E 5L J Wider the Symbol of a Serpent with THREE HEADS . And " Timotheits the Chronographer, in epitomizing. the Orphic Cofmogony; obferves to this Effeft, That the Name of the incomprehenfible Being, the highest and moft antient of all things, and the Maker of the Uni- verfe, as it was revealed by thé Oracle [for even the Heathens did not pretend to derive their glimmering Light from unafl'ifted Reafon], was COUNSEL, LIGHT, and the GIVER oÍ LIFE ; and that thefe THREE NAMES manifeft ONE and the fame POWER and MIGHT of that invifible and incomprehenfible GOD."t Cedrenus gives the fame Account from Timotheus's Annals, and ob- ferves how plainly Orpheus expreffed, that the confub- ftantial Trinity made all things ; the Names of which he flees, in another Place, to have been COUNSEL, LIGHT, and LIFET. This was almoft a clofe Copy of the Egyp- tian Trinity. Others fay, the three Names were Pater, Uranus, and Chronus but this feems a farther Deflex- ion from the original Doftrine. The Orphic Verfes are faid to be the Produftion of Onomacritus §, or fome Pa- gans of great Antiquity, who were well acquainted with the Principles and Tradition of Orpheus ; though they are believed to be fuppofititious in many Places. However, as they are cited by many Pagan Authors, and among the Chriftians fo early as by fußin Martyr . they mutt be allowed materially genuine, notwithftand ìng fome Interpolations. Blackwell, in his " Letters concerning Mythology," ftrenuoufly contends for their genuine Authenticity, and corroborates his Opi- nion by the Teftimony of Paufanias. There is no Rea- fon to fuppofe, that our prefent Article (independent of the Authority of Timotheus) is one of the Forgeries; efpecially if it be confidered, that the Deity was repre- a BRYANT. dInal. Vol. li. p. 169.. f Ant: Univ. Hilt. Vol. i. p: 32. CEDRENI Synopfis Hiflar. p. 46, 68. § Svlu. in OrPevç. SELL). Prol. Cult. extran. Prim. c. 3. Voss. de Philos. fah. C. iii. Sed. 4. apud GALE. Vol. i.l. iii. p. 6. E 2 fented
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