THEIR CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE RITES AND IDOLATRIES OF THAT PEOPLE. The BICH, IS PRETIXED BY JACOB BRYANT, ÉS Q. LONDON : . PRINTED FOR T. HAMILTON AND R. OGLE; J. OGLE, EDENBURGE; M. OGLE, AND J. STEVEN & co. GLASGOW; 1810. D. General Library System GEO. CAW, PRINTER. THE following Treatise, together with those with which it is accompanied, was written many years ago for my own private amusement and satisfaction. For I then had formed no design of having them published to the world. But since I have been induced to make my thoughts in some other instances public, it has led me farther than I at first purposed, and given me encouragement to produce these likewise to the world, that if any the least good can result from them, I may have the happiness of seeing it in some degree take place. The principal subjects which I have undertaken to elucidate, have, I believe, been considered by me in a light quite new. For I do not recollect that any person before has followed the same mode of illustration. Particularly in respect to the plagues in Egypt, it does not appear that any writer has observed that correspondence which seems to subsist between the offence and the punishment, as well as between the people and their customs. It will afford me great satisfaction if this correspondence should appear universally obvious and precise, and founded in truth. As what I here present to the public is a small part of a large collection, I may possibly, if I live, venture to produce other observations upon similar subjects, and of a like tendency, For my chief labour has been, ever since I have had opportunities of reading, observing, and forming an unbiassed opinion, to do honour to the religion which I profess, and to authenticate the Scriptures upon whịch it is founded. OF Egyptian Rites, and of the Colonies by which they · were introduced very early into Greece. . Page 1 OF THE PLAGUES INFLICTED UPON THE EGYPTIANS. The First Plague—THE RIVER TURNED TO BLOOD Antiquity of Worshipping Rivers . .. 19 The Peculiarity of the Punishment by this Plague The Destruction of the Aquatic Tribes . Of the compound Deity Atargatis ... Extent of this Worship, and its Fallacy . The Frog an emblem of Prophetic Influence - esteemed Sacred from its Inflation The Fourth Plague-Kuvopiviai, or FLIES The Worship of Achor, and Acoron, the God-Ay, &c. 59 The true Place ascertained where Ahaziah sent to enquire 63 A more determinate Proof of the Author's Opinion Frequent Prohibitions of this Worship The Miracle of Flies ascertained The Fifth PlagueMURRAIN OF BEASTS |