become the object of adoration, by the Gentiles if not by Moses (but of the latter it may be matter of doubt); and it is probable that it had arisen as I have supposed and described in my last book.
Thus if a person was to say, that the God of Moses resolved himself at last into the Sun, he would not be correct; but he would be very near it. The object of this observation will be seen hereafter.
I must also beg my reader’s attention to the observation at the end of Chapter II. Sect. 4, of this book relating to the word el, as used by Sir W. Drummond. In the Asiatic language, the first letter of the word is the first letter of the alphabet and not the fifth, as here written by Sir William, and this shews the importance of my system of reducing the alphabets to their originals: for here, most assuredly, this name of the Sun is the same as the Hebrew name of God. But by the mistake of Sir William this most important fact is concealed. No doubt dialectic variations in language will take place[1] between neighbouring countries, which occasion difficulties, and for which allowance must be made: but, by not attending to my rule, we increase them, and create them, where they are not otherwise to be found.
But we do not merely increase difficulties, we disguise and conceal absolute facts. Thus it is a fact that the Sun and the God of Moses had the same names; that is, that the God of Moses was called by the same word which meant Sun, in the Asiatic language: but by miscalling one of them El instead of Al, the fact is concealed, and it is an important fact, and will lead to important results.
We must also recollect, that when I translate the first word of Genesis by the word Wisdom, I am giving no new theory of my own, but only the orthodox exposition of the Jewish religion, as witnessed in the Jerusalem Targum, read in their synagogues, supported by the authorities of the most eminent of the Jewish Rabbis, Maimonides, &c., and the most learned of the Christian fathers, Clemens, Origen, &c. All this is of importance to be remembered, because a great consequence will be deduced from this word Wisdom. It was, as it were, the foundation on which a mighty structure was erected.
It was by what may be called a peculiar Hypostasis, denominated Wisdom, that the higher principle operated when it formed the world. This is surely quite sufficient to shew its great importance—an importance which we shall see demonstrated hereafter, when I treat of the celebrated Buddha of India.
CHAPTER IV.
WHY CYRUS RESTORED THE TEMPLE.—MELCHIZEDEK.—ABRAHAM, WHAT HE WAS.—ABRAHAM THE FATHER OF THE PERSIANS.—DANIEL.—BOOK OF ESTHER, PERSIAN.—ZOROASTER.—VARIATION BETWEEN PERSIANS AND ISRAELITES.—SACRIFICES.—RELIGION OF ZOROASTER.—RELIGION OF ZOROASTER CONTINUED.—ZENDAVESTA.—OBSERVATIONS ON THE RELIGION OF JEWS AND PERSIANS.—ALL ANCIENT RELIGIONS ASTROLOGICAL.
1. From the striking similarity between the religion of Moses and that of the Persians, it is not difficult to see the reason why Cyrus, Darius, and the Persians, restored the temples of Jerusalem
- ↑ With the Syrians the A changed into the O.
M
