[ 5*4 ] 
And that this Cuftom of dedicating Tingle Stones 
to G o d was not confined to Judrea, is plain from 
Clemens Alexandrians, who obferves, that before the 
Art of Carving was invented, the Antients eredted 
unwrought Pillars, and paid their Worfhip to them 
as to the Statues of the Gods (< Clem . Alex. Strom. 
Lib. I.). Herodian alfo mentions a Pillar, or large 
Stone, of a black Colour, and a conical Form, at An- 
tioch in ‘Phoenicia , which was eredted in Honour of 
the Sun {Herod. Lib. V.). Paufanias alfo mentions 
feveral of thefe uncarved Pillars in Boeotia in Greece , 
and fays they were the antient Statues erected to their 
Gods ( c Paufan . in Boeot. & in Acha.). And that this 
Cuftom continued till after the Time of the Prophet 
Ifaiah , is plain from his making ufe of the Expref- 
fton of eredting a Pillar to God, to denote the 
Worfhip of God. For, fays he, hi that P>ay pall 
there be an Altar to the Lord in the midft of the 
Land of Egypt, and a Pillar at the Border thereof 
to the Lord. And it pall be for a Sign , and for a 
fVitnefs , unto the Lord of Hofts in the Land of 
Egypt (Ifa. xix. 1 9, 20.). And Arnobius , who flou- 
rifhed about 330 Years after Chrijt , fays, that this 
Cuftom continued to his Time ; and that, when he 
was a Heathen, he never met a Stone, which had the 
Marks of Olive-oil being poured upon it, that he 
did not look upon as fomething divine, and offered 
up his Prayers to it as fuch ( Arnob . cont . Gent. 
Lib. I.)* 
As to the Cuftom of eredting this Bethel with a 
certain Number of Stones around it, this alfo is to 
be found in the Old Teftament. For it is faid of 
Mopes , after he had been in the Mount with God, 
and 
