there condemned, were the very learning and superstition represented by the Greek writers as the honour and opprobrium of that kingdom. To prove this, I shall in the first place shew (both by external and internal evidence) the just pretensions which Egypt had to a superior antiquity: and then examine the new hypothesis of Sir ISAAC NEWTON against that antiquity. It is confessed on all hands, that the Greek writers concur in representing Egypt as one of the most ancient and powerful monarchies in the world. In support of what they deliver, we may observe, that they have given a very particular account of the civil and religious customs in use from the most early times of memory: customs of such a kind, as shew the followers of them to have been most polite and powerful.-Thus stands the Grecian evidence. But to this it may be replied, that the Greeks are, in all respects, incompetent witnesses, and carry with them such imperfections as are sufficient to discredit any evidence; being, indeed, very ignorant, and very prejudiced. As this made them liable to imposition; so, falling, as we shall see, into ill hands, they actually were imposed on. Their ignorance may be fairly collected from their age; and from the authors of their intelligence. They all lived long after the times in question; and, though they received indeed their information from Egypt itself; yet, for the most part, it was not till after the entire destruction of that ancient empire, and when it was now become a province, in succession, to Asiatic and European conquerors: when their ancient and public records were destroyed; and their very learning and genius changed to a conformity with their Grecian masters: who would needs, at this time of day, seek wisdom. from Egypt, which could but furnish them with their own; though, because they would have it so, disguised under the stately obscurity of an Eastern cover *. Nor were their prejudices less notorious. They. thought themselves Autocthones, the original inhabi tants of the earth, and indebted to none for their advanSee Div. Leg. book iii. § 4. ; G 3 tages. of a future state is n part of, the Jewish De still a further use. I strengthen that genera REALLY A DIVINE M to deduce through the 1 so that the reader must trifle with him, if this he expected. And here, on the place to explain my m out, I promised to den revelation, ON THE PRI Had I meant no more with him on common p reader's understanding I pretended to make t is, or ought to be, a had I meant so much argue with the Deist c then unreasonably bes to a mere argument only proved the free-tl wants to be convinced much to shew that the the Believer was in the then of the Deist's o principles of his, which by the enemies of Relig jected by the friends o principles. Such, for the high antiquity of as that, for the sake of of the doctrine of a fi sation. And these are in good time, to overtu S. I THE first propositio celebrated in Scriptur Letters. ་ ^A འསྒྱུL»h#gvA YA! ༢༨ Vརt ^t »TV A་ > ད་S6}v^་]p ]pt! Aa]h ང་{༤:༔ Earpt, which could but famil bough, because they would love ale dhe stately obscurity of an Eater ES DEMONSTRATED. 131 by analogy, or symbols; whereas et out like the Peruvians with a were less inventive, and without a tivated that species which most arbitrary institution †. barbarous nations upon earth, beintroduction of letters, made use of gns for things, to record their meanby representation; the more subtile logy and institution. ought down the general history of 1 and easy descent, from a PICTURE Chinese marks which participate of cs on the one hand, and of alphaother (just as those hieroglyphics Mexican pictures and Chimese chaery border of letters; an ALPHABET sounds instead of things being only a large volume of arbitrary marks. as the Ethiopic and Coptic. have ic figures to compose their letters; from their shapes and names. The d the same, as a learned French in a very ingenious and convincing is seen even from the names which literary-writing in the ancient lanreek words ΣΗΜΕΙΑ and ΣΗΜΑΤΑ mages of natural things as artificial and TPA is both to paint and to nding to this natural and easy proimages from pictures to alphabetic unongst the ancients, as Plato and with the wonderful artifice of an urs de l'écriture Chinoise, en s'attachant à rapport d'institution avec les choses sigde la nation Chinoise; qui même avant la plus profonde antiquité, se servoit de e d'écriture. Mem. de l'Acad. tom. vi. ALPHA tages. But when knowledge and acquaintance with foreign nations had convinced them of their mistake; and that, so far from owing nothing to others, they owed almost every thing to Egypt; their writers, still true to their natural vanity, now gave the post of honour to these, which they could no longer keep to themselves: and complimented their new instructors with the most extravagant antiquity. What the Greeks conceived out of vain-glory, the Egyptians cherished to promote a trade. This country was long the mart of knowledge for the Eastern and Western world: and as nothing so much recommends this kind of commodity as its age, they set it off by forged records, which extended their history to a most unreasonable length of time: accounts of these have been conveyed to us by ancient authors, and fully confuted by the modern.-Thus stands the objection to the Grecian evidence. And, though I have no business to determine in this question, as the use I make of the Greck authority is not at all affected by it; yet I must needs confess that, were there no writings of higher antiquity to confirm the Grecian, their testimony would be very doubtful: but, could writings of much higher antiquity be found to contradict it, they would deserve to have no credit at all. Whatever therefore they say of the high antiquity of Egypt, unsupported by the reason of the thing, or the testimony of holy Scripture, shall never be employed in this inquiry but whatever Reason and Scripture seem to contradict, whether it serve the one or other purpose, I shall always totally reject. The unanimous agreement of the Greek writers in representing Egypt as the most ancient and best policied empire in the world, is, as we say, generally known and acknowledged. I. Let us see then, in the first place, what REASON says concerning this matter. There is, if I be not much mistaken, one circumstance in the situation of Egypt, which seems to assert its claim to a priority amongst the civilized Nations; and consequently to it's eldership in Arts and Arms. There is no soil on the face of the globe so fertile, but what, in a little time, becomes naturally effete by pasturage turage and tillage. This, in the early ages of the world, forced the unsettled tribes of men to be perpetually shifting their abode. For the world lying all before them, they saw a speedier and easier relief in removing to fresh ground, than in turning their thoughts to the recovery of the fertility of that already spent by occupation for it is necessity alone, to which we are indebted for all the artificial methods of supplying our wants. Now the plain of Egypt having its fertility annually restored by the periodic overflowings of the Nile, they, whom chance or choice had once directed to sit down upon its banks, had never after an occasion to remove their tents. And when men have been so long settled in a place, that the majority of the inhabitants are become natives of the soil, the inborn love of a Country has, by that time, struck such deep roots into it, that nothing but extreme violence can draw them out. Hence, civil policy arises; which, while the unsettled tribes of mankind keep shifting from place to place, remains stifled in its seeds. This, I apprehend, if rightly considered, will induce us to conclude, that Egypt was very likely to have been one of the first civilized countries on the globe. II. Let us see next what SCRIPTURE has recorded in support of the same truth. 1. So early as the time of Abraham we find a king in Egypt of the common name of Pharaoh †: which would induce one to believe, that the civil policy was much the same as in the times of Joseph and Moses: and how perfect it then was, will be seen presently. This kingdom is represented as abounding in corn, and capable of relieving others in a time of famine which no kingdom can do, where agriculture has not been improved by art, and regulated by a civil policy. We see the splendor of a luxurious court, in the princes who resided in the monarch's household: amongst whom, we find some (as the most thriving trade for royal favour) to have been procurers to his pleasures: nor were the presents Ver. 10. *See note [E] at the end of this Book. Genesis xii. 15. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and COMMENDED HER BEFORE PITARAOI; and the woman was takes into Pharaoh's house. Gen. xii. 15. |