MYTHOLOGY. 1 ff 



CHAP. IT. 



MYTHOLOGY. 



L nPHE word mytbology is a Greek compound, 

 JL that fignifies a difcourfe on fables , and com- 

 prehends, in a collective fenfe, all the fabulous 

 and poetic hiftory of pagan antiquity. It fol- 

 lows therefore, that this fcience teaches the hif- 

 tory of the gods, demi-gods, and fabulous heroes 

 of antiquity-, the theology of the pagans, the 

 principles of their religion, their myfteries, me- 

 tamoiphofes, oracles, &c. By this definition, it 

 appears fufficiently what are the objects of which 

 we are to treat in this chapter. 



II. If we well confider the matter, we Hull 

 find, that there were, in pagan antiquity, three 

 different religions. Firft, That of the philoibphers, 

 who treated metaphyfically of the nature, t' 

 tributes, and of the works of the Supreme Being. 

 They endeavoured to difcover the true CioJ, and 

 the manner in which he ought to be worl hipped. 



It 



