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the Moon, by whofe mild fplendour nature is relieved from 

 die comfortlefs and unferviceable gloom of night, would next 

 attradt the admiration of man, which would be gradually ex- 

 tended through the refl of the heavenly orbs ; neither can we 

 be furprifed that thefe high placed obje(n:s, feated, as it would 

 feem, to be adored, within our ken indeed, but far beyond 

 the reach of our infpecflion, fliould firfl attradl the admiration 

 and confequent worfliip of the infant world, when we refledl 

 how fhort a time has elapfed fince mankind have ceafed uni- 

 verfally to concur in allowing them a fuperior and controlling 

 influence over human affairs. * Animal worfhip, for the rea- 

 fons already afligned, and becaufe the inconflancy of our nature, 

 utifteadled by revelation, would prompt us to wilh for change 

 even in ovir Gods, would probably be the next in fucceflion, 

 and laft of all man would bow down to man. 



That fuch has been the adlual progrefs of idolatry we have 

 reafon to believe from the lights, faint and uncertain as they are, 

 which hiflory throws upon this obfcure fubje(?V. That the fun 

 and moon and ftars were the original objedts of adoration in the 



moft 



* Sanconiatho feems to fuppofe that plants, for the deification of which the Egyptians long 

 afterwards became infamous, were objefls of worlhip in the earheft age. " But thefe firft men, 

 " (fjys he) confecrated the plants (hooting out of the earth, and judged them Gods, and 

 " worlhipped them, upon whom they themlelves lived, and all their pofterity, and all before 

 " them ; to thefe they made meat and drink offerings." Tranjlation by Cumherland, page 7. 



By thtfe Jtrjl men he means men in the earheft times, probably during his ten firft gene- 

 rations. If there ever was a time when men lived eritirely upon vegetables, thefe, as their 

 only aliment, might, on account of their utility, have been deified ; and, if fuch cuftom ever 

 cxifted, it mull probably have been in the World's infancy. 



