CHAPTER XM.

Ancient Mysteries. — Philosophers. — Wise
Men.
TO every person conversant with an- cient history, it is abundantly evident, that certain individuals, in most of the eas- tern nations, were in possession >of what was termed mysteries, or a mysterious sci- ence, studiously concealed from the pro- miscuous multitude.
Of those ancient mysteries there were several kinds. Some contained nothing but a heterodox tissue of heathen mytho- logy. Some were instituted and adapted to subserve venal purposes of the most odi- ous cast. Some introduced for political ends, to awe an ignorant multitude, and promote the cause of tyrannical usurpa- tion. While others, manifestly had a ve- ry different origin, proposed the accom- plishment of a different end, and were •common to some individuals in many na- tions. The main object of these mysteries was philosophical, moral and religious. — They also contained certain requisitions, as a test of the secrecy, fidelity and justice of the disciple. From these mysteries, some true knowledge of natural and' moral philosophy was obtained. While the otb-
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i were either confined to particular jntries, or had their origin from the evil >pensities of the human heart. In those 'steries, however, which engaged the at- ition of men of wisdom and prudence, ich-of truth was contained. Something theunity and character and attributes of * one true God ; and many principles of irai ity were taught,and seriously impress- on the mind. It was a general practice ancient' philosophers, totravel from one untry to another, in search of such wis- m as might lead to a right understand- f of God and nature. Hence it appears, >m their own accounts, or what has been :orded of their lives, they never were nied such knowledge in any country, iere it was to be found. And it further pears, either from their own writings, ancient records concerning their opin- is, that much truth, which comports with vine revelation, was collected and taught them. It being evident, from the ex- rience of many ages, that the knowledge sucli truths was not the result of human sdom or foresight, we must look to some ;her source: and this source must be vine revelation. According to the o- lions of the greatest divines and antiqua- ms, all that knowledge found in the phi- jophy of the ancients which comports
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with truth, was originally derived from revelation. Let us now take a view of the opinions of some of those ancients in relation to God and his character,
Zoroaster, one of the most distinguished mathematicians and philosophers of his age, flourished about live hundred and ten years before Christ. His scheme, though in many respects erroneous, contained something of truth, in relation to the Su- preme Being, which he taught amongst the Persians, by which their religion approxi- mated, in some essential points, to the sim- plicity of the gospel.
Simonides * of the island of Ceos, died four hundred and sixty-nine vears before Christ. This man, being asked by Hiero, king of Syracuse, "What is God ?" desired one day to consider the question. On the morrow he asked two days, and as of- ten as called upon for his answer, doubled the time. When Hiero demanded the reasons for such delays, Simonides replied, " The more I consider the question, the more obscure it seems." How wise was this reply ! " Who by searching, can find out God ? who can find out the Almighty to perfection?" Simonides visited many
•Rollin's Ancient History.
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cities in Asia, where be obtained much useful knowledge.
Socrates* was one of the most celebra- ted moral philosophers of ancient Greece. He flourished about four hundred and nineteen years before Christ. The foun- dation of his eminence seems to have been laid by Anaxagoras, According to Xeno- pbon, as quoted by Hall in, Socrates pos- sessed much (rue knowledge of the char- acter and attributes of the one Supreme God. The following sentiments are wor- thy of particular notice, as recorded by Xenophon : " This great God has created the universe, and upholds in being its stu- pendous work, every part of which was completed with goodness and harmony. — This God makes himself visible by the nu- merous wonders of which he is the author. Let us not, therefore, refuse to believe even what we do not see. Let us supply the defect of our corporeal eyes, by using those of the soul. Especially, let us learn to render the just homage of respect and veneration to the Divinity, whose will it seems to be, that we should have no other perception of him than by his effects. — Now this adoration, this homage,. consists
•'Rolling Ancient History.
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in pleasing him ; and we can only please him by doing his will."
When Socrates was falsely accused of corrupting the Athenian youth, he replied, " I shall rather choose to obey God than you, and, to my latest breath, shall never renounce my philosophy. I am more con- vinced of the existence of God, than my accusers, and so convinced that I abandon myself to God and you, that you may judge of me as you shall deem best for yourselves and me."
Thus, conscious of the truth and impor- tance of those sentiments, as well as of his own innocence, he manifested great com- posure of mind, amidst the most trying scenes of his life. " If," said he, " what I advance upon the immortality of the soul prove true, it is good to believe it. If the soul be immortal, it requires to be cul- tivated with attention, not only for what we call the time of life, but for that which is to follow, I mean eternity ; and the least neglect, in this point, may be attended with endless consequences." Thus, it ap- pears, Socrates held some just principles in relation to the true Divinity, and often spake in the most exalted terms, of the existence of the one God, the eternity of his nature and perfection, and his govern- ing providence.
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Anaxagoras, an eminent philosopher of reece, died about four hundred and t wen- -eight years before Christ. Cicero in- rms us, " he dedicated himself entirely the divine pleasures of learning and in- riry. He held the riches of this world utter contempt, and devoted himself to e improvement of the mind." Anaxago- s visited Egypt, where he was instruct- I in such geometrical knowledge as exist- l amongst the learned. This philoso- ler obtained the surname of " Intern- et," from the peculiar excellence of his inciples. He maintained the idea, that e existence of the universe was not to be cribed to chance, or any fatal necessity, it was the work of a Superior Intelli- nce ; and that the world was governed the same Being. Anaxagoras dilligent- taught his pupils in the knowledge of ysics, which, according to ancient ac- ptation, chiefly consisted in the know- Ige of spiritual things. Such sentiments ve him strength of mind and greatness soul, far above most philosophers of his
Tamblicus, who has given some account the life of Pythagoras, says, "that phi- opher drew his system of symbolical rning and instructive tenets from the sterious knowledge of the Egyptians,
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who, in their mysteries, held wise doctrines^ which were ever kept secret."
The Egyptian king Xopper, command- ed that the secret of which he was possess- ed, should not be divulged to any but those who were found skilful in every step tbey advanced,
Anaxarchus, according to Pliny, " being apprehended, in order to extort his secrets, bit his own tongue in the midst, and spit it in the tyrant's face, choosing rather to lose that organ, than to discover those secrets he had promised to conceal."
" The great heathen king Zopholel, or- dered the grand secret, of which he was- possessed, to be revealed to none but to those who, after thorough examination, were found to be worthy."
Thales, who lived about six hundred years before Christ, has been thought the most illustrious of the seven wise men of Greece. He visited Egypt, and many oth- er places, in search of wisdom, and main* tained the opinion that there was one God.
Plato and Eusebius, the historian, held the same truth. Plato often used the term Logos, or divine Word, in a very signifi- cant point of light.
Between three and four hundred years before Christ, one of the high priests of Athens, having passed through all the sub-
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irae mysteries of the age, near the elose )f his life, was asked, " What is God ?" He Jeliberately replied, " That which has nei- ther beginning nor end : A pure Spirit. That God created the world, and commu- nicated regularity to it. That the soul of naan was a spirit, an unperishable being." The poet A rat us, who died at Athens too hundred and thirteen years before Christ, repeated those remarkable words, ffhich are quoted by St. Paul in the seven- eenth chapter of Acts : " In Him, (that s in God,) we live, and move* and have our eing, for we are also his offspring" This >assage was quoted by that eminent apos- le ai Athens, in proof of the doctrines of lirist himself. Clemens, the fellow-la- ourer with St. Paul, and Justin Martyr, iat amiable and excellent father in the hurch, Eusebius, Origin and others of the rimitive Christian fathers, on the intro- uction of Christianity, laboured abun- antly to prove from the ancient mysteries lat the knowledge of the true God had sen preserved and transmitted down from le first ages, in perfect accordance, with le Christian religion. When Justin Mar- 7 r had embraced Christianity* without lay- ig aside his philosopher's robe, he taught le doctrines of the gospel at Home,
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Origin was so charmed with the ancient mysteries, that he taught them in conjunc- tion with Christianity. In many instances the dignified title of the Jewish priesthood was conferred on Christian teachers, with- out distinction of nation. In many case?, the sublime realities of the gospel were taught by symbols, and in some instances the great and fundamental truths contain* ed in ancient mysteries, were introduced into the church institutions.
The learned and pious divine, Warbur 4 ton, who died in seventeen hundred and seventy-nine, has in a very able manner most clearly proved, "that the ancient mys- teries inculcated the unity of God, who ex ; ists from himself, is the source of all exist- ence, invisible to every eye, though to biro all things are visible."
Under this head, quotations might be multiplied, by which it appears, that a- mongst ancient eastern nations, there was ONE order of mysteries, in which many sublime truths were contained ; that some individuals, wise men and philosophers, ac- quired most, if not all those principles which comport with revealed truth from that source ; that they travelled much in search of knowledge, and, notwithstanding all their errors, actually did collect some just ideas of the unity, nature and characr
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?r of the true God ; and that those myste- ies, whence such knowledge was derived, irere not local, nor circumscribed bv-coun- ry, but common to every age, and known o individuals in most, if not every nation.
The above examples are all without the pale of the Jewish nation, unless it be Zo- roaster. Some have thought him to have been a Jew by descent. So far, there- fore, as the knowledge of those men has been found according to truth, it must ori- ginally have been derived from some high ind genuine source. It therefore remains o show what this source might have been.
Noah and his family, after the general eluge, repeopled the earth. In this in- tance there can be no doubt, but the name nd character of God was by them trans- lated to their immediate posterity. How >ng the same practice might, have continu- d, we cannot determine. For aught we now, individuals in. every line of descent, light have preserved the same truths, or :> me traces of them, for many ages, if not ven till the general spread of the gospel i the days of the apostles.
Abram and Lot sojourned in strange mds, and Abram, especially, was much steemed and celebrated for his wisdom nd piety. Jacob fled from Esau, and
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" came into the land of the people of tbe east."
Joseph was sold into Egypt, where he became a father to Pharoah and that na- tion. Moses fled from Egypt into tbe land of Midian, where he was commission- ed to deliver the Hebrews from their cru- el bondage. David fled from the face of Saul, and dwelt in the cities round about Israel.
Solomon held free intercourse with E- gypt and Tyre, employed workmen from foreign countries, and, after the completion and dedication of the temple, honourably discharged those workmen, many of whom are said to have been employed in Bythi- nia, Greece, Italy and adjacent countries. The Jews were carried away captive to Babylon, where Daniel the prophet stood before three succeeding kings. Haggai, Joshua, Zerubbabel and Ezra, were great- ly beloved and esteemed, even in the laud of their enemies. Many persons came from afar to see the temple and hear tbe wisdom of Solomon, and worship the God of Israel.
From these facts it is not only probable, that in some, or many of those ways, all the true knowledge of God, and principles of morality and religion were disseminated, but it appears very certain it was. The
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lews derived their knowledge by special revelation made to Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, their prophets and high priests, and held in possession the law written by Moses under the immediate in- spiration of Jehovah himself. It follows, therefore, nearly as a matter of course, from the above considerations, that many individuals in most, if not all the surround- ing nations, in some of these ways derived what of truth they had embraced.
What then are the most natural inferen- ces to be drawn ? From the foregoing facts, there are four which seem most clearly to be deduced.
First, that many of those ancients, whose names and words have been quoted, lived several hundred y^ars before the introduc- tion and promulgation of Christianity : — Lhat they were not of the Jewish nation, but dwelt in countries where the Old Tes- tament scriptures were unknown : — and lhat they did travel in search of true wis- dom.
Secondly, that they held sentiments of Lbe unity, eternity, superintendence, na- ture and character of God, which are found !o accord with Divine revelation ; and that hey held some opinions truly sublime, in relation to those interesting subjects.
Thirdly, that most if not all this know-
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ledge was obtained through the medium of that higher order of wysteries, which were known only to individuals, jet existed in every country. And,
Fourthly, on the introduction of Chris- tianity, the eminent Justin Martyr, in con- junction with several other ancient fathers in the church, who had proper means of ascertaining those facts, laboured to prove, that the ancient mysteries did embrace and inculcate some true knowledge of (he character and attributes of God as contain- ed in, and taught by, the system of Chris- tianity.
Why, it may be asked, should such men attempt to prove what they had no reason to believe? And why should they be incli- ned to believe without some evidence! They lived in such an age, and were situa- ted in such a- manner, as to know for a c-er- tainty, whether the opinion was true or false. All were men eminent in science, most or all bad been initiated into those mysteries to which they alluded, bad after- wards embraced Christianity, were teach- ers in the church, and of course competent in all respects to judge correctly. The learned Wai burton, also, has clearly pro- ved the same truth from the writings and testimony of those very men.
J f, therefore, we reject such evidence, as
«."
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not conclusive in this case, we at once de- stroy the whole foundation of human be- lief, just as far as it is grounded on the ex- perience and testimony of others. But this testimony cannot reasonably be rejected. Hence, brethren, as all true light first e- rnanated from a Divine source, and as some Fays are found to have illuminated the un- derstandings of wise men and philosophers, even amongst Pagan nations, must we not necessarily infer some connexion between individuals of different countries, forming a proper medium through which such light might have been perpetuated to succeeding generations? That this- might have been the case cannot be denied. That it was the case there is much, very much reason to believe. However might have been the feet, there is no evidence to contradict the above conclusion. If so, it appears more than probable, that ail those persons, not onlv from Adam to Noah, but from Noah to Solomon, who held the true knowledge of God, were, in some sense, according to ancient acceptation, Speculative Free- Ma- sons : that those principles were systema- tized by Solomon, and a regular Institution formed, both operative and speculative : that through this medium, ancient philo- sophers obtained their speculative princi- ples : and that, not only from Solomon to
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the advent of Christ, but down to the pre- sent day, certain fundamental truths have been preserved, even through those dark ages of the world when a long night of barbarism seemed about to involve the hu- man family in the thick shades of ignorance and superstition. The opinions of the most pious and learned of our brethren, du- ring many ages past, are found to corres- pond with the above sentiments. Ir> reten- tion to modern Speculative Free-Masonry,. it is abundantly evident to the world, that the great doctrines of morality and religion are summarily comprised in the lectures, and taught in the lodges. In travelling back to the remote ages of antiquity, no period can be found when Masonic cus- toms, ceremonies and tenets were not, in substance, the same as at present. If, there- fore, nocharacteristic change for many hun- dred years can be proved, why may it not be true, that those fundamental and char- acteristic principles did actually originate in the earliest periods of time ?
In view of all that hath been exhibited under this head, it is earnestly recommen- ded to every Brother and Companion, du* ly to examine the subject for himself.