12G

BURIALS.

The author adds, in a subsequent place, that those wiselaws were instituted by a hero of the name of Mnevis.

The same author subsequently says, “For they, the“ Egyptians, say that Orpheus brought over most of tne“ religious rites and ceremonies, both as to what concerns“ the celebration of the Orgia, and relating to his wander-ing up and down, and the entire fable of hell; for, that“ the ceremonies of Osiris agree in every thing with those“ of Bacchus, and those of Isis and Ceres are one and the“ same, differing in nothing but the name. And whereas, he“ introduces the wicked to be tormented in hell; the Elysian“ fields for the pious and just, and the fictitious appear-“ ance of ghosts, (commonly noised abroad,) they say he“ has done nothing but imitated the Egyptian funerals.“ And the feigning Mercury to be the conductor of souls“ was derived from the old Egyptian custom, that he who“ brought back the dead body of Apis, (when he came“ to the place,) delivered it to him w r ho represented“ Cerberus, which being represented by Orpheus to the“ Greeks, Homer, in imitation of him, inserted in hispoem,

“ Cyllenius leads to the infernal strand“ The hero’s ghost, arm’d with his golden wand.”

Adding,

“ They reach the effluxes of the sw elling seas,

“ Then Leuca’s rock, thence on the wave they keep“ To the sun’s portals, and the land of sleep;

“ When straight they come into a flowery mead,

“ Where, after death, departed souls reside.”

The name here of Oceanus, is attributed to the Nile ,so the Egyptians in their language call it; the sun’sportals is also the city of Heliopolis, a city of the sun. Themeadow feigned to be the habitation of the dead is a placenear Memphis , bordering upon the lake Arethusa, sur-rounded with pleasant ponds, meadows, woods, and grovesof aloes and sweet canes.

David eulogizes the sons of Jabesh-giiead, who rescuedthe bones of their king from the walls of the enemy.(2 Samuel, ii. 5.) Tobit is also praised, because he wentabout burying his murdered countrymen. Joseph's body,being first embalmed, was put into a cofiin or mummy case,and brought away by the Israelites on their exode fromEgypt . as it should appear at the especial request of thatpatriarch.

Various nations have had, and still have numerous and