Cu ftomary to communicate the interpretation of thefe in the folemnity of fecret rites, the 
P' e ces of parchment thus infcribed, and given to the initiated, were held in great efteem. 
a time when every thing that came from the Holy Land was venerated, and 
Edition was in its infancy again, the above became in high repute, and were carried 
jd° n g by thofe commiffioned to fpread the evangelical communications, as relics of the 
'dden wifdom of the Hebrews: and thus, as fraught with fome facred myfteries, were 
i' u ‘ptured on the earlieft monuments of Chriftianity that are found in this country. But 
* le Egyptian Cross, D, is the earlieft of all j and perhaps contains in it the archetypes 
a d the other ornamental Crofles, which were fo much prized in the firft ages of 
^nftianity. This was a primaeval fymbol of the elementary influences, as depending 
their feveral energies on the revolution of the heavenly bodies ; and therefore the 
r °b, on the extremities of which the elements were hieroglyph! cally exprefTed, is 
c ‘°Wned above with rudiments of the planetary fyftem, included in a circle allufive to 
e ftarry firmament, and zodiacal conftellations that regulated the year. 1 his order is 
e Choral Hymn of Heaven, that proclaims the infinite wifdom of the Great Ruler. 
1e epitome of the Crofs, I, was therefore the chofen fymbol of the divine influence and 
P°'ver extended through the univerfe. ’Twas imprefied as a leading character on the fa- 
Cic d columns, and on the altars of devotion. In the hallowed rites of the fandtuary, it was 
j.'° rn over the brow as a diadem of holinefs ; and placed on the breaft as a gem that 
ar) ftified the heart ; and carried in the hand of thofe perfonages reprefented as emblems 
j the moft exalted piety. Thefe are frequent on the obelifks at Rome, and in the 
" lAc Table*, where many fymbolical figures, paying devout attention to fymbols of 
e Deity, are reprefented as having taken up a Crofs, and are bearing it in their 
ha hds. 
£ During our Saviour’s miniftry, in the early part of it, when as yet the import of His 
r °f$ could not be known to thofe to whom He was imparting His facred dotftrines, 
j! et it is obfervable that HE proceeds in His holy admonitions on the evident perfua- 
n 0fl that the People of Judea at that time underftood the Cross to be a fymbol of 
Cer eft devotion of foul. Unto the youth whom Jesus loved, and who made the folemn 
quiry, « What jpall I do to inherit eternal life ?” part of the hallowed reply was. 
ctv 
Take 
up thy Crofs and follow Me.” And to His difciples in general, “ Whofoever 
„ ° V( -'th father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me ; and whofoever taketh 
, f n °t up his Crofs, and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me. If any one will do the will 
Him that fent me, let him take up his Crofs, and follow Me f.” 
£ ^Tis perhaps may account for the fo frequent mention of the facred influence of the 
r ° ls in Oriental writings, previous to the asras in w'hich the evangelical communica- 
*: vv 
° ns reached them. 
* See Msn/a IJlaca, Oedip. JEgypt. tom. III. 
f Matt, x. 38. xvi. Z4. Mark viii. 34. x. 21* Luke ix. 23. xiv. 27. 
'Ci 
In 
