142 ANCIENT EGYPT. 



probable that some of the passages were as obscure to the 

 Egyptians Hving at that early time as to ourselves. The 

 papyrus at Turin contains 165 chapters. The very great age 

 of even the latest copy of this remarkable record becomes 

 apparent when we consider that there is probably no Hebrew 

 manuscript of the Old Testament older than the eighth or 

 ninth century of our era, 



I will proceed to give you a few extracts from this ancient 

 book : — 



" I go on the way, where I wash my head in the lake 

 of the justified. I reach this land of the glorified, and enter 

 through the glorious gate. Doing that which is right and 

 hating that which is wrong, I was bread to the hungry and 

 water to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, a refuge to him 

 that was in want; and that which I did to him, the great 

 God has done to me. God has inclined his countenance to 

 me." 



" Oh ! my God and Lord, who hast made me and formed 

 me, give me an eye to see, and an ear to hear thy glory." 



"There hath not been found any wickedness in him, he 

 hath not harmed any man by his words, and he uttered not 

 evil reports while he was upon earth." 



The Turin tablet of Beka is another most instructive 

 ancient record. A passage runs : — 



" I was just and true, without malice — placing God in my 

 heart, and quick in discerning his will. I have come to the 

 city of those that dwell in eternity." 



A papyrus roll in the British Museum says : — 

 " The great God, Lord of heaven and earth, who made all 

 things that are." 



And another in the Leyden Museum speaks of 

 " the one in one." 



The following translation of an ancient Egyptian hymn is 

 far more instructive than any abstract theories derived from 

 the vast monumental pantheon of Ancient Egypt : — 



