[ 24 ] lieved that, from him and his Pofterity, many of the neighbouring Nations received both Idolatry and Inha, bitants at once. It is the lefs improbable, becaùfe there feems a pretty near Agreement in the firft Principles of all the falfe Religions; and filch an Agreement, as proves them to huye been joint and mutual Corruptions of the true one. If he and his Offspring (as Spanheim * fup- poles) revived the Herefies and pernicious Errors of Cain ; it is no Wonder, that the farther Apoftacies, which thefe produced, (Mould retain fome Features analogous to the Parent - Stock. Ham had four Sons, who became the Fleads of fo many Nations, which feat- tered themfelves over a -vaft Extent of Country, laying the Foundations of feveral mighty Kingdoms. St. Auftin thinks, and with fome Probability confidering the plural Termination of their 1-lebrew Names, that we are not to look upon them (at leaf} upon the Sons of Miz- raim) as mere Individuals, but as bodies of Men and refpe&ive People.t There are many Doubts refpe&ing the Name or Per. fon of Ham, but none concerning his DefeEtion from the true Religion. He is fuppofed by Kircher to have been the FIRST Zoroafter .(for many of different Countries Clore this Title); which Name he derives from three Chaldee Words, fignifying, " The Idol-maker of the hidden Fire ;" though Tome think the Title or Surname (for it evidently appears to be no other) means, limply, " The Fire-Worfhipper." Others again have a yet dif- ferent Etymology, J and fuppofe he was, fo named from the Sun; which he taught to be the Qbje& of Worfhip, and which was named Zor- after. For Support of his Opinion, Kircher cites llbeneph the Jew, who wrote an Hiftory of .gyp, in Arabic, and who afferts, That Cham or Ham, the Son of Noah, firft inftituted the Worfhip of Idols [after the flood], and introduced the magical Arts !' Hi/1. Eccles. Y.2". p. 29!. -- De Civitate Dei. 1. xvi. C. 3. Mr. BRyANT's Anal. Ant. Myth. Vo1. 11. p. It ;. into
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