ON MATTEE AND FORCE. 47 



The Egyptians took a different view of 

 matter. " The conservation of the body was 

 essential to the vigour and felicity of the soul ; 

 hence embalming, in order that the spirit may 

 have something on which to lean for help. In 

 virtue of the strength afforded to the spirit by 

 this union with the former cause of her vitality, 

 she continued to exist in some analogous con- 

 dition disembodied, but stil] associated with 

 her previous tenement, and still in some mys- 

 terious fashion living by its life." (Hardwick, 

 vol. ii., p. 297.) 



The tombs and pyramids were made to pro- 

 tect the body while the spirit went to Amenti, 

 to be judged by Osiris, either when acquitted 

 to pass into a state of permanent felicity in the 

 sun, or when condemned to return to some 

 animal shape on earth. 



One chief part of the religion of the Egyptians 

 consisted in the worship of the dead. They 

 prayed to the authors of their bodies. They 

 buried with them food, dress, and implements - 

 of war, business, and pleasure. They even 

 made the spirit into a peculiar material sub- 

 stance, and did not consider it as a purely 

 spiritual essence. 



