decyphering of that alone, its origin and import, if the limits of this paper ^ 
lowed, would readily open a fpacious, and perhaps interefting field of l0 ' 
veftigation. , i 
Sanchoniathon is the earlieft of uninfpired writers who mentions this fym 
And the great Cudworth * allows, that the bold imagery, and enigmatical ^ 
port of the fragments quoted by Eusebius f, as they require to be judiciou 
weighed, fo merit a candid and philofophical acceptation. 
Reafon therefore is allowed a liberal fcope in the tranflation of the C1 
apophthegms. ; ts 
The Sun is the great meafure of the year — of Time. Sanchoniathon c ai 
fyrnbol Chronus. « To which,” fays he, "there is given four wings 5 tW ° e 
€( p an ded as in the aft of flight, and two let down to indicate repofe ; impty‘ n J 
« t h at though ftationary, it feems to fly; and though apparently revolving r ° un 
" the world, is perfectly ftill.” ^ 
But a refembling fyrnbol was pourtrayed, giving an abftraft idea of the hut ^ 
mind. To this fame of the Oracles attributed to Zoroaster, on the intelle^ 0 . 
nature of Man, evidently allude, viz. “ The Human Spirit is in this ftate ** s 
« endowed with Wings : when the wings of the mind are let down, it cI ^ 
“ into the terreftrial fphere, and is converfant with temporal things ; when c 
« are fpread forth, it re-afcends to Heaven, and contemplates the Deity.’' 
“ Befides the four already mentioned, there were added, ’ fays Sanchoni a 
" to this fyrnbol two other Wings, affixed to the head, to indicate the intelle 
" difcernment, and heavenly afpirations of the foul £ ! ” ^ 
This fix winged figure, as the hieroglyphic of the Mind in its moft p er ' LL ^ 
happy ftate, became the chofen fyrnbol of the doxology in holy rites. ^ 
Seraph of the Sanfluary, as feen by IJaiah [|. The grand Hallelujah y 
preffed by thefe, and they are therefore fo introduced into the Ancient LltU ^ {i , 
the Church of Jerusalem " The Sun, the Moon, and the whole choir of ^ 
« praife Thee, and the Seraphim with fix wings, while with twain they c 
« their head, and with twain they cover their feet, and with twain they do 
When therefore, over the Oofs, on one obelifk, we fee the facred Dove, the ^ 
lice, and Euchariftical Wafer f ; on another, human figures in attitudes °f ] °* s 
adoration; on a third, the Seraphim— no doubt can remain of theii re 
import, and fublime defign, as public monuments of thofe interefting and ^ 
communications, which accompanied the dawning light of the evangeli ca ^ 
trines. The facred fculptures of thefe Obelisks, therefore, as far as po® 
voured the fpreading influence of that Revelation, amongft a people, to 
at that time, alphabetical writing was unknown. 
* Intellectual Syftem. f Prep. Evang. 1 . i. c. 10. f Ibid. || Chap- v ” 
$ St, Cyril, in Catech. Mylt. v. f See Monuments, N 8 II. of this publica* 1011 ' 
'3 
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