By the Rev. J. L. Ross. 161 
possession of the same family, passing from fathers to sons, and 
this only they study. Whereby, having only their parents for 
their masters, he who instructs conceals nothing through jealousy ; 
and he who learns brings all his docility to receive instruction. 
Moreover, having commenced these studies from the earliest period 
of life, they acquire a perfect habitude in these matters, whether 
from the facility of learning which is natural to youth, or from the 
length of time which they have employed init. The Chaldeans 
consider matter as eternal, neither needing generation, nor subject 
to corruption. But they believe that the arrangement and order 
of the world is the effect of Divine intelligence, and that all which 
appears in the heavens or on the earth, is the effect, not of a 
causal or of a fatal necessity, but of the wisdom and power of the 
Gods.” 
After proceeding to shew the extent of their astronomical and 
astrological knowledge, Mr. Taylor remarks, ‘‘The reader will com- 
pare this description with that given in the Devatér of the system 
‘of the ancient Persian Magi. The Interpreter stars of one are 
evidently the Mediator stars of the other: the messenger stars are 
the watchers of Daniel, or analogous to the Satan of Job: and on 
the reports of such messengers no doubt, the Counsellor-gods formed 
their decrees, as in the instance of Nebuchadnezzar.”’ From this 
account we are enabled to understand why the Babylonian mon- 
arch applied to the Chaldeans as wise men and astrologers to ex- 
plain the revelations which he had received from the celestial 
protectors of his kingdom. 
Philostratus also informs us! that the “ Indi are the wisest of all 
mankind. The Ethiopian (7.e. the Oriental Ethiopians) are a colony 
from them, and they inherit the wisdom of their forefathers. The 
hieroglyphics on the obelisks, says Cassiodorus,’ are Chaldaic signs 
of words, which were used, as letters are, for the purpose of infor- 
mation. Zonaras’ says, the most approved account is, that the 
Arts came from Chaldea to Egypt; and from thence passed into 
_ Greece. The philosophy of this people was greatly celebrated. 
? Vit. Apollon. Lib. ii. quoted in Taylor’s Fragments. * Lib. iii, Ep. 2, 51. 
#Y i, p. 52. 
M 
