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support: the other, that Moses, an ancient Lawgiver, and learned in all the Wisdom of Egypt, purposely instituted such a Religion, in order to which the THIRD GENERAL PROPOSITION was to be inforced; That the Doctrine of a future state of Rewards and Punishments is not to be found in, nor did make part of, the Mosaic Dispensation. But in proving the MINOR, a method something different from that observed in proving the MAJOR PROPOSITIONS was to be followed. These, in the first Volume, were proved successively and in order. But here the MINOR PROPOSITIONS are inforced all the way together. And this difference arises from the reason of the thing; the facts, brought to prove the doctrine to be omitted, do, at the same time, accidentally shew that the Omission was designed: And the reasons, brought to prove the uses in a designed omission, necessarily shew that the Doctrine was omitted.

To proceed therefore with the subject of the SECOND VOLUME.

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IV. I just before observed, that the conclusion of the first Volume, which detected the absurdity and falsity of the Atheistic Principle, that Religion was an invention of Politicians, and a creature of the State, opened the way to a fair inquiry whether its true original was not as well from REVELATION as from NATURAL REASON.

In the introduction therefore to this second Volume, I took the advantage which that opening afforded me, of shewing that the universal pretence to Revelation proves some Revelation must be true: That this true Revelation must have some characteristic marks to distinguish it from the false: And that these marks are to be found in the Institutions of MOSES.

But this was only by way of introduction; and to lead the Reader more easily into the main road of our inquiry; by shewing that we pursued no desperate adventure, while we endeavoured to deduce the divinity

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of Moses's Law from the circumstances of the Law itself.

I proceeded then to the proof of the MINOR PROPOSITIONS, that the Jewish Religion and Society had no future State for their support: and that Moses, an ancient Lawgiver, and learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, purposely instituted such a Religion. To evince these truths with sufficient evidence, the nature of that Institution was to be first understood; which again required a general knowledge, at least, of the manners and genius of the Hebrew People, and of the character and abilities of their Lawgiver. Now these having been entirely fashioned on Egyptian models, it was further expedient that we should know the state of Egyptian supersition and learning in that early period.

1. In order to this, the following proposition is advanced, that the Egyptian learning celebrated in Scripture, and the Egyptian superstition there condemned, were the very learning and superstition represented by the Greek Writers as the honour and opprobium of that kingdom. Where I first state the question; and then shew the equal extravagance of each of those two parties amongst the learned, who have been accustomed to advance or to depress the high antiquity of Egypt.

1. I.corroborate the Proposition, first, by FACT, the festimony of holy Scripture, and of the ancient Greek Writers, set together and supporting one another; and both supported by circumstances regarding the peculiar situation of the land of Egypt. And here the objections of the author of the Sacred and Prophane History of the World connected, frightened by the common panic of the high antiquity of Egypt, are confuted and exposed,

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Secondly, by REASON, in an argument drawn from the nature, origin, and various uses of their so famed HIEROGLYPHICS. Where it is shewn,

1. That this species of writing was employed by the Egyptians as the vehicle. of learning, even after the inven

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tion of LETTERS: for which no good reason can be assigned but this, that they were applied to the same purpose before. Now LETTERS were in use amongst them before the time of Moses.

2. Again, it is shewn that the ONIROCRITICS borrowed their art of deciphering dreams from hieroglyphic Symbols: but hieroglyphic Symbols were the mysterious vehicle of the civil science and of the Theology of the Egyptians. NOW ONIROCRITIC or the art of interpreting of dreams was practised in the time of Joseph.

3. And again, It is shewn that ANIMAL-WORSHIP in Egypt arose from the mysterious use of the same hieroglyphic Symbols. Now ANIMAL-WORSHIP was established amongst them before the time of Moses.

From all this, it appears, that EGYPT was of that. high antiquity which Scripture and the best Greek Writers concur to represent it. By which, we come to understand what were the specific manners and superstitions of Egypt in the time of Moses; these being, as it now appears, identically the same with what the Greck Writers have delivered to us.

In the course of this proof from Reason, which opens at large the nature, origin, and various kinds of EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS, I interweave (as the explanation of my subject necessarily required) a detailed history of the various modes of ancient communication amongst men, as well by real and literary characters, as by words and action; and shew how SPEECH and WRITING ran parallel m their progress; and influenced, and were influenced by, one another. On the same account, when I come to the origin of BRUTE-WORSHIP, I give the history of the various modes of ancient Idolatry, in the order in which they rose, one out of another.

These things I have not only made to serve in sup-. port of the question I am here upon, but likewise in support of one question preceding, and of one which is to follow.

For

For in the history of the various modes of ancient communication was laid, as the Reader will find, the foundation of my discourses on the nature of ancient Prophecies in the sixth Book.

And, in the history of the various modes of ancient Idolatry, the Reader hath a necessary supplement to what had been said before on the same subject, in the latter end of the third book, against the Atheist's pretended origin of Religion.

So studious have I been to observe, what a great master of Reason lays down as the rule and test of good order in Composition, That every former part may give strength to all that follow; and every latter bring light unto all before*.

But the high antiquity of Egypt, though proved from Antiquity itself, seemed not to be enough secured, while the authority of one great modern remained entire, and his reasonings unanswered.

In the next place, therefore, I examine Sir ISAAC NEWTON'S Chronology of the Egyptian Empire; `a Chronology erected on the supposed identity of Osiris and Sesostris; which is a fancy that not only contradicts all sacred as well as profane antiquity, but, what is still more, the very nature of things.

In the course of this confutation, the causes of that endless confusion in the early Greek history and Mythology, are inquired into and explained: Which serves, at the same time, to confirm and illustrate all that hath been occasionally said in the latter end of the third book, and, here again, in this fourth, concerning the origin and progress of Idolatry--the genius of Pagan Religionthe Gentile modes of worship-and their Theological opinions.

Thus far concerning the high antiquity of Egypt. Which, besides the immediate purpose of leading us into the truc idea of the Jewish Institution in general, hath these further uses:

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We have seen, in the foregoing Volume, that EGYPT, as it was most famed for the arts of legislation, so it most of all inculcated the doctrine of a future state of Rewards and Punishments. Now, if Egypt were indeed of the high antiquity here assigned unto it, that doctrine must needs be of national belief, at the time the Hebrews lived there in slavery. But then they having, as we find in Scripture, thoroughly imbibed the religious notions of the place, must needs be much prejudiced in favour of so reasonable and flattering a Doctrine: Consequently their Lawgiver, who likewise had been bred up in all the learning of Egypt, would, if he had acted only by human direction, have, in imitation of his Masters, taken advantage of this favourable prejudice to make the doctrine of a future state the grand SANCTION of his Religion and Law.

Again, the proof of the high Antiquity of Egypt was necessary to vindicate sacred Scripture; which all along declares for that Antiquity; and which the DEIST having endeavoured to take advantage of, in opposing Moses's pretence to inspiration, some imprudent BELIEVERS were grown not unwilling to explain away. Sir Isaac Newton's CHRONOLOGY afforded them the aid they wanted: And while it offered itself in support of the Bible-divinity, they seemed little attentive to the liberties it had taken with the Bible-history.

2. In order to bring on this Truth of the high antiquity of Egypt nearer to my purpose, I proceeded to the second Proposition, That the Jewish People were extremely fond of Egyptian manners, and did frequently fall into Egyptian superstitions: and that many of the Laws given to them by the ministry of Moses were instituted partly in compliance to their prejudices, and partly in opposition to those superstitions. In the proof of the first part of this Proposition, I shew the high probability that the Law was instituted with reference to Egyptian manners; and through the proof of the se

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