authenticated by thefe memoirs; more particularly, the illuftration of the hieroglyphics of the facramental trophies of the former Number has paved the way for the following reflection, to ascertain the traditionary line in which these symbols were conveyed.

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN PASTORS, struck with the hieroglyphical glory, in which divine things had been fo fublimely expreffed and venerated of old, faw that the symbols of the Gentile religion were derived from primæval traditions; had their facred origin in the patriarchal records and prophetical books; and therefore involved allusions to evangelical truth. By pious appropriation they were, on the above account, inscribed on the parchments of the Chriftian fanctuaries; (for, during the three first centuries, the communion service was not permitted to be written): from these parchments, wherewith the divines who carried the embassy of the Gospel into foreign lands were furnished, sprung some of the most inexplicable sculptures on the obelisks now under re

view.

Memorials of the original parchments shall be here produced; and the monuments of the plate are standing entire *; the faithful comparifon of the hieroglyphics on them, with those of Ægyptian obelisks, is therefore what the inquifitive may eafily ascertain.

The evidence of the fublime allufions, here offered to view, is not therefore derived from the legendary tales of early hiftorians, nor from dubious theories founded in fiction and favoured by credulity; but from the authentic teftimony of fculptured granite and marble, and the venerable importance of primæval fymbols.

It is therefore a pleafing reflection, that so many of these OBELISKS held facred by their antiquity, and the traditionary value of their contents, have fo long remained the boast and glory of the CALEDONIAN plains.

*Fig. I. is at Aberlemny, in ANGUS. III. is within a park, near to Glaims Castle, in the fame county. II. ftands on a circular mount, artificially raifed with fteps of earth, at Cariblair in Rofs-fhire.

Publish'd as the Act directs Jan, 18, 1789. by Peter Mazell Engraver No 31, Gerard Street Scho.

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Pear Mazells culp

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EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS,

IN

OBSERVABLE Ο Ν

CALEDONIAN OBELISK S.

N order to give a fatisfactory illuftration of thefe, it is not fo neceffary to go deep into the hiftory of the revolutions, which hieroglyphical writing underwent, as to quote fome felect fentences of the more diftinguished authors who have wrote on this fubject: but these are requifite to authenticate the application, and vindicate the facred references here stated.

No emblem of ancient wisdom has been more remarkable than the hieroglyphic of the Serpent. In different ages it has had affixed to it the moft glorious and most horrible ideas. Its plain, explicit, and feemingly earliest reference, is all that is here attended to: and of its universal application in this way all antiquity is full; that when placed over, or in the midst of abstrufe fymbols, it invariably indicated that they were SPIRIT and LIFE, or bore allusion to objects of a divine and intellectual nature *.

The myftic lines, immediately under that of the Obelisk, fig. I. in the plate, are therefore to be construed as some expreffive rudiments of facred science; but moreover they so perfectly accord with the defcription given by an eminent antiquarian †, of a corresponding symbol on the Pamphilian Obelisk at ROME, that it could not have been more applicable if taken from this at Aberlemny ‡. "circuli, intra duo fceptra inclufi. Triformis numenis dominium, in triplicum "mundum pulchre fane demonftrant.”

"Tres

"The circles, then, included within the Triune line, finished at either end with "the fceptral emblem, or enfign of EFFICIENT POWER, was the expreffive fym"bol of the DIVINE DOMINION extended over heaven and earth, and the whole "CIRCLE of the year ." While the facred EYE, within the triangle, gives the thought a fublimity, which it is impoffible to heighten.

We have here then, on a CALEDONIAN monument, one of the most original and facred fymbols of the EASTERN WORLD; in the myftic lines of which, thofe that are thoroughly verfed in antiquity can be at no lofs to difcern the rudiments of the Alpha and Omega, and other letters of the primæval alphabet, as in the extracted NOAN !

The CHERUBIC FIGURES Over the traverse of the CROSS, on the Obelisk, fig. III. no less forcibly attract attention, on account of the resemblance which they bear to feveral Ægyptian hieroglyphics.

That with wings, which in its original may have resembled the ABRAXA, fig. IV. is the only one additionally felécted as the present subject of observation: and the

* Phyfici vero Serpentem fpiritualiffimum animal effe dicunt; itaque res divinas, per Serpentis naturam, notabant. Eufebius, Prep. Evang. 1. iii. c. 3.

+ Kircher. Obelif. Pamphil. 148.

Ibid. 497.

St. James's Liturgy. decyphering

decyphering of that alone, its origin and import, if the limits of this paper allowed, would readily open a fpacious, and perhaps interefting field of investigation.

SANCHONIATHON is the earliest of uninspired writers who mentions this fymbol. And the great CUDWORTH* allows, that the bold imagery, and enigmatical import of the fragments quoted by EUSEBIUS †, as they require to be judiciously weighed, fo merit a candid and philofophical acceptation.

Reason therefore is allowed a liberal fcope in the tranflation of the cited apophthegms.

The SUN is the great measure of the year-of TIME. Sanchoniathon calls its fymbol Chronus. "To which," fays he, "there is given four wings; two ex"panded as in the act of flight, and two let down to indicate repofe; implying, "that though ftationary, it feems to fly; and though apparently revolving round "the world, is perfectly ftill."

But a refembling fymbol was pourtrayed, giving an abstract idea of the human mind. To this fome of the ORACLES attributed to ZOROASTER, on the intellectual nature of Man, evidently allude, viz. "The HUMAN SPIRIT is in this state as if "endowed with WINGS: when the wings of the mind are let down, it drops "into the terrestrial sphere, and is converfant with temporal things; when they are spread forth, it re-afcends to HEAVEN, and contemplates the DEITY.” "Befides the four already mentioned, there were added," fays Sanchoniathon, "to this fymbol two other WINGS, affixed to the head, to indicate the intellectual " discernment, and heavenly aspirations of the foul !"

This fix-winged figure, as the hieroglyphic of the Mind in its most perfect and happy ftate, became the chofen fymbol of the doxology in holy rites. 'Twas the SERAPH of the Sanctuary, as seen by Isaiah . The grand Hallelujah was expreffed by these, and they are therefore so introduced into the Ancient Liturgy of the Church of JERUSALEM:-" The Sun, the Moon, and the whole choir of Stars, "praife THEE, and the SERAPHIM with fix wings, while with twain they cover "their head, and with twain they cover their feet, and with twain they do fly §.”

When therefore, over the Cross, on one obelifk, we see the sacred Dove, the Chalice, and Eucharistical Wafer ¶; on another, human figures in attitudes of lowliest adoration; on a third, the SERAPHIм-no doubt can remain of their religious import, and fublime defign, as public monuments of those interesting and divine communications, which accompanied the dawning light of the evangelical doctrines. The facred fculptures of thefe OBELISKS, therefore, as far as poffible favoured the spreading influence of that REVELATION, amongst a people, to whom, at that time, alphabetical writing was unknown.