~ Vor.VI.J 
bol of power, and is called in the more 
ancient dialect cherub. 
Thefe myttic figures, to which only 
the Epopts had a key, gave to the myt- 
teries a fenfual outfide, which impoted 
on the people, and in no fimal! degree. re- 
fembled the public worfhip. Stperftition, 
therefore, derived frefh ftrength trom the 
exterior garb of the myfteries; although 
behind the curtain it might be laughed 
at. 
It is, however, very comprehenfible, 
that this pure deifm fhould live in har- 
mony with idolatry; for although it un- 
dermined it from within, from without it 
afforded fupport. This diffonance be- 
tween the religion of the priefts and of 
- the vulgar was excufable in the founders 
of the myfteries, from the neceflity of the 
cafe, and was of two evils the lefler; as 
there was more probability of conquering 
the mifchiefs arifing from the concealment 
of truth, than of withitanding thofe which 
arife from its premature difclofure. But 
when, by degrees, unworthy members had 
infinuated themfelyes into the circle of 
the initiated, &c. the inftitution had loft 
its primitive purity ; that fecrefy, which 
was originally a mere prudential pre- 
caution, was made the effence and object 
of the inftitution ; and, inftead of endea- 
youring to dilpel the gloom of fupertti- 
tion, and to prepare the people for fup- 
porting a more perfect day, its members 
became confpirators againft inftruction, 
and mifled the multitude into groffer 
darknefs. Prieft-craft fuperfeded the 
purity of the original intention; and 
an inititution, planned to keep alive the 
knowledge of the only God, became a 
powerful medium of fupport to idolatry, 
and a mean of intercepting by oaths of 
fecrefy the acknowledgement of that con- 
tempt for the popular religion which its 
members might elfe have diffufed through 
the community. Hierophants, in order 
to retain the more afcendancy over their 
pupils; multiplied the grades of initiation, 
and affeéted conftantly to referve fome- 
thing for the future fatisfa&tion of the 
afpirant- His progrefs was intercepted 
or amufed by theatric ceremonies and 
tricks, until at length the very key to 
their hieroglyphs, and the purport of 
their mylftic forms, were loft; and that 
pafled for the whole truth which was 
originally nothing but its veil. 
It is difficult to afcertain whether the 
education of Mofes coincided with the 
better times of this infitution, or with 
the beginning of its declenfion: probably 
with the latter, to judge trom tome foolith 
On the Legation of Mofes. 
553 
mummeries which the Hebrew law-giver 
borrowed, and from fome exceptionable 
tricks which he transferred. But the 
fpirit of the original founder was not yet 
evaporated ; and the dottrine of the unity 
of the Creater of the world ftill rewarded 
the curiofity of the initiated. 
This doétrine, whofe inevitable confe- 
quence could not but bea decided con- 
tempt for polytheifm, was the-rich trea- 
fure which the young Hebrew derived 
from the mytteries of Ifis. Therein he 
alfo became better acquainted with the 
powers of nature, which then formed an 
object of fecret {cience, and which after- 
wards enabled him to perform wonders, 
and even to rival or excel the magicians 
of Pharaoh in his juggleries. His after 
conduct fhews that he was a fkilful pupil, 
and had attained-the higheft grade of ini- 
tiation. 
In this fame fchool he colleéted a mafs 
of jhieroglyphic and myftic knowledge 
and ritual, which his inventive genius 
turned to account. He had explored the 
whole region of Egyptian wildom; 
thought over the whole fyltem of its . 
priefthood; weighed its advantages and 
difadvantages againft each other; and 
had taken a piercing view of its whole 
{cheme of ftate-craft. . 
How much time he fpent in the fchools 
of the priefts is unknown; but his late 
political confpicuity makes it probable 
that he had not devoted lefs than twenty 
years to the ftudy ot the mytfteries and 
of the legiflation. This difcipline does 
not, however, appear to have excluded 
him from converiancy with his nation; 
or to have prevented his obferving the 
inhuman oppreflions under which it la- 
boured. 
This Egyptian education did not fup- 
prefs his nationality. The ill-ulage of 
his people reminded him he was a He- 
brew, and ftruck deep in his bofom. The 
more he began to fecl himéelf, the more 
he felt for the burdens of his fellow- 
countrymen. He once beheld a Hebrew 
fuffering under the blows ot an Egyptian 
taik-maiter: the ficht overpowered his 
patience, and he flew the Egyptian. The 
deed came out: his lite was endangered ; 
he had to leave Egypt, and to feek re- 
fuge in the Arabian wildernefs. This 
flight 1s placed by fome fo late as the 
fortieth year of his lite; it is enough tor 
us to Know, that he could no longer be 
very young when it enfued. f 
ITI. With the exile of Mofes begins 
a new era of his life; and, if we would 
Underitand his future political appearance 
in 
