“ two great points on which our ftudy of antiquity ought to turn, in order to attain 
" any adequate knowledge of their Theology." 
This opinion of a great and learned Divine,* equally refpeflable for extenfive 
erudition, profound dilcernment, and exalted piety, appears of fuch real confe- 
quence to the developement of the truths of Divinity, which took place in early 
ages, that it {hall be moft ferioufly obferved, and with careful attention followed 
in thefe lucubrations. 
Of all the obftru&ions to diftinfrt knowledge that occur, when inveftigating the 
Theology of Antiquity, the Myfteries of Perfonification yield the molt perplexing 
labyrinth, in whole deep and intricate windings, it is molt difficult to find the per- 
fe6t way. The Light of Divinity which fhines beyond, often fcarce, has power to 
clear away the phantom of the intermediate gloom. 
The quotation has already been given from an eminent Antiquarian deeply verfed 
in hieroglyphical wifdom, — <f That a beautiful Female, carefling or fuckling an In- 
“ fant was one of the happieft fymbols of that Kind and Intelligent Nature, 
“ which with fond attention to its welfare, nourifhes the Univerfe. This was fculp- 
“ tured on Egyptian Monuments, and placed in their Sanctuaries, as conveying the 
“ moft grateful idea of that Affectionate Care which cherilhes the Creation, 
“ confidered as the offspring of the Supreme Perfection, and under the Guardian- 
“ {hip of parental Goodnefs. 
“ Thefe fublime ideas of the moft momentous principle of Natural Religion, 
“ blending with Evangelical Truths, contributed in part to that deep homage, where- 
“ with the Statues and Paintings of the Holy Virgin were regarded." 
But in ancient Sculptures and Paintings alfo ; and even in the language of the 
facred writings correfponding with thefe, the fymbol of the Church of God is fo 
characterized, as greatly to refemble the above ; and their emblematical attributes 
are often fo blended, that it is difficult to determine to which the allufions are moft 
appropriate. 
The abftraCf idea of the Church of God, or of that fyftem of Divine Truth, the 
adoption of which conftitutes the Communion of the Faithful, when perfonified, 
was from earlieft ages inverted with every fymbol held in deepeft veneration. 
During the reign of hieroglyphical wifdom this was pre-eminently evinced in the 
myfterious ftatue of Isis, which hallowed the Egyptian Fanes. This fymbolical 
Perfonage, in its facred and original grandeur, compofed of the moft precious me- 
tals, inwrought with the brighteft and moft valuable gems, was cloathed with fym- 
bols of the patronizing Care, and parental Providence of an all-gracious Deity? — 
Hieroglyphics of every more facred aphorifm, of every holy law, which the united 
wifdom of ages had eftablifhed, was fculptured o'er this myftic Form, and charac- 
ters, expreflive of the Divine Attributes, were written on hervefturejt and this 
myfterious Isis became as the Tabernacle where the Word of God was enfhrined, 
the fymbolical reprefentation of Providence, and of the Pieties that conciliate the 
Divine favour. 
The enfigns of Eternal Life, and Omnipotence, and other glories of the ineffa- 
ble Crown, bore allufion to that Great Being, which was, and is, and i s 
TO 
* Bifhop Warburton. 
J St. James’s Liturgy— Litany of the Holy Virgin of Loretto, &c. 
