[ 6t ) Symbol of the Sphere, Serpent and Wings, ufed by the antient Egyptians* for the fame Purpofe. The Perfians and Egyptians feem to have meant, by their refpei ive Types, one and the fame Doc`irine. t Nor is there any material Difference in the Reprefentation, ex- cepting the Addition of the human Form in the Perfian Circle; * V. Sup. p. 36, fi In force old Perfian Temples, a Figure ofthe Deity is frequent- ly defcribed, fimilar to that in the Plate, near to which the Figure of a Globe is exhibited CO reprefent the Sun, and under both Hands a Pried or Hierophant, arrayed exaftly agreeable to the Figure in the Image of the Deity, before an Altar of Fire. Several Repre- fentations of this kind are to be found in Sir 7obn Chardin's Voy- ages, and in Br ant's Inalyfis of the antient Mythology. Now, we are told by Eufebius, that the Hierophant in the Myderies put on the Habit of the Demiurgus, or the God who created the World. And if not only the Serpent, but alfo the human Figure with which the Serpent is conjoined in the above Reprefentation of the Deity, be, as is here conceived, intended to exprefs thefecundPerfon, who was to afjume Man's Nature, and by whom, the Scripture informs us, the World was made; it gives a driking Proof, that a Tradition, as well concerning the true Demiurgus, or the Megah in the Likenef of finful Flefh, as conèerning the Do&rine of the Trinity with which it is neceffarily combined, fubfifted very early among the Perfians, and (however corrupt, yet) more purely than in after Times. it alfo proves, that the Perfians, as well as the,Egyÿpeians and
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