OR THE BURKING OF THE DEAD. 121 



and of the Stoic, philosophy were early incorporated into the 

 Christian system ', it has been asserted by several learned wri- 

 ters, that the Popish doctrine of a middle state, or of the puri- 

 fication of souls by fire, was borrowed from that of the \mrvgas- 

 trig. The doctrine of purgatory, indeed, is nearly allied to the 

 ideas which the gentiles entertained concerning the efficacy of 

 fire in preparing the soul for the abodes of Elysium. 



It has also been observed, that the sacrifices which the Greeks 

 denominated reXim), were offered with the same design. Some 

 have supposed that these sacrifices for the dead received this 

 name, because, being the most sumptuous of all sacrifices, the 

 greatest part of them was consumed *. But there is another 

 interpretation of the term, which is more probable. They 

 seem to have been thus denominated, as perfecting whatever 

 had been deficient in the merit of the dead, and as securing 

 their liberation from suffering in the eternal state f . 



10. I shall only further remark, that this igneous purifica- 

 tion was intimately connected with sacrifice. Though, as has 

 already been observed, we cannot view this practice as origina- 

 ting from the tenets of any particular school ; sufficient proof 

 has been brought to shew, that it was viewed as a solemn act 

 of religion : and it may naturally enough be supposed, that the 

 philosophers who considered fire as the principle of all things, 

 would take advantage of a custom which was pretty general in 

 their times, as affording an argument that seemed to lend its 

 aid to their peculiar system. As this custom was observed, not 

 merely as a religious rite, but as an important means of puri- 

 fication ; as it has been so generally diffused, although doubtless 

 abhorrent from the feelings of humanity ; I have at times been 



Vol. VIII. P. I. Q inclined 



* Suid. in voc. 



f V. Gale's Court of the Gentiles, Part III. B. ii, c. 2. § 11. 



