80 Rev. Dr Scot 07i the Fine Linen 



even let them be as coarse as the most impartial observer can 

 allow, it must still be granted, that we view them with great 

 disadvantage, after they have been kept about a dead body, it 

 may be, for 4000 years. 



The practice of wrapping the dead body in robes of cotton, 

 I have no doubt, was transmitted from the Egyptians to the 

 Jews, and when we read in the Gospels that the crucified body 

 of Christ was wrapped in fine linen (smdon is the original word), 

 we will not be thought too rash in asserting that this fine linen 

 was cotton. 



For fai'ther satisfaction, however, whenever an opportunity 

 offers, those robes, in which the bodies of the dead were wrap- 

 ped, ought to be carefully examined by some skilful person, that 

 it may be ascertained whether they were cotton or linen, or cot- 

 ton and linen intermixed. Juhus Pollux, who lived in the se- 

 cond century, was of opinion, that the fine linen of his day was 

 a mixture of cotton and linen ; and Forster, in his tract De Bys- 

 so Antiquorumi is inclined to the same opinion. 



Such a mixture has often been tried ; for the ingenuity of man 

 is endless. Cotton warp, to speak technically, has not at all times 

 been strong enough for supporting cotton woof, and, therefore, 

 linen warp has been preferred. 



In many cases, however, it will not suit, as the cotton yarn 

 does not last so long as the linen ; or if, in some cases, it be found 

 to last, its durability must depend on the excellence of the ma- 

 nufacture ; and to such perfection has this now been carried by 

 machinery, that cotton warps of sufficient strength can always 

 be got for supporting cotton woofs. 



Whether the mixture of cotton and linen was forbidden the 

 Hebrews by their lawgiver, may be questioned ; but it is perfect- 

 ly clear, that the mixture of linen and wool was forbidden, in 

 order to prevent some idolatrous abuse, to which they were in- 

 clined, from imitating the customs of their heathen neighbours. 



Cotton yarn, however, can be mixed with woollen, especially 

 that kind of it called Worsted ; but we do not much admire 

 those specimens of it which we have examined. The mixture 

 of cotton and silk is far better. The substances are morie of a 

 kindred quality, and the cloths which result from the mixture, 

 if judiciously dyed, have a fine gloss and magnificent appearance. 



