214 A NATURAL HISTORY 



of Wifdom •, but their greateft Solemnities were confecrated to 

 the God Apis^ or Serapis^ under the Image of an Ox or Bull. 



They had an Ox confecrated to the Sun, which they fed at 

 Heliopolis in Egypt : They had another called Apis^ dedicated to 

 the Moon, and fed at Memphis, (for fome time, the royal City) 

 where he had his Temple, and the Devils gave out their Oiacles. 

 In the time of St. 'Jerom, who flourifh'd in the fourth Century, 

 they worfhipped here a brafs Bull as a God. 



The famous God OJiris was adored under the Figure of this 

 Beaft, and when dead, it was buried with great Solemnity and 

 Mourning: And 'tis obfervable, that his Birth-day was celebrated 

 thro' the whole Kingdom. N, B. 'Tis very probable, that the 

 Ifraelites worfliipped the golden Calf in the fame manner as the 

 Egyptians did their Bulls, their Cows and Calves. 



Before I proceed, give me leave to fpeak fomething of this 

 golden Idol, which was the Figure of a Calf, which the IfraC' 

 lites cafl, and fet up to worfhip in MoJes% Abfencej who, upon 

 his return from the Mount, burnt the Figure, ground it to Pow- 

 der, and made the People drink it mixt with Water, Exod, xxxii. 

 The Learned are divided in their Sentiments on this Article j that 

 is, the golden Calf, that was burnt and pulverized, 



T o pulverize Gold and render it potable, is an Operation in 

 Chymiflry of the laft Difficulty ; and 'tis hard to conceive how 

 it fliould be done at that time, before Chymiftry was heard of, 

 and in a Wildernefs too, where they had no proper Inftruments* 

 Many therefore fuppofe it to be done by a Miracle. But the chy- 

 mical Art feems to be of greater Antiquity, and was very pro- 

 bably pradlifed in the antediluvian World by Tubal Cain. Mo- 

 fes is the next Chymill: mention'd in the Bible, whofe Skill in 

 chymical Operations, in pulverizing the golden Calfj feems to be 

 inconteftable, and artificial. 



The Art is now much improved. Bid a Chymifl convert 

 <jold into Glafs ; and by means of a burning Concave, or other- 

 wife, he prefently does it : Aik him to fliew you Gold in Powder, 

 and by mixing a little Antimony with that Metal, he will foon 

 render it pulverable *. 



But to return ; Among other living Creatures, the Egyptians 

 alfo paid a great Devotion to Dogs and Cats, We read of a cer- 

 tain 



• Bo&rhaave'i mvi Method. ProceJ. 26^} ■^i'' 



