4 6 OF THE ORIGIN OF CHEMISTRY. 



can give but little faith, in thefe days, to the 

 title of fuch books as arc afcribcd to Hermes. 



We have already mentioned the writings of 

 the columns of "Hermes, that were tranfcribed 

 by the fecond Hermes into the facrcd books. 

 Manethus is laid wt*rif< *TWI. TiXy*;<*)ai</**v 

 c,x., which is a divination of future events, ra- 

 ther than a recital of circumflances that had 

 already happened. Befides, in the preface de- 

 dicated to the King, Manethus adds: E*r,, 0MT< 



VT rev wfowanpof Tftffitftrt* ff 



#*w *. From which it is fufllciently clear, that 

 thcfc columns did not contain an account of the 

 part only, but that they in fome manner allud- 

 ed to times to come; perhaps from the lituation 

 of the flars, as Hermes was fkilled in allrology. 

 Abulpharagius, alfo, relates, that the deluge 

 was foretold by themf. Whether any other 

 fecrets, cfpeciully thofe belonging to chcmiilry, 

 were written on them, it is not poffible at this 

 day to determine ; the ancients, however, ap- 

 prehended that there were. 



Galen fpeuks of the medical writings of Her- 

 niesj. Clemens Alexandrians aflirms, that he 

 had written 36 volumes on the fecrets of the 

 Egyptians, and fix on the healing art. Six of the 

 firft contained hymns, the duty of kin^s, and 



fome 



* Fra^mcnta in tliron. Euftbii. ^ 



f Hid. Dynuit. 



I DC fimp. meJ. fac. !, iv. 



