PREFACE. 2a 



Before I come to fpeak of Pythagoras, it will not, I think, be im- 

 proper to give fome account of the progrefs, as I imagine, of Phi- 

 lofophv in Egypt. While the Egyptians were yet Savages, and led 

 the nomade life, which we are fure from traditions preferved among 

 them, and recorded by Diodoras Siculus, they, as well as every other 

 Nation, once did, they w^ould believe, as we know all Savages do, in 

 powers invifible, and fuperior to Man; for, fo far I hold the idea of 

 a Deity to be innate, that I am convinced all Men, when they have 

 attained to the ufe of Reafon, and have formed the idea of Caufe 

 and Effea, muft of neceffity believe that the operations of Nature 

 are carried on by powers invifible, fuperior by infinite degrees to 

 any power of Man. We are not, therefore, to wonder that Nations 

 in that ftage of the progrefs of Man fhould believe, that all the 

 operations of Nature are performed by Spirits, or even that they 

 fhculd believe, as the Indians of North America do, that there is a 

 Spirit in their darts and arrows, and fuch like things * : And this be- 

 lief would continue among them till all the necefTary arts of life, 

 and many of the pleafurable were invented, and till fomc Men 

 among them enjoyed leifure, not being obliged to labour for their 

 fuftenance, as all Men in a barbarous Nation are, but being fup- 

 ported by the labour of others : Then that curiofity and love of 

 knowledge, which is natural to Man, would begin to exert itfelf, 

 and make him admire hutic folem et Jlcllas et deccdcntia cert'is — 

 Tempora momentis — and all the reft of this w^onderful frame of 

 things — For wonder, as Ariftotle obfervcs, was the beginning of 

 Philofophy. Thus, therefore, Philofophy began in Egypt, and 

 among the Priefts, as the fame Author fays, becaufe they lirfl had 

 leifure t ; and the firft objed of their attention w^ould, I am per- 

 fuaded, be Body, being that which was obvious to their fenfes; and 



* This is rehted by Gabriel Sagard, in his Travels in North America. See a 

 particular account of him,. Origin of Language, Vol. I. p. 471, 2d Edit. 

 f Metaphyf. in initio. 



C 1 



