376 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book III. 



with the fmell of their burnt offerings*, which afcended to the 

 Ikies, where they fuppoled they refided. And, as their facrifices 

 were' accompanied with mufic, they thought, that the ears of their 

 Gods were entertained in that way, as their fight was by ,nagnificent 

 temples, altars, pomps, and proceffions, and by numberlefs rites and 

 ceremonies which accompanied the antient worfhip. And the legif- 

 lators, and raagiftrates, in fome countries, particularly in Egypt, 

 very much encouraged a worflilp of fo much pomp and fhow, and 

 accompanied by fo many rites and ceremonies, becaufe they thought 

 it was the only way to preferve religion among the people, who 

 muft be attached to it by their fenfes, and not by their reafon. 



In return for thefe oblations, and their devotion to their Gods, 

 they expeded fuccefs in their wars, and in all the occupations in 

 which they were employed ; and, as the fuccefs of thefe depended 

 very much upon their knowledge of future events, they expeded 

 that their Gods were to inform them of thefe by prophecies, dreams, 

 oracles, aufpices, or the entrails of beafts, and by augury, that is, 

 the flight of birds. And in this way a kind of intercourfe and cora^- 

 merce was carried on betwixt thofe antient men and their Gods. 



As the Jews were a people as much or more governed by their 

 fenfes than any other nation, it was neceflfary that Mofes fliould ef- 

 tabliili among them a religion, of as much pomp and fplendor, and 

 of as many rites and ceremonies, as any of the Heathen religions. 

 And there was another reafon alfo, that the people, who had been 

 fo long in Egypt, and fo much accuftomed to a religion of that 

 kind, could never have been made converts to a i-ellglon fo fimple 

 as that of their anceftbrs tlie Patriarchs ; but if Mofes had attempted 

 to give them fuch a religio'i, they would have revolted, and become 

 idolaters, like the Eg; ptians and the other neighbouring nations. 



Mofes, 



* Levkhiis, chap. 17. v. 6. 



