were "

66

because of his brightness; and the expressions there used concerning him, not only imply, but appear to be designed to convey, the idea that the people were also eminent for wisdom. According to Isaiah, her merchants, too, princes, and her traffickers were the honourable of the earth." And when God purposes her overthrow, he is said to do it "to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth." Now, if such people as these should ❝ arise and pass over to Chittim,"or to “ Tarshish,” or to the British Isles, from Tyre immediately, or from Tarshish or Spain to those British Isles, we might suppose that they would not only wish to take their religion with them, but that their claim to antiquity, to science, and to the arts, would enable them to do so. And with this sentiment Sir I. Newton seems to concur; for, says he, "With these Phoenicians came a sort of men skilled in religious mysteries."* To all this may be added the consideration, that it appears from what has been before stated, that the Mediterranean Isles did receive their religion from these Phoenicians; and if they did, why should not the British Isles do so?

Thus, in conclusion, it appears, as proposed for consideration, first, that an intercourse subsisted

* See Moore, p. 13, note.

between the Phoenicians and Israelites, in consequence of which the records of the latter, as contained in the Scriptures, might with propriety be referred to for Phoenician customs; secondly, that these Phoenicians had commercial intercourse with, and formed settlements in, the British Isles; and, lastly, that the Phoenician priesthood, or magi, introduced their religion here. And, in further evidence of the whole, and particularly of the latter position, we will add, the identity of the customs of the Phoenicians and Britons. Were the Phoenicians accustomed to erect pillars of stone as memorials and objects of worship? So were the Britons. Did the Phoenicians gather heaps of stones for certain purposes? So, in the isles of Britain we find these heaps, or carns. Had they their altars of rough unhewn stone? So had the Britons. Did the Phoenicians sacrifice to the Sun under the name of Baal? The same deity was worshipped under the name Bel, Beal, Belinus, and Apollo. Did they cause human beings to pass through the fire to their gods; and did they offer human sacrifices? So did the inhabitants of these isles. Were there assemblages of stones placed in a circular form for sacred purposes in that country? So they were in these Britannic Isles, and such circles remain unto this day. Did they in that country venerate, as sacred, the oak, and worship in groves? It was the same

here. Was Tyre famed for its "harps" and its songs?" So were the ancient Britons; and so are the Welsh, their descendants, to this day. Did the Phoenicians and the people of the East reckon the day from evening to morning? So did the Druids. Did they measure by the cubit? So did the Druids.* Had they "castles?" They were common in this country. Did they carry on their wars with chariots? So did the ancient Britons.

Having now, then, shewn that the religion of Britain derived its origin from Phoenicia, or that the Druidical or Heathen worship formerly existing in the British Isles was the same as obtained amongst the Phoenicians, we are prepared to see how those remains of antiquity amongst us that

*The offering of the cake is another ceremony in which the Britons resembled the Phoenicians and the idolatrous Hebrews, as learning from them. Indeed the word "sacrifice," in Gaelic, is composed of two words, which signify, "the offering of the cake." This offering consists of a quantity of flour, milk, and eggs, and some few herbs and simples. It has still existence in several parts of North Britain. Now, how naturally does this remind us of the practice of the Jews in Jeremiah's time :"Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem ? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger." Jer. vii. 17, 18. And in ch. xliv. 19, the women themselves say that it was to "worship" her.

:

are considered to be the monuments of the religion of the Britons, might be of Phoenician origin; and, as taking their origin from certain facts recorded in Scripture, serve, incidentally, to confirm those Scriptures, while it may gratify the curiosity of the antiquary.

CHAPTER IV.

DISSERTATION ON STONEHENGE.

HAVING shewn that those altars or cromlechs, and pillars and stones, with other monuments of antiquity that abound in these British Isles, derive their origin from certain facts recorded in Scripture; and so, while it gratifies the curiosity of the antiquary, tends to confirm and increase our interest in Scripture, we proceed to make a similar attempt with regard to that remarkable monument of antiquity STONEHENGE. And that it is remarkable, all who have written concerning it attest; that its origin is involved in obscurity, too, will also be readily acknowledged. The authors of "the Universal History" remark, that it has " astonished and puzzled all the architects, antiquaries, and curiosoes that have either seen or read of it."* Clarke, in his "Vestigia Anglicana," says, "that its origin is involved in impenetrable obscurity ;" and Sir Richard Colt Hoare, in his "History of Wiltshire," speaking of it, says, "here all is darkness and uncertainty: we may admire, we may conjecture, but we are doomed to remain in ignorance and obscurity." If, thereAnc. Univ. Hist. vol. vii. p. 346.