arms; and Venus is naked, since harmony produces beauty, and beauty is not concealed in subjects of sensible perception.

As these gods primarily possess the world, it is necessary to consider the other mundane gods as subsisting in them, as Bacchus in Jupiter, Esculapius in Apollo, and the Graces in Venus. We may

also behold the spheres with which they are connected, viz. Vesta with the earth, Neptune with water, Juno with air, and Vulcan with fire. But Apollo and Diana are assumed for the sun and moon; the sphere of Saturn is attributed to Ceres'; ether to Minerva; and heaven is common to them all.

The above are a few instances of the real sense of the fictions of mythology. Many of the philosophers in these fictions concealed their better knowledge, often conveying lessons of wisdom under the veil of allegory. The genuine Pagan creed, as given by a heathen philosopher, Maximus Tyrius, is the following:

"There is one God, the king and father of all things, and many gods, sons of God, ruling together with him. This the Greek says, and the barbarian says, the inhabitant of the continent, and he that dwells near the sea; and if you even proceed to the utmost shores of the ocean, there too there are gods, rising very near to some, and setting very near to others." By the rising and setting gods he means the stars, which according to the Pagan theology, are divine animals, co-operating with the first cause in the government of the world.

5. A survey of the heathen mythology presents little to view but absurdity, and the various forms in which human corruption is exhibited. The people at large, whatever the philosophers understood by these "phantasms and monsters,” received them as literal truths, till it became dangerous to shake the faith of communities, or disturb the public religion.

§ In this state of things continued the gentile world, until the light of the gospel was sent among them. Those were times of ignorance. The people were unacquainted with the true God and the worship of him-with the Messiah and salvation by him.

The moral world at present is gloriously illuminated. The Bible has scattered the dark shades of spiritual and intellectual night. We behold "one God and one Mediator between God and men," seated upon the throne of the universe; possessed of boundless wisdom, power, purity, goodness; the Creator, the Preserver, the Ruler, and the Redeemer of his creatures; ever present in all parts of his creation, ever providing for its general happiness.

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SECT. 1. The little that can be gathered concerning the state of society, and the progress in inventions and improvements before the flood, has already been exhibited. In the account of individual nations, something also has been said concerning their intellectual culture and useful works of art. A few particulars may be added on these topics, with a view to illustrate more fully the advancement of society in the states of antiquity. Special reference will here be had to mecha nic inventions, respecting which, less has been said hitherto, than on the subject of the fine arts and general literature.

Sufficient evidence exists, that mankind at a remote period of antiquity, must have made considerable progress in the arts of life. The circumstances under which Egypt is presented to us by Moses, in the book of Genesis, indicate that its inhabitants were at that time a cultivated people. No doubt, the progress of invention in their very favourable situation was quite rapid. From them, even the Israelites, at the early period in which Moses wrote, must have learned much in respect to the useful arts. The same was the case with the Babylonians, Phoenicians, and other nations. Still, though some arts have been lost during the lapse of ages, antiquity cannot compare with modern times in the necessaries, comforts, and luxuries of life.

2. At first, necessity, and afterwards convenience, urged the cultivation of the arts. The useful arts are the product of necessity. The higher branches of knowledge are the fruit of comparative ease and leisure...

Among, the earliest arts, is the construction of huts, and of weapons, adapted to war and hunting.

Astronomy is among the earliest of the sciences, and is said to have originated with the Chaldeans, probably, through the influence of superstition. The occupation of the Chaldeans, many of whom were shepherds, watching their flocks by night, was favourable for the observation of the heavenly bodies......

Geometry was found out by the Egyptians. They were led to the cultivation of this science, by having occasion to measure the lands annually disturbed by the overflowing of the Nile.

Medicine was among the early sciences. The simplest means of cure answer for rude nations. More complex means are required for cultivated nations, who have more complex diseases.

Agriculture is not practised till the tribes of men become stationary, and hold property in the soil. The acquirement, protection, and recognition of property, generally, is the first step from a savage towards a civilized life. The first property consisted of sheep, goats, and oxen; and the care of these was the earliest and simplest occupation of husbandmen. In this stage of husbandry, all the country was open and common to any occupier; but as soon as any man could call a spot his own, and could secure to his family the produce of it, its cultivation would be a great object. Hence, arose the art and science of agriculture, properly so called.

§ Agriculture flourished less in Greece than in Rome. The Romans were remarkably versed in the knowledge of this useful branch of human pursuit. Their greatest citizens and warriors were, by turns, cultivators of the soil. The Israelites before them, and the Egyptians also, were devoted to this employment. The moderns, however, it is believed, have made the greatest proficiency in agriculture, as they have in most of the sciences and practical arts of life. This is the natural effect of time, of prolonged study, and multiplied experiments. In many of the fine arts, the ancients are still our masters.

Architecture was an elegant art, in which antiquity excelled. The necessary and useful were all that was first sought in buildings. Luxury aimed at ornament. Hence, arose the five beautiful orders of architecture, viz. the Tuscan, the Doric, the Ionic, the Corinthian, and the Composite. The Greeks perfected this art.

3. But we may properly notice a few of the minuter divisions of ancient art and contrivance. Among these were the following:

Embalming. The ancients had an imperfect knowledge of the mode of preserving those bodies that were subject to decay. They relied principally on brine, honey, or a covering of wax; but each of these was defective, and far inferior to that by spirits of wine, which combines the advantage of preventing putrefaction, with that of perfect transparency. The more scientific modern process, employed in anatomical preparations, was wholly unknown. The Egyptians, however, were famous for embalming dead bodies.

method of preventing

the most ancient, as it was them by means of brine, was

apparent, and the easiest of execution. It has been supposed to have originated in Persia, and Dion Cassius says, that when Pharnaces sent the body of his father, Mithridates, to Pompey, he had it placed in brine; but it seems pro

bable, that in the East, nitre was more frequently employed for this purpose than common salt.

The custom of preserving dead bodies in honey, was also employed at a very early period. The remains of several Spartans, who died in foreign countries, were thus prepared for transmission to their native home. The body of Alexander the Great, is also said, by some authors, to have been thus deposited, although we are told by others, that it was embalmed in the manner of the Egyptians.

In the East, dead bodies were sometimes covered over with wax, and this practice, which was early introduced into Europe, gave rise to that of wrapping the remains of persons of distinction in waxed cloths, which has continued down even to the present day.

The Egyptian method of embalming, consisted in first extracting the brain through the nostrils, and injecting some viscous unguent in their stead; then opening the belly, and taking out the intestines, the cavity being washed with palm wine, impregnated with spices, and filled with myrrh and other aromatics; this done, the body was laid in nitre during seventy days, at the end of which, it was taken out, cleansed, and swathed in fine linen, which was gummed, and ornamented with various painted hieroglyphics, expressive of the deceased's character and rank. This was done only for persons of the highest distinction. Less expensive methods were used for others.

Roads and Street Pavements.-The public accommodations of the most splendid capitals of antiquity, were few in comparison with those of modern large towns. The streets of ancient Rome were only partially paved, during its most brilliant era, and are described by authors of that period as being filled with dirt. A few other cities are supposed to have been paved, but this is a matter of doubt.

Though the Greeks and Romans were indifferent to their streets, yet they paid particular attention to their great public roads. These, in some instances, were magnificent works. Travelling, however, was not generally rapid in those times. § There was no part of the Roman policy which so effectually promoted the good of mankind, or which has transmitted such exalted ideas of the imperial grandeur, as the number and magnificence of the roads. Though constructed principally for military purposes, they were of vast utility to the districts which they traversed, and proved the most efficacious means of promoting the comfort and civilization of the conquered people. Occasionally, there were instances of extraordinary celerity in travelling. We are informed by Pliny, that Tiberius travelled two hundred miles in a day and night, on being despatched by Augustus to console his sick brother, Germanicus. But the ordinary rate of travelling, even on their excellem roads, was slow in comparison of what it is at present, Cicero speaks of a messenger coming from Rome, to his government of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, in forty-seven days: heu tam longe! as the orator exclaims, on finding himself so far removed from the

scene of his glory and exertions. To convey letters from Rome to the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, required, according to Pollio, forty days.

Mode of conveying Intelligence.-The oldest method of communicating the news, with which we are acquainted, was by means of public criers. Another mode was to post up a written advertisement against a column in some public place. § Public criers among the Greeks and Romans were under the superintendence of the police, and were generally employed by individuals, in the same manner as they still are in the country towns of England. The mode of posting was resorted to by the Roman government, to promulgate its edicts, and even, it is supposed, for imparting more trivial information of general import. Historians appear to have collected materials from them; nor is it improbable, that copies were taken by individuals and dispersed about the city, or sent to their friends in the provinces.

Glass.-The origin of the art of making glass, like that of many other valuable inventions, is probably due to chance. It is said to have been discovered in Syria. From ancient authors. it is supposed not to have been made in Rome, before the reign of Tiberius.

§ Pliny mentions that glass was first accidentally discovered by some travellers while dressing their food by the river Belus, in Syria. Being obliged to make a fire on the ground, where there was a great quantity of the herb kali, that plant burning to ashes, its salts incorporated with the sand, and thus became vitrified. The accident becoming known, the inhabitants of the neighbouring city of Sidon, availed themselves of it, and soon brought the art into use. It seems to be a corroboration of this account, that the most ancient glasshouses, with which we are acquainted, were erected in Tyre. Previously to the time of Tiberius, the Romans imported glass from the East, and vessels of glass were among their most costly pieces of household furniture.

Mirrors.-There is reason to believe, that artificial mirrors were made almost as soon as the ingenuity of man was exerted on mechanical objects, and as every solid body capable of receiving a fine polish, would suit this purpose, we find, that the oldest mirrors mentioned in history, were of metal. Silver, however, afterwards came into use, and the greatest number of ancient mirrors was made of that metal, as it is the most fit of the unmixed metals for this purpose. Inferior mirrors were also made, some of a mixture of copper and tin, and bset; some of obsidian stone, and others of other substances. Glass mirrors were most probably unknown to the ancients, § Metal mirrors are spoken of in the Bible, under the term lookingglass, as incorrectly translated.