DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0117
84
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
of bodies have been dug out, despoiled, and broken
up, and afterwards scattered on all sides in surprising
numbers.
neither wood nor stone could have been worked), and that the arts
had arrived at great perfection before the deluge; and it may reason-
ably be inferred that many of them survived that great event. The
power and skill displayed in the different magnificent sepulchres, in the
pyramids, and in many other stupendous remains of remote antiquity,
appear, therefore, less surprising than the powerful motive that caused
their construction, and the vain contrivances, by embalment and other
precautions, to preserve inviolate the body after death.
This motive seems to have acted with equal force upon all classes of
the Egyptians, the most learned people of antiquity, and also upon the
shepherd kings, of a totally different religion and nation; and could only
have arisen from a profound conviction of the resurrection of the body,
and of a future existence, connected with the doctrine of expiation, and
of sacrifice.
It is evident that natural religion could never have arrived at this
great and important truth, but that it must have been originally imparted
by direct revelation, although afterwards obscured, and in the end en-
tirely lost sight of from the corrupt and base superstitions notoriously
prevalent among this wonderful people, from whom the same errors,
together with civilisation and learning, were diffused throughout the
rest of the world. And it is also probable that this doctrine was
but slightly alluded to by Moses, and that his tomb was expressly
concealed to avoid the superstitious veneration that has, in many in-
stances, even under a more perfect dispensation, been paid to the
dead ; and which has so greatly conduced to idolatrous and sensual
practices, and to such absurd notions, that without the most positive
testimony could not have been supposed to have existed even amongst
the most ignorant people.
Many arguments might here be adduced of the inefficacy of mere
human acquirements with respect to an after existence, which the au-
thority of Cicero himself might be brought to support, who confessed
the doubt and gloom in which it was involved. And it is also to
be observed, that the antients seem to have been deeply impressed
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
of bodies have been dug out, despoiled, and broken
up, and afterwards scattered on all sides in surprising
numbers.
neither wood nor stone could have been worked), and that the arts
had arrived at great perfection before the deluge; and it may reason-
ably be inferred that many of them survived that great event. The
power and skill displayed in the different magnificent sepulchres, in the
pyramids, and in many other stupendous remains of remote antiquity,
appear, therefore, less surprising than the powerful motive that caused
their construction, and the vain contrivances, by embalment and other
precautions, to preserve inviolate the body after death.
This motive seems to have acted with equal force upon all classes of
the Egyptians, the most learned people of antiquity, and also upon the
shepherd kings, of a totally different religion and nation; and could only
have arisen from a profound conviction of the resurrection of the body,
and of a future existence, connected with the doctrine of expiation, and
of sacrifice.
It is evident that natural religion could never have arrived at this
great and important truth, but that it must have been originally imparted
by direct revelation, although afterwards obscured, and in the end en-
tirely lost sight of from the corrupt and base superstitions notoriously
prevalent among this wonderful people, from whom the same errors,
together with civilisation and learning, were diffused throughout the
rest of the world. And it is also probable that this doctrine was
but slightly alluded to by Moses, and that his tomb was expressly
concealed to avoid the superstitious veneration that has, in many in-
stances, even under a more perfect dispensation, been paid to the
dead ; and which has so greatly conduced to idolatrous and sensual
practices, and to such absurd notions, that without the most positive
testimony could not have been supposed to have existed even amongst
the most ignorant people.
Many arguments might here be adduced of the inefficacy of mere
human acquirements with respect to an after existence, which the au-
thority of Cicero himself might be brought to support, who confessed
the doubt and gloom in which it was involved. And it is also to
be observed, that the antients seem to have been deeply impressed