Page.

Sabæanism not the primitive Religion of Assyria-A large

Amount of patriarchal History and religious Knowledge must have

remained in the primitive Nations long after the Dispersion—

Patriarchal Longevity designed to prevent a Deterioration in Reli-

gion-Connexion with the Hebrews-Divine Interposition more

likely on this Ground to be effective-Assyrian Intercourse with

Egypt-Assyrian Knowledge of Hebrew History-The Mission

of Jonah-Its religious Results-The Destruction of the Assyrian

Emigrants in Samaria by Lions-A Hebrew Priest sent to teach

them the Law of the Lord-Babylon elated by the Ruin of Jeru-

salem-The King humbled, and all the people taught Divine Truth,

on the Plains of Dura-Nebuchadnezzar's Insanity, Restoration,

and Proclamation. NOTES. The Testimony of Herodotus respect-

ing the Temple of Mylitta at Babylon-What was the true Principle

and Meaning of Sabæan Worship ?-The Assyrian Triad-The

Cherubim of Ezekiel, and their Relation to the compound Figures

of the Assyrian Sculptures-Imitations of Paradise attached to the

royal Palaces of the Assyrian Kings-Babylon the Type of Papal

Antichrist..

289

CHAPTER VI.

THE HISTORY OF THE MEDES.

LINEAGE and Country of the Medes-Ecbatana, the Capital-Revolt of

the Medes against Assyria-They recover their Independence—A

Season of Anarchy-Public Spirit and judicial Efforts of DEJOCES

-He is raised to the Sovereignty of Media-Establishes a regular

Government, and greatly improves the Country-PHRAORTES, a

martial Prince, subdues Persia, and extends the Median Power

over other neighbouring Nations-Invades Assyria, is defeated and

slain-Ecbatana stormed and spoiled by the Assyrian King-

CYAXARES invades Assyria-Defeats the imperial Army-And

besieges Nineveh-The Scythian Invasion-The Medes defeated

-The Scythians over-run Asia--Their Massacre and Expulsion---

The Lydian War-It is suspended, and Nineveh besieged a second

Time, and taken―The Lydian War renewed-Terminated by the

Eclipse of Thales-ASTYAGES reigns-Prosecutes various Wars--~

Belshazzar slain-The Kingdom of Babylon reverts to Astyages

--Media conquered, and the Kingdom subverted, by Cyrus.

NOTES. The Time of Anarchy, and the Accession of Dejoces-

The Period of Scythian Domination over Asia-Chronology of the

Eclipse of Thales-Who was the "Darius the Mede" of the Book

of Daniel?-The Fulfilment of sacred Prophecy in the History of

Media
349

CHAPTER VII.

THE PERSIANS AND THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE.

Page.

PERSIA a Province of the Assyrian Empire-Peculiar Interest attach-

ing to this Part of Persian History-The Spirit and Prowess of

the Blacksmith Kawah obtains the Independence of his Country-

FERIDOON placed on the Throne-His long and just Reign-He

divides his Kingdom between his Sons, SELM, TOOR, and ERIJ—

Erij slain by his Brothers-The Assassins defeated and slain by

MANUCHEHER, who reigns with great Celebrity-Sam prime

Minister-Roostum, his Grandson, the great Persian Hero, born-

NOUZER succeeds to the Throne-His cruel Reign-He is slain-

Zoo expels the Enemy-His Son KERSHASP raised to the Throne,

and afterward deposed-End of the Peshdadian Dynasty-The

Kaianian Dynasty-The Median Ascendancy concealed by ima-

ginary Kings, KAI KOBAD representing Dejoces and Phraortes, and

KAI KOOS Cyaxares and Astyages-Reference to the Eclipse of

Thales-KAI KHOSRU, or CYRUS, succeeds to the Throne-The

Account of Ctesias respecting his Parentage-The probable Career

of this Warrior, until he defeats and deposes Astyages-Cyrus

marries the Daughter of Astyages-The Death of the deposed King

-Cyrus conquers Lydia-Takes Babylon, and establishes an uni-

versal Empire-His Conduct toward the Hebrews-The Restora-

tion of Jerusalem begun-Extent of the Persian Empire-The

Death of Cyrus-CAMBYSES-He prohibits the Progress of Build-

ing at Jerusalem-Invades and conquers Egypt-His impolitic

Cruelty and Impiety-Usurpation of Smerdis the Magian--Death

of Cambyses-Smerdis destroyed by a Conspiracy of Nobles-

DARIUS raised to the Throne-His improved Mode of Government

-The Case of Democedes, the Greek Physician-Makes an Edict

in Favour of the Hebrews-Reduces Samos-Babylon rebels-

The Self-sacrifice of Zopyrus-Babylon is taken-Conquests in the

East-A Body of Greek Troops wage War in Asia Minor, and

burn Sardis-Darius contemplates the Invasion of Greece-Failure

of the first Expedition under Mardonius-Battle of Marathon, and

Ruin of the second Persian Invasion-Death of Darius-Persepolis

-Behistun Sculptures-XERXES-Subdues Egypt-Makes vast

Preparations for the Invasion of Greece-Crosses the Hellespont―

Battle at Thermopyla-The Persian Fleet defeated at Salamis,

and their Army destroyed at Platæa-The Remnant of the Per-

sian Fleet and Army destroyed at Mycale-Horrible Crime and

Cruelty perpetrated in the royal Court-Xerxes assassinated-

ARTAXERXES I. established on the Throne Marries Esther-

Ezra and Nehemiah sent to Judea-Revolt of Egypt-Peace with

Athens-XERXES II.-SOGDIANUS-DARIUS NOTHUS subdues

Page.

his Rivals-Excessive Demoralization of the Persian Court-

ARTAXERXES II.-Revolt of Cyrus-He marches into the East

with a great Army-Is slain, and the Army dispersed, at Cunaxa

-Retreat of the Ten Thousand Greeks-Continued Iniquity of

the Court-Revolt and Death of the Heir-apparent-ARTAXERXES

III. murders all the royal Family-Succeeds in restoring Persian

Authority in Egypt, Phenicia, and Cyprus-DARIUS III. had

scarcely undertaken the Government, when Alexander invaded the

Empire-Continued Success and final Triumph of the Macedonian.

NOTES. The personal History of Cyrus-Was Cyrus made

acquainted with the Prophecies of Daniel ?—The successful Opposi-

tion of the Governors of Syria and others to the Building of

Jerusalem, and the Evidence thereby afforded of the Integrity and

Perfection of the national Records at the Court of Persia-The

Deliberations of the Conspirators as to the future Government of

Persia, and the Appointment of Darius Hystaspis to be King-

The Succession of Xerxes to the Throne of Persia-The Behistun

Inscriptions, containing Darius's own Account of his Wars-Did

the Jews fight in the Army of Xerxes ?-The Inscriptions relating

to the Reign of Xerxes-The Inscriptions relating to the Reign of

Artaxerxes-The Fulfilment of sacred Prophecy in the History of

Persia

364

PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION.

THE ORIGIN, CHARACTER, MYSTERIES, AND ORACLES OF

PAGAN IDOLATRY.

KNOWLEDGE of this Subject necessary-False Religion attests the religious

Tendency of Man-Heathen Idolatry must be studied with a distinct

Recognition of Satanic Influence-Necessity of admitting the Evidence

of Revelation-ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY-Idolatry in postdiluvian Times

arose before the Dispersion-And emanated from Babel-Was not at

first a violent Introduction of Error, but a fatal Perversion of Truth-

Elements of Truth liable to this Perversion-Plurality of Persons in one

Deity-Promised Incarnation-Rites of Patriarchal Worship-Man's

primitive Purity and Fall-Similarity of the Adamic and Noachic Fami-

lies-Hero-Worship considered as arising out of the promised Incarna-

tion, and taking the Form of a Triad from the Great Father and his

three Sons-Peculiar Case of Egypt-Animal-Worship-Folly of many

Attempts to account for it-Originated in the Cherubim-Worship of

material Elements-The Agency under which all this Error was evolved

made apparent by the universal Worship of the Serpent Form-THE

RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF THIS SYSTEM-It practically obliterated

the essential Principle of the Divine Unity-Banished all Idea of Divine

Purity-And destroyed at once the Knowledge of God, and Confidence

in him-Character of idolatrous Worship-General Admission-But

the Being to whom this Worship was offered was not God-And the

Service, although often grand and imposing, was generally associated

with foul and filthy Abominations-THE MYSTERIES-The Theory of

Warburton, refuted by Leland-Conflicting Theories as to the Origin

of the Mysteries-Their Object equally contested-Their Origin Defined

-Their Object explained-Essential Elements of Heathen Mysteries-

THE ORACLES of Heathen Worship-An undoubted Privilege of patri-

archal Times to have Access unto God, and to obtain special and

important Instruction by this Means-Contest between the learned as

to whether Heathen Oracles were sustained by Satanic Influence-

Testimony of Scripture-Judgment of the Learned on the Character

and Credit of the Oracles-Case of Croesus, King of Lydia, from Hero-

dotus-The Result of the Inquiry establishes the Operation of Satanic

Influence-General Observations in Conclusion. NOTES. Antediluvian

Idolatry-Was the Doctrine of the Trinity known to the early Patri-

archs ?-The Worship of Man.

A KNOWLEDGE of the religion of the ancient Heathens

is essential to a correct acquaintance with the history, the

character, and the condition of this immense and interesting portion of the population of our world.

The attainment of this knowledge is, however, as difficult as it is desirable. Not only do the remoteness of the period whence the information is to be obtained, and its recondite nature, offer formidable obstacles to the prosecution of this inquiry; but, in addition to these, we have the disadvantage of exploring an almost untrodden path. The philosophy of the ancients has been laboriously investigated; the mythologies of the several primitive nations have been elaborately detailed; early history and chronology come before us, elucidated by the labour, learning, and genius of the greatest authors of ancient and modern times but no writer of eminence with whose works I am acquainted, has done more than make a passing allusion, or give an incidental reference, to the religion of the ancient world, in the sense in which the term is here used.

Before entering on this investigation, it may be observed, that the religion of the Heathen world is not to be regarded as any invention or wayward aberration of the human mind; much less can it be considered as the result of any combination of human circumstances. Viewed in connexion with man's fall and its consequences, it is rather the substitution of an evil which the human mind, in its darkness and obliquity, and in its unextinguished aspirations after happiness, has chosen, instead of embracing that which God has prescribed as its satisfying portion. The worship of idols attests man's capacity for the worship of God. The adoration even of material elements is one of the collateral proofs of the possession and perversion of a noble attribute, which allies man with the spiritual world, and speaks his intended intercourse with Deity. Idolatry, in the nature of things, could not have been the original exercise of the human mind in respect of worship. While, therefore, this adoration, perverted from its Divine object, tends to prove the primitive purity of man, his devotional access to God, and his spiritual ruin through sin; its existence in human history exactly harmonizes with all these