Separates from Lot....... 106 107 112 .. 118 128 He knew the LORD, by his name JEHOVAH ..... 462 ......... 327 .....: 317 ........ 312 .... 361 ..... 325 327 Not the same as Belus, the successor of Nimrod. 297 Mistakes about his tine .... .......... ibid. Whether he was a Phænician or an Egyptian.... 316 ..... 175 349 299 :..... 314 bician or an Ec • • ibid. • • 311 361 176 Page, 295 110 327 Obtained the kingdom of Argos............ 323 Dedicated the image of a wolf to Apollo ....... 377 in Thessaly in the reign of Deucalion........... 329 175 408 409 408 410 411 ibid. 348 349 Their fables about Isis and Osiris ............. 370 Their errors in religion, how occasioned ...... ibid. .. 266 Came from India............................ 400 early times could know GoD ................445, 460 399 503 ::... 319 346 347 236 270 Page, after Cecrops' time ..........oooooo...,bordocuri 325 passage of the Israelites over the Red sea......... 516 How the Greeks came to be universally called by this name...err........................ 210 234 239 248 252 255 The number of his family that came into Egypt.. 286 nations.ii....iiii.iii....................... 136 159 258 208 269 270 272 By what king of Egypt he was advanced.......ibid. Who were owners of it..... ........... 384 281 452 2X |
