Chap. VII. ANT I EN T METAPHYSICS. i6s 



be the objeds of the popular worfhip. At the fame time, I think it 

 is evident, that the learned among the Egyptians, I mean the Priefts, 

 diftinguillied betwixt the reiigion of the people and the religion of 

 philofophers : For I think it is certain, that the Priefts not only be- 

 lieved in the exiftence of one fupreme being, but they knew how 

 all things proceed from him, and in what order; firft, the principle 

 of intelligence, by which all things were made; and, fecondly, the 

 principle of life and animation^ without which the whole creation 

 would have been a lifelefs mafs : In fliort, they knew the myftery of 

 the Trinity, which 1 hold to be a truth of Philofophy, and of the high- 

 eft part of philofophy, theology, as well as of revelation; a truth, 

 which was difcovered by fuch philofophers as the Egyptian Priefts, but 

 could not have been known to the apoftles and firft Chriftians, with- 

 out revelation. This Theology Plato brought with him from Egypt; 

 for that Plato knew this myftery of the Trinity, but kept it a myf- 

 tery, ty uTo^orjroii, as he exprefled it, there is no doubt*; and for 

 that reafon, his Theology is faid, by the fathers of the church, to 

 agree fo much with 'he Chriftian"!". Now he could have learned 

 this Theology no where elfe but in Egypt. He certainly could not 

 learn it in Greece, as among the Greek philofophers before his time, 

 and even after his time, down to the time when Alexandria became 

 the feat of philofophy, there is not the leaft hint given of it. And 

 as to the notion, of Plato having learned it from fome Jews that he 

 met with in Egypt or elfewhere, in the firft place, there is no evi- 

 dence that Plato or any other Greek philofopher went among the 

 Jews to learn philolophy ; and fecondly, if he had gone to Jerufa- 

 lem to converfe with the Jews there, he could not have learned it 

 from them, as it is certainly not revealed in the books of the Old 

 Teftament, nor was it known to Jew oj Chriftian till the coming of 

 our Saviour. 



As 



* Vol. I. of Origin of Lang. p. 7. 2d edition, and vol. V. of the fame work, p. ■^•5?. 

 f Vol. V. of Origin of Lang. p. 344. and 345. 



