By the Rev. J. L. Ross. 179 
Previous, however, to the erection of temples, and cotemporaneous 
with obelisks and stone pillars, to which reference has previously been 
made, “the name of Jehovah was frequently invoked” by Abraham 
and others of the early Patriarchs under an ‘oak or in groves, 
which usually were erected on eminences, or in Scripture language, 
on “high places.” In open plains or countries, as was frequently 
the case in the East, where there were few trees, plain unhewn 
stones on which no tool had been employed were dedicated to the 
worship of the Deity instead of oaks or groves from which Druid- 
ism derives its name. “Every thing,” says Taylor, “leads to the 
conclusion that the religion of mankind was originally the same, 
in its objects, its principles, and its rites: and that, to wherever 
the original tribes of men emigrated, with their natural fathers at 
their head, or wherever they settled, they retained those religious 
customs, notions, and references, which they had received as part 
of their patrimony, in the land of their primary residence. This 
is of some consequence to us, because Scripture being in many 
passages very concise, or merely employing allusions, the writers 
in numerous instances taking things to be too well known to need 
explanation (as indeed they were to their original readers), we are 
glad to avail ourselves of whatever may contribute to a better un- 
derstanding of those concisenesses, those non-explanations, which 
puzzle and perplex readers of the present day. We naturally turn 
with a feeling of general interest to our own island; and especially, 
when any remains of that original religion which we have attributed 
to the first families of mankind are discovered in it, we embrace 
with pleasure the opportunities they afford of inquiring what rela- 
tion they bear to subjects incidentally noticed in Scripture. When 
among the national antiquities of Britain, some great stone raised 
into an upright position presents itself, as a memorial, we recollect 
that Jacob raised a stone as a memorial too; when our notice is 
attracted by many stones forming heaps, the heap of many stones 
formed by Jacob and Laban recurs to recollection; stones of great 
magnitude ranged with labour, effort, and skill, in a circle, remind 
us that Joshua directed the men of Israel to range a circle of great 
stones; and when the idea of a holy place, a place of worship, is 
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