The.4ntiquityof Chrifiian Religion. Introdu$. one Chaldean enly. And Plato in his Epimenides referred all Learning tsni Barbaro. ifwecneInire who by this Cbaldeus Barbara, was meant , the Egyptians tell us , by callinghimThem, which is the Cbaldee Language fignifies a ftranger, which in all probability muff be applied to Abraham, who was by God called out of Coal- e/ea. And Eufebius ( out ofManetho ) :citifies, that Abraham washad in fuch reve- rence in thofe parts , that their chiefeft Exorcifms were wont to beper deans Abra- ham, by the God Abraham. And the fame Manetho allcdgeth , that in many places of thofe Countries , in their Temples, and elfwhere , his name was Written , and Engraven for memoryofhim. Again the verfes of Phocylides the Poet ( who livedin the fifty ninth Olympiad ) feem to be tranflated v4rbarim out of the Law of McJs, and may be, particularly pointed at, in Deuteronomy, Numbers, and Exodus But to examine their own records , Plutarch faith that Solon fetched all his Wif- dom from the Egyptians , and Plato his from Chaldea. Strabo faith , that Pythagoras had dayly conference in Mount Carmel , and that in that Mount were atnbufaehra Lib. 16.. Pythagorea, Pythagoras walks , and there be fome of the Heathen that report him tobe Circumcifed. lib. 4. de p,. Eufebiut faith,, (out of one Clearchas a Peripatetick) that though Ari,floue were g.,r. Evang. never in Egypt , yet he daily conferred with an Egyptian ora 7ew. And Demetrirw Phalereur ( that was Library keeper of Ptolomeus Philadelphia in Egypt ) told him, that he heard the Difciples of Arigotllfay, that divers Philofophers and Poets had attempted to tranflate the Old Teftament intoGreek. And in the fame Book, in the Epiftle of Ariflobtlua, it is faid, that part thereof was tranflated before the Perftan Empire began, long before it was tranflated by the Septuagint, or feventy Men. But it appeareth, that it path pleated God in a molt ftrangemanner to leave fome Regiffer or Chronicle in every famous Nation of it : as among the Egyptians, Álanetho : Sancbaniathon among the Phanecians : Berojas among the Chaldean: In Aga Minor, Rabbi Abidelus: among thePerfians Adegaflhe. nes, ee. In Herodotus we ¡hall find the Rory of Senacherib: the edit} of IA,. a. Cyrus, and almoft the whole Prophecy of David, though fomwhat cor- rupted. It is ftoried by yofepbus, that Alexander being.to travel towards Perfia , and hearing that the Jews denyed to pay him tribute, and for Tome other affronts, (as he conceived) came towards yerufalem, with purpofe utterly to deftroy the Yews. Whereupon Îaddua the High Prieft in his rich and white Ornaments, accompanied' with other Priefts, met him in the way. Affoon as Alexander call his Eye upon Jaddua, and remembred that in a Vifion he had feen one in all refemblance likeunto him, who had encouraged him to attempt the conqueft ofthe World; and (as if he had been a God) fuddenly allighted, and falling down worfhiped before him, but being admonifhed thereof by Parmenio, he laid ; he wor(hiped that God whofe Prieft he was, and afterward, when ?adduahad (hewedhim, and expounded Da- nids Prophecy concerning his Monarchy, he gave large priviledges to the 7ews, and difmiffed them honourably. After his days bythe means ofPtolomy in requital of the Interpreters pains taken in tranflating the Bible , the yews Religion was much propogated. Laertius in the life of Epimenides faith , that the Athenians confulting with the Oracle, con. cerning the caufe 'ofa great Plague among them , were anfwercd , that they were not toSacrifice to their ownGods (as in the Alts) but to another which was above A&s t7. zì theirs,andhad fent this Plague among them : and withal that they mutt appeafe him by Sacrifice. But the Plague neverthelefs continuing, they fent again to know, where they fhould Sacrificer the anfwer was , they fhould let the Beafts go volun- tarily, and where they Raid they fhould Sacrifice. TheHorfes hereupon were turned ioofewith Sacrifices upon theirbacks, and they flayed in the ffreet of chars, fna fair broad place , where they built an Alter, and dedicated it , t e:;eoceet es, to the unknown God. The like is in the Roman story. The Romans in memory of aviltory obtainedof their Enemies , eretled aTemple to Bacchus, calling it Templum parts eternum, the everlafting Temple of peace. And afterwards confultingwith their Oracle, how long it fhould continue, received this anfwer, Donee pepena virgo,while a Virgin should bring forth a Child, which becaufe they
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