The Court of the Gentiles, Discourse · Part 1 · Book 2 · Chapter 1
CAP. I. The Theogonie of Saturne, and Jupiter from Sacred Names, Perſons, and Stories.
Pagan Theologie in general, and its Diſtribution, into Theogonick, Phyſick, and Politick. Theogonick or Mythick Theologie diſtributed into Zabaiſme and Helleniſme; with the Idea of each. The Theogonie of Saturne: his Grandfather Eliun the ſame with foreign Elion, Gods name Gen. 14.19,22. His Grandmother Bryth from foreign berith Gods Covenant. His immediate Parents the Heaven and Earth from Gen. 14.19. His proper name Ilus from foreign El Gods name. He was called alſo Molech from foreign, Baal from foreign &c. His Parallel with Adam in 6 particulars; with Abraham in 4 particulars; and with Noah in 14 particulars. The Theogonie of Jupiter; who is called Belus from foreign beel Hoſ. 2.16. foreign, which anſwers to the Hebrew foreign heat, and ſo is an alluſion to foreign Cham, who paſt for Jupiter among the Egyptians and Africans. Again, he is ſtiled Sydyk from foreign Gods name; Taramis from foreign thunder; Jupiter from Ja or Jev foreign, anſwerable to Gods name foreign, Sabaſius from foreign. Phenician Fables applyed to Jupiter.
§. 1. Pagan Theologie, and its derivation.HAving diſpatch'd the Diſcourſe of Languages, and proved their Derivation from the Hebrew and Moſaick Scripture: we now proceed to a ſecond part of Philologie, which refers unto Pagan Theologie or Idolatrie, with endeavors to demonſtrate its Traduction from, and that by a curſed Diabolick Imitation of, ſacred Oracles and Worſhip. All Pagan Theologie is by the Ancients reduced to this Diſtribution. 1. foreign Mythick, or Fabulous Theologie, at firſt broached by the Poets, which chiefly regards the foreign. Generation of the Gods. 2. foreign Politick or civil Theologie, hatched, as 'tis preſumed, by States men, Politicians, and the common people; but ſeated amongſt their Prieſts. This properly relates to their foreign Idolatrie or Worſhip: which takes in all their Sacrifices, Prieſts, Temples &c. 3. They had alſo their foreign Natural Theologie; which conſiſted chiefly in foreign (mentioned 1 Tim. 4.1.) 1 Tim. 4.1.Demon Dogmes and Canons, and was the figment of the wiſer ſort of Heathens, namely of the Philoſophers, who rejecting the multiplicity of Gods, brought in by the Poets, reduced their Theologie to a more Natural and Rational Forme, wherein they ſuppoſe but one Great and Soveraign God, which generally they made to be the Sun: but he being too remote and diſtant from human Condition and Affairs here below, had certain Demons (called by the Phenicians Baalim) or Midling-made-Gods, which were to be as Mediators 'twixt him, the Supreme God, and Men &c. Now, that all theſe three kinds of Pagan Theologie were but borrowed, by an helbred imitation, from that ſacred Theologie and worſhip ſeated in the Church of God, we ſhall demonſtrate by each part.
§. 2. As for the Pagan foreign Mythick Theologie, Mythick or Theogonick Theologie.termed by ſome foreign Mythologie, it conſiſted chiefly in their foreign Theogonie, or Generation of the Gods. The firſt that undertook to give an account of the Genealogie of the Gods, was Sanchoniathon, that famous Phenician Writer, who was followed herein by ſeveral of the Poets; namely by Orpheus, Heſiod &c, yea, and by ſome of the Philoſophers, eſpecially by Pherecydes, (Pythagoras's Maſter) who is ſuppoſed to have written ſeveral Books of foreign, the Generation of the Gods; whence he was, in a more eminent degree, ſtiled foreign the Divine. Now that all theſe Fables touching the Gentile Gods, their Generations &c had their original from ſome Name, Perſon, or Thing mentioned in ſacred Scripture, I ſhall endeavor to demonſtrate, firſt, in the general, and then from particulars. As for the general Demonſtration hereof, it will be neceſſary to conſider, though but curſorily, the riſe and progreſſe of all Idol Gods, and Idolatrie: all of which is comprehended, by ſome learned men, under theſe two common Heads of Zabaiſme, and Helleniſme. See Owen Thelog. lib. 3. cap. 4. p. 187.Zabaiſme (ſo termed from the Zabii, a Sect of Chaldean Philoſophers) was the firſt and more natural piece of Idolatrie; which conſiſted in a Religious Worſhip given unto the Sun, Moon, and Stars, ſtiled in Scripture, the H…ſts of Heaven. Helleniſme, which ſuperadded hereto an infinity, almoſt, of fictitious and coined Gods, was of more late date, and proper to the Grecians, moſt skilful in the art of making Gods.
Of Zabaiſme its riſe from ſacred tradition.1. As for Zabaiſme, which gave a Deity and Divine worſhip to the Sun, Moon and Stars; it began very early, even in the infancy of the Church; and had made good progreſſe in the world about the Age of Job, and Moſes, as it appears by Job 31.26,27. If I ſaw the Sun &c. as alſo by Deut: 11.6. take heed leſt thine heart &c. And, as Owen (Theolog. lib. 3. cap. 4.188. &c.) obſerves, this pagan humor of Idolizing theſe glorious celeſtial bodies, ſeems to have had its riſe from ſome broken Traditions, conveyed by the Patriarchs, touching the Dominion of the Sun by day, and of the Moon by night: according to Gen: 1.16. Gen. 1.16.and Pſalm. 136.7.8.9. Pſ. 136.7.where the Sun and Moon are ſtiled the greater Lights, not onelyonly by a foreign, or condeſcention to vulgar capacities, as ſome will have it, but from their peculiar office; the Sun being appointed to governe by day, and the Moon by night. So that albeit the Moon be, in regard of its ſubſtance and borrowed Light, inferior to many of the Stars, yet, by virtue of its Office, it is above them, and ſo termed a Greater Light. Now its very probable, that the fame of this Dominion, conferred by God on the Sun and Moon, was diffuſed amongſt the Gentiles, firſt in the Oriental parts; whence their corrupt imaginations, very prone to Idolatrie, conferred a Deity on theſe Creatures, which to them ſeemed moſt glorious. Thence they termed the Sun foreign Molech, or Melec, the King: alſo foreign Baal, the Lord; and foreign El, God, (whence the Greek foreign the Sun:) likewiſe foreign Bel Sames, Lord of Heaven; and foreign Eliun, the moſt High. All which are names, which the Scripture gives the true God of Iſrael; and, without all peradventure, had their original thence, as hereafter.
2 Of Helleniſme, its riſe from ſacred ſtory.2. As for Helleniſme; its derivation from ſacred Oracles will ſufficiently appear from the enumeration of particulars which follow; onelyonly take this general account hereof. The Light of of Nature, and thoſe foreign or foreign, common principles touching the Being and Unity of God, Owen Theolog. lib. 1. c. 8. p. 86.having been very much obliterated by ſin, the Greek Poets, who were the firſt Broachers of Mythologie, having gleaned up many oriental broken Traditions touching God, and the wonders he wrought in behalf of his people, turned all into Fables, or figments of, I know not what, new Gods. Theſe their fables they divulge, firſt by Hymnes and Songs, made concerning their new coined Deities, whereby they raviſh the ears of the credulous Idolatrouſly-diſpoſed people. Thence they commit the ſame to writings, ſtuffed out with all manner of fables; ſo that there was ſcarce diſcernable any ragge of the old ſacred Tradition, whence at firſt they received their fables. For whatever they heard touching the Exiſtence, Attributes, or providences of God, they wreſted unto ſuch fabulous ſenſes, and augmented by ſuch monſtrous figments; Oſtenditur ſecundo, Graecorū Deorum nomina origine nou alia, quam Hebraica eſſe Sand ford, de deſc. l. 1. §. 6.and out of theſe, by a ſtrange artificial imitation, and ſucceſsive multiplication, coined ſo many prodigious comments relating to ſome new Deities, as that in a ſhort time their Gods were multiplied to a kind of Infinity. Thus did Helleniſme, or Polytheiſme ſpring originally, though by a monſtrous kind of Satanick imitation, from true ſacred ſtories touching God, his Names, Attributes, Providences, or People; as 'twill farther appear by the ſeveral Deities amongſt the Pagans, and their Theogonie.
§. 3 1. Of Saturne his original names, &c.The firſt great Idol-God, univerſally owned by the Pagans, was by them called Saturne, whoſe Names and Attributes were, as 'tis moſt evident, but corrupt imitations of ſacred ſtory. Saturne is ſuppoſed to be ſo called from foreign latuit, whence he was ſtiled Deus Latius, and his proper ſeat was Latium, as Glaſs. Gram. 1. l. 4. Tract. 3. But we ſhall begin with Saturnes names and genealogie, as we find them given us by Sanchoniathon, according to Philo Byblius's verſion, mentioned by Euſebius, who brings in Sanchoniathon thus diſcourſing of Saturn's Generation and Names. He ſaies firſt, that the great God foreign Eliun, called the moſt high, generated the Heaven and the Earth. Eliun, heb. foreign Elion, is one of Gods proper Names, and ſignifies moſt High. Bochart, Canaan lib. 2. cap. 2. fol. 784. ſuppoſeth this paſſage of Sanchoniathō, to have been taken out of Moſes's words, Gen. 14.19.22. Gen. 14.19,22.where tis ſaid, foreign The moſt high God poſſeſſor or (as Bochart) generator of Heaven and Earth: for foreign is rendred by him, to generate; it being ſo rendred by the LXX Zach. 13.1. The wife of Eliun, Sanchoniathon makes to be foreign Beruth, i.e. foreign berith; whence we read of the Phenician Goddeſſe Berith, Judg. 8.33. Judg. 8.33.which, I preſume, received her origination from foreign; whereby the Covenant which God made with his People, which was, as it were, the Mother of all their Mercies, is uſually expreſſed. For the blind Cananites or Phenicians, hearing much from the Jews, of their foreign berith, Covenant, (which they made the great Parent of all their Mercies,) they thence groſly conceited, that this foreign berith was a Goddeſſe, the wife of foreign Elion, the moſt high God. Saturnes immediate Parent is foreign, (from foreign Ur, the light) Heaven, becauſe God is ſaid firſt to produce the Heaven. Gen. 14.19. Whence it follows in Sanchoniathon, that the firſt born ſon of the Heaven was foreign, Ilos, who alſo was called Saturne. Saturne called foreign Ilos, from foreign, Gods name.This foreign, given to Saturne, Bochart makes to be the ſame with the Hebrew foreign El, a proper name of the true God. And that the Phenicians called Saturne foreign, is manifeſt by the words of Damaſcus in Phot. CCXL 11. thus: foreign, The Phenicians, and Syrians, call Saturne El, and Bel, and Bolathes. Hence from this name foreign, given to Saturne, the Sun, which is made his royal Throne, was called by the Greeks foreign. Molech.Another name whereby the Phenicians expreſſed Saturne, was Molech, according to Amos 5.26. from the Hebrew foreign, a King. They call him alſo foreign Baal, which was originally one of Gods ſacred names, as Hoſ. 2.16. Saturne is alſo, according to Bochart, called Chiun, Amos 5.26. and Rephan or Remphan, (which is an Egyptian ſtile, or title, the ſame with Chiun) Act. 7.43. of which ſee more what follows chap. 2. §. 8.
But to come to the original Idea of Saturne, by which it will more evidently appear, that not onelyonly his Names, but alſo his Extract, and Attributes were all but corrupt imitations, taken up from ſome ſacred Perſon and Tradition. As for the genealogie of Saturne, ſome make him to be the ſame with Adam; others refer him to Abraham; and a third ſort ſuppoſe him to be the ſame with Noah. We may indeed take in each of theſe relations. For its well known, that theſe poor blind Heathens were wont to attribute Traditions and Relations, originally different, to one and the ſame perſon, according as their inclinations led them. Hence they framed more than one hundred Jupiters, by applying different ſtories to one and the ſame name and perſon.
§. 4. 2 Saturnes genealogie referred to Adam in 6. particulars.To begin therefore with thoſe, who refer the ſtory of Saturn to Adam. 'So Plato in his Politicus fo. 272. deſcribing the golden age, under the reigne of Saturn, ſaies, that God, as ſupreme Lord, diſpoſed of all; neither were there poſſeſsions of wives and children, or polices, but all lived on the fruits of the Earth, which brought forth fruits, without any agriculture, of its own accord. Then he addes, that theſe firſt Parents lived naked, ſub Dio, and had conference with the beaſts &c. which plainly relates to Adam and Eves ſtate in Paradiſe. And in a conference with Bochart, upon the mention of this diſcourſe of Plato to him, he ſeemed to grant me, that this ſtorie of Saturne might be referred to Adam, though (as he ſaid) 'twas not proper for him to mention it, becauſe he referred Saturne rather to Noah. And Stephanus foreign on foreign, tels us, that foreign Saturne, was called foreign; and that this Adanus was the ſon of Heaven and Earth, foreign, which is a perfect deſcription of Adams production by God out of the Earth. Whence Sanchoniathon, ſpeaking of Adams formation out of the Earth, ſtiles him foreign, the character here given to Saturne. And indeed, the very name foreign ſeems to be the very ſame with foreign Adam. For the Greeks, having no words terminating in m, for Adam they pronounced foreign. Thus Voſſius de Idololatr. lib. 1. cap. 38. Neither may we conceive that the memorie of our firſt Parents was loſt in Aſia among the Gentiles: many things prove the contrary. Adana, an ancient city of Cilicia, built by the Syrians, was ſo called in memorie of the firſt man Adam. For it is evident, that the Grecians, having no words ending in m, for foreign read foreign, and the termination added, foreign: whence the city foreign. This foreign, ſaith Stephanus, was the ſon of Heaven and Earth. Which agrees to none more properly than to Adam. The ſame Stephanus ſaith, that he was called Saturne and Rhea: I ſuppoſe, becauſe Saturne was the firſt man, and Rhea the mother of all, Eve, &c. Again, Voſsius de Idololatr. lib. 1. cap. 18. gives a good parallel 'twixt Saturne and Adam. 1. Adam is called the ſon of God Luk. 3.38. becauſe he had no father but what was heavenly: ſo Saturne is called the ſon of Heaven. 2. Adam was formed out of the duſt of the Earth: ſo Saturnes Mother was called Tellus Earth, as Heſiod, and Orpheus tell us. 3. The Worſhip given to Saturne among the Greeks and Romans, addes to this parallel. In the monethmonth of September 19 Kal. on which day the Saturnals were acted at Rome, the Servants enjoyed their liberty; yea the Maſters ſerved, while the ſervants ſate at Table; which was a ſhadow of the liberty which was in Paradiſe under Adam's innocent ſtate &c. Thus Saturne is brought in ſpeaking in Lucian. foreign. And therefore every where applauſe, and ſinging, and play, and equality of Honor to all, both ſervants and free: For under my Government there was no ſervant. There are many other particulars wherein Saturne ſeems parallel to Adam, as 4. Adam is ſaid to be the firſt that taught men Husbandry; ſo Saturne. 5. Adam hid himſelf from the preſence of God; ſo Saturne; whence he was ſo named from foreign Satar, to hide. 6. Adam was caſt out of Paradiſe; ſo Saturne expelled from his Dominion &c. Saturni nomen ex Heb. foreign fluxiſſe dicunt: unde is Latius Deus fuit dictus &c. Glaſſ. Gram, ſ. lib. 4. Tract. 3. obſ. 5.More of Saturnes Parallel with Adam ſee Voſsius de Idolol. l. 1. c. 18. and Book 3. ch. 4. §. 5. of the golden Age.
§. 5. Saturne parallel to Abraham in three particulars mainly.Others refer the original of Saturne to Abraham: ſo Sanchoniathon in his foreign generation of the Gods, ſaies that Saturne foreign offered up his only ſon foreign alſo he circumciſed the privy parts, and forced his companions to do the ſame: which evidently refers to the ſtorie of Abraham: and ſo 'tis more full explained by Porphyrie, in his book foreign quoted by Euſebius, praepar: Evang: lib. 1. cap. 9. where he makes Saturne, who after his death became a Planet, to be called Iſrael: his words are theſe, foreign &c. Saturne, whom the Phenicians call Iſrael, after his death was conſecrated into a ſtar &c. Then he addes, that the ſame Saturne had, by a Nymph called foreign Anobret, an only ſon foreign, whom, for this, they called Ieoud, as he is ſo called, to this day, by the Phenicians. This only ſon (ſaies he) being clothed with a Royal habit, was ſacrificed by his father, being under great calamity. This Phenician Fable is excellently well deciphered by Bochart (Can. l. 2. c. 2. fol. 790) & applied to the ſtorie of Abraham's offering up Iſaac &c. 1 Iſaac ſtiled Jeud. from Gen. 22.2.Thus Jeud amongſt the Hebrews is foreign Iehid which is is the Epithet given to Iſaac Gen. 22.2. concerning whom, 'tis evident, that Porphyrie treats. 2 Saturne, from Abrahams being ſtiled a Prince of God Gen. 23.6. called the principal God.Then he addes, this only ſon was offered by his father: So Sanchoniathon — Thence this Saturne, the ſame with Abraham, whom the Scripture ſtiles foreign a Prince of God Gen. 23.6. the Phenicians made the principal God: And they called him Iſrael, the name of that people that ſprang from Abraham: and they conſecrated unto him one day in ſeven, as holy, that is, the Sabbath day, which was ſacred amongſt the Jews: 3 Saturne ſacrificeth his ſon in imitation of Abraham. Gen. 22.2,3.and they ſacrificed their ſons unto him, after a wicked kind of manner, wherein they would imitate Abraham Gen. 22.2,3. Though, when God had tryed Abrahams faith and obedience, he forbids him to offer his ſon: but Sanchoniathon, and Porphyrie bring in Saturne, as really ſacrificing his ſon. Namely, the Devil would fain make men believe ſo, that it might paſſe for an example: (as indeed it did ſo amongſt the Phenicians, who offered their ſons to Saturne &c.) 4 The Nymph Anobret an imitation of Sarah, who being barren received Grace, Heb. 18,11.The Nymph Anobret or (according to the Phenician name) foreign Annoberet, ſignifies conceiving by Grace; which is an appellation properly belonging unto Sarah, who, being barren, received, by Grace, a power to conceive &c. as Heb. 11.11. Thus Bochart, who is followed herein by Stillingfleet Origin. ſ. Book 3. c. 5. Abraham is here called by the name of his poſterity Iſrael, Iſaac Jeoud. So Gen. 22.2. Take thy ſon: foreign is the ſame with Phenician Joud. That Sarah is ment by Anobret, the original of the name implies, as Bochart &c. of Saturnes parallel with Abraham, Voſsius de Idolol. lib. 1. cap. 18. pag. 142. thus writes: peradventure alſo the Patriarch Abraham was worſhipped in Saturne. For which nothing elſe occurs but that of Porphyrie, Euſeb. praepar. Evang. lib. 1. Therefore Saturne, whom the Phenicians name Iſrael, and whom, after his death, they conſecrated into a Star of the ſame name, when he reigned in thoſe parts, he had an onelyonly ſon, by a certain Nymph of that countrey called Anobret, whom therefore they called Jeoud, a word, which to this very day ſignifies in the Phenician tongue, onelyonly begotten. And when the King fell into a dangerous war, he ſacrificed this onelyonly ſon, adorned with royal apparrel, on an Altar erected for this very purpoſe. Wherein (ſaith Voſſius) we have three obſervables. 1. That Iſrael, the moſt ancient King of the Phenicians, was the ſame with Saturne. 2. That Iſrael had an onelyonly ſon, thence called by the Phenicians Jeoud. 3. that this Son was ſacrificed by his father: whence may we ſuppoſe theſe things had their original, but from the confounding Iſrael with his Grandfather Abraham, who was commanded by God to ſacrifice his onelyonly ſon? as Gen. 22.1. Take thine onelyonly ſon &c. where the Hebr. foreign greatly ſuits with the Phenician Jeoud. Neither do theſe languages differ ſave in Dialect. And truely in Orphaicis Abraham is ſtiled foreign; where Abraham and Iſaac are confounded, as here Abraham and Jacob. Thus Voſſius.
§. 6. 3. Saturnes parallel with Noin 14 particulars.But the chief ſtories of Saturne and his genealogie ſeem to refer to Noah, according to that excellent parallel drawn by Bochart, Phaleg lib. 1. cap. 1. fol. 1. That Noah (ſaies he) paſſed among the Heathens under the name of Saturne, there are ſo many things to prove it, that there is ſcarce left room for doubting. 1. Saturne is ſtiled foreign, the father of all; ſo was Noah. 2. Saturne, as Noah, was ſtiled a Preacher of righteouſnes. 3. Under Saturne's reign, as under Noahs, all things were common and undivided. 4. All men enjoyed the higheſt peace under Saturne; as under Noah. 5. In Saturnes time, as in Noahs, all men uſed one ſpeech &c. 6. Saturne's wife was called Rhea, or Earth, becauſe Noah was called a man of the Earth, as Gen. 9.20. Gen. 9.20.foreign a man of the Earth, i.e. according to the Hebrew Idiom, a Husbandman: which the Mythologiſts took in a proper ſenſe for foreign, the husband of the Earth: whence Saturne, the ſame with Noah, is made the husband of Rhea, i.e. the Earth. 7. Saturne is alſo ſaid to be an Husbandman and planter of Vines, as Noah was. 8. Saturne is ſtiled the preſident of Drunkenneſſe, from Noahs being drunk. 9. Hence alſo came the Saturnalia, or Revels, conſecrated to the memorie of Saturne. 10. Saturne is alſo ſaid to be the Author of that Law, which forbad the Gods to behold men naked: which was but a Tradition of the curſe on Cham, for beholding his fathers nakedneſſe. 11. Saturne is ſaid to ariſe, together with his wife and children, out of the Sea; a Tradition of Noah, with his wife and children, their deliverance from the Deluge. 12. Hence a Ship became Saturne's ſymbol; and Saturne is ſaid by Sanchoniathon to ſail about the world. 13. Saturne is ſaid to foretel Deucalion's floud, making uſe of a Dove &c. anſwerable to that of Noah, &c. 14. Saturne is ſaid to have devoured all his children beſides three, foreign, viz. Jupiter Hammon, the ſame with Cham; Neptune, the ſame with Japhet; and Pluto, the ſame with Shem. Thus Bochart more largely. The like parallel 'twixt Saturne and Noah I find in Voſſius de Idololatr. lib. 1 cap. 18. Farther, in Saturne are conſerved ſome reliques of the Patriarch Noah. Namely, they ſaw, as Adam was ſimply the firſt of all men, ſo Noah the firſt of all that lived after the floud. Adam had the empire of all the world: ſo had Noah with his familie. Noah had three ſons: ſo had Saturne. Noah his three ſons divided the world: ſo did Saturnes. &c. So Owen theol. lib. 1: cap. 8. pag. 89. Saturne, by the Poets ſtiled foreign, was Time. Thus they mythologized. Noah alſo, according to the moſt corrupt Tradition, was ſtiled ſuch. Time is a ſpace meaſured by the motion of the Heaven: hence Saturne was ſtiled the ſon foreign of heaven: ſo alſo Noah was eſteemed. They feigned Saturne to have devoured up his ſons, and to have vomited them up again, which alludes to Noah's deluge &c. Thus alſo Stillingfleet, Origin. ſ. book 3. ch. 5. §. 8. where he mentions Bocharts parallel betwixt Noah and Saturne in 14 particulars as before. See Dickinſ: Delph. Phoen. Diatribe of Noahs Names. Thus we have ſhewn how the fabulous ſtories of Saturne his Genealogie, Names, Attributes, and Offices, were but broken Traditions of ſacred Scripture, referring either to Adam, Abraham, or Noah, &c.
§. 7. Jupiters Names and Genealogie from ſacred ſtorie.We now proceed to Jupiter, (who ſucceeded Saturne,) to demonſtrate, that his Genealogie, Names, and Attributes were but fragments, or broken Traditions of ſome ſacred ſtorie. Firſt, as for Jupiters names, in the fragments of Sanchoniathon, tis ſaid; The ſon of Saturne was foreign Zeus Belus. Belus.foreign Baal or Belus, the chief God among the Phenicians, (whereof there were many) ſignifies properly, Lord: and it was a name aſſumed by Jehovah, the God of Iſrael, before abuſed to Superſtition, as it appears Hoſ. 2.16. Hoſ. 2.16.It is elſewhere written foreign Beel, as foreign, which anſwers to the Hebrew foreign the Lord of Heaven. foreignAs for foreign, though it be, as to its immediate origination, a Greek Title, yet the original Reaſon thereof is Phenician or Hebrew, anſwering unto Cham, the ſon of Noah. For foreign is derived foreign, which ſignifies heat: which anſwereth exactly to the Hebrew foreign Cham, from the radix foreign Chamam, to wax hot. By which it is evident, the Greeks ſtiled Jupiter foreign, in alluſion to his Phenician or Hebrew name foreign Cham. Hammon.Whence Herodotus tels us, that the Egyptians called Jupiter Ammun: foreign, for the Egyptians call Jupiter Ammun. So Ralegh, Hiſt. of the world, Part. 1. B. 1. c. 6. §. 6. tels us, That the Egyptians, even after the floud, began to entitle Cham, the parent of their own Mizraim, Chammon, or Hammon. Thus Voſstus de Idololatr. lib. 1. c. 27. Unto Saturne ſucceeded Jupiter Ammon, that is Cham, or Ham; whence the Egyptians made foreign, the Grecians foreign, from Cham foreign Noahs ſon. Which appears from this, that Egypt is ſtiled, not onelyonly the countrey of Miſraim, Cham's ſon, but alſo the land of Cham, as Pſ. 105.23.27. Alſo Plutarch, of Iſis and Oſiris, teſtifies, that Egypt, in the ſacreds of Iſis, was termed foreign: whence this but from Cham? yet I ſhall not pertinaciouſly diſſent, if any will have the name Ammon primarily to agree to the Sun rather than to a man, from foreign, which ſignifies heat, and ſo agreeable to the Sun, the fountain of heat, &c. So Bochart Phaleg lib. 1. cap. 2. informes us, that the Africans (who were originally Phenicians) called Jupiter, Hammon, as the Egyptians foreign Ammun, (whence Ammonius.) So alſo in his Preface to Phaleg, Bochart aſſures us, that the Africans worſhipt Cham, or Ham, under the name of Hammon; as Noah under that of Saturne; whence Africa was called Hammonia, or the countrey of Hammon. By all which tis evident, that this name Hammon, given to Jupiter, had its original from foreign Cham, or Ham, unto which foreign alludes. Sydyk.Again, Sanchoniathon termes Jupiter foreign Sydyk. So Philo Byblius, foreign from Sydyk ſprang the Cabiri: or, as Damaſcius in Photius. foreign Sadyk. Now this name is evidently taken from the Hebrew foreign Sedek, the juſt, which is a name given to God, as alſo to the firſt Patriarchs, whence Melchiſedek. Taramis.Another name given to Jupiter, is Taramis, or Taranis, which, according to Camden (Britan. pag. 14. edit. Lond. 1586.) is the ſame with foreign Jupiter thundering: to whom Auguſtus conſecrated a Temple. Taram vel taram Cambried linguâ, hodie… eſt tonitru, et veteri Sueciea, Thor; unde Jovis dies Suecica Thorſday, Anglicae Thurſday. Boch. cars. l. 1. c. 42.For Taram or Taran in the Britiſh tongue ſignifies Thunder, as in the Saxon Thor, or Thur, whence Jnpiter's day was by the Saxons called Thurſday. Now this name Taram, given to Jupiter, Bochart makes to be derived from the Phenician foreign tarem, which, by caſting away the Servile foreign prefixed, is the ſame with foreign to thunder.
§. 8. Jupiter from ja foreign.But nothing indeed does more evidently prove, Jupiters origination to have been, from ſome corrupt imitation, of ſacred ſtorie, than the very name it ſelf. For Jupiter (as Muis on the Pſalmes well obſerves) is evidently the ſame with foreign or foreign, that is, Father Jah, or Jeu. Jovis nomen a Sanctiſſimo Dei apud Hebraeos nomine foreign Glaſſ. Gram. ſ. l. 4. Tract. 3. Pſ. 68.4.Now its well known, that foreign Jah is a name properly, yea moſt eſsentially attributed to God in Scripture, as Pſal. 68.4. &c. it being but a Contract of foreign Jehovah, and ſo moſt expreſſive of the Divine Being, or Eſsence. That Gods name foreign Jah was well known to the Phenicians, who communicated the ſame to the Grecians, is evident by what we find to this purpoſe in Porphyrie; who tels us, that Sanchoniathon had much aſsistance for the compiling of his Historie from Jerombalus the Prieſt of the God foreign, Jao. So Diodorus lib. 1. tels us, that Moſes inſcribed his Laws to the God called Jao. Indeed the Grecians ſeldome, if ever, expreſſe the ineffable name of God, Jehovah by any other than foreign, or foreign, according to the Oracle of Clarius Apollo foreign. So the Gnoſticks, in Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 34. call God Jao: and Jerom, in his Comment on Pſal. 8. Jaho. which Greek name Bochart ſuppoſeth to have been framed out of the 4 letters foreign of Jehovah, which may be read Jaho: for which ſome of the Greeks read foreign Jeu pater i:e: jah, or jeu the Father. And as Jupiter owes its origination to the ſacred name of God Jehovah, Jah, or Jao; So alſo the oblique caſes of Jupiter, namely Jovi, Jove &c. for how inconſiderable, if any, is the difference in the Hebrew 'twixt Jove, or Jova, and Jehovah. This ſame name Jao, in the Oracle of Clarius Apollo, is given alſo to Bacchus. As it was not unuſual with thoſe Mythologiſts, to give the ſame name to differing perſons, as their humors inclined. Voſſius, de Idol. lib. 2. cap 16. pag. 386. endeavors to prove, that Jupiter was allo called Janus from foreign Jah, as Jacchus from jah chus, and reputed to be the ſame with the Sun, as Jana, Diana or Juno the ſame with the Moon, Sabaſius.Again, whence was it that Jupiter was ſtiled Sabaſius? but from that Title of God foreign Jehovah Sabaoth the Lord of hoſts, a ſtile ſo often given to God: as Eſa. 1 9. Eſa. 1.9.which is rendred Rom. 9.29. the Lord of Sabaoth. Owen, Theol. lib. 3. cap: 13.
§. 9. By all which laid together, I ſuppoſe, 'twill ſeem more than a meer conjecture, that the chief, if not the whole of Jupiters Titles were of ſacred origination, though by curſed imitation. Fables applied to Jupiter, of Phenician original.We might alſo ſhew, that many of the Fables applied to Jupiter, were, indeed, of Phenician or Hebrew original: as that of Jupiters rebellion againſt his father Saturne, from Chams rebellion againſt Noah &c. The fabulous Jews relate, that Cham cut off his fathers Virilia, whence the Fable of Jupiters cutting off Saturne, his father Genitalia as Lact. lib. 1. cap. 12. But I ſhall inſtance chiefly in that famous Fable of Jupiters ſtealing away Europa, which ſeems evidently of Phenician and Hebrew extract, and that from a miſtake of the original words. For whereas 'tis ſaid, that Jupiter ſtole away Europa, under the forme of a bull; the Fable, as learned Bochart demonſtrates, aroſe from the Equivocation of the Phenician foreign, which ſignifies either a Ship or a Bull. Now the Grecians, to make the fable more admirable, underſtand it of a Bull; whereas the Phenician ſtorie ment it only of Jupiters carrying away Europa in a Ship &c. So the Fable of Jupiters having Hornes, according to that of Ovid, Metaph: lib. 5. Lybi is eſt cum cornubus Hammon. Exod. 34,29.Amongſt the Lybians Jupiter Hammon is pictured with Hornes; ſeems borrowed, and that upon a miſtake, from the ſtorie of Moſes's coming down from the Mount with his face ſhining: where the Hebrew foreign ſignifies both a beam of the Sun, as alſo a Horne: from which ambiguity the Fable ſprang. Again, in the Metamorphoſis of the Gods in Egypt, 'tis ſaid that Jupiter was turned into a Ram; which Fable Bochart (de Animalibus ſacris part 2. lib. 1. cap. 10. fol 62.) ſuppoſeth to have had its riſe from the cognation 'twixt the Hebrew words foreign El (the name of God transferred on Jupiter) and foreign ajil a ram: which being Paronymous, and the Plural number of both the ſame viz. foreign Elim: the Grecians miſtake the later for the former. The Poets fiction of Minerva the Goddeſse of wiſdom, her being produced out of Jupiters head, ſeems to be drawn from the Scriptures relation of Chriſt, the wiſdom of God, his eternal Generation Prov: 8.23. Prov. 8.23.&c. as eloquent Du Boſc. (Paſtor of the Reformed Church at Caen) obſerved in a Sermon preached at Caen. Laſtly the Tradition of Bacchus's being taken out of Jupiters thigh, is ſuppoſed, by Bochart, to be but a Tradition of the Patriarchs proceeding ex femore Jacobi, out of Jacobs thigh mentioned Gen: 46.26. Gen. 46.26.where the Hebrew words, which properly ſignifie out of Jacobs loins, are, by an eaſy miſtake from their ambiguity, tranſlated by the Greek and old Latin, out of Jacobs thigh: whence ſprang this Fable &c. Thus we have ſhewen how the many fabulous Names, Genealogies, and Attributes given unto Jupiter, had their original, by Satanick imitation, from ſacred ſtorie, Names, and Perſons &c.