8 Hydriotapbia, 



the earth, we have no Autheotick con je 

 flure. 



The Egyptians were afraid of fire, not 

 as a Deity , but a devouring Element, 

 mercilcfly confuming their bodies, and 

 leaving too little of them ; and therefore 

 by precious Embalments, depoCturc in 

 dry earths, or handfome inclofure in 

 glalles, contrived the notableft wayes of 

 integral! confervation. And from fuch 

 Egyptian fcruples imbibed by Tjtbag*- 

 ra*i if may be conje&ured that Num* and 

 the PythagoricallSeftfirft waved the fi 

 ery folinion. 



The Scythian) who fwore by winde and 

 (word, that is, by life and death, were 

 fo fat re from burning their bodies, that 

 they dt clinc-d all interrment, and made 

 their graves in the ayr : And the Itbthy- 

 epkfigi or *ifb- eating Nations about -^E- 

 pypt, sfte<fted the Sea for their grave : 

 Thereby declining vifible corruption, 

 and reftoriog the debt of their bodies. 

 Whereas the old Heroes in /-ta#*r,drea- 

 dcd nothirg more than water or drown 

 ing 5 probably upon the old opinion of 

 the fiery fubft:mce of the foulj onlyex- 

 tinguiftable by that Element, And 



there- 



