200 THE AXCIEXT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XII. 



and handed down through successive ages even 

 to the time when that event took place ; we are 

 therefore less surprised to find it introduced into 

 the religion of the Egyptians, and forming one of 

 the most important tenets of their belief. Indeed, 

 nothing can be more satisfactory, than this addi- 

 tional proof of its having been a tradition among 

 the early inhabitants of the earth ; and it was 

 natural that the Egyptians should anticipate tlie 

 fulfihnent of this promise, and found thereon the 

 great mystery of the relative connection between 

 the Deity and mankind. The fact of this, and the 

 doctrine of a trinity being entertained by so many 

 distant nations, naturally leads to the inference 

 that they had a common origin ; and most persons 

 will admit that they appear to have been derived 

 from immediate revelation, or from the knowledge 

 imparted to the early inhabitants of the world, 

 rather than from accidental speculation in distant 

 parts of the globe, — a remark which applies equally 

 to the creation of man, the deluge, the ark or 

 boat, and numerous mysterious doctrines common 

 to different people. 



From whatever source the Egyptians originally 

 borrowed their ideas on these subjects, it is evi- 

 dent that they refined upon them, and rendered 

 their metaphysical speculations so complicated, 

 that it required great care and attention on the 

 part of the initiated to avoid confusion, and to 

 obtain a perfect understanding of their purport. 

 Hence it happened that those, who had only ob- 

 tained a limited insio:ht into this intricate sub- 



