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who lived about the end of the first century [c]. In the former of these collections (for both works are compiled out of preeeding and very antient writers) the manner of interpreting dreams, according to the ufe of the oriental nations, is delivered as the rules, which the Græcian diviners followed, are deduced in the other. For, light and frivolous as this art was, it is not to be fuppofed that it was taken up at hazard, or could be conducted without rule; an arbitrary or capricious interpretation of dreams, confidered as a mode of divination, being too grofs an infult on the common fenfe of mankind [d]. But the rules, by which both the Greek and Oriental diviners juftified their interpretations, appear to have been formed on fymbolic principles, that is, on the very fame ideas

[c] See thefe two works, published together, under the title of Artemidori Daldiani et Achmetis Sereimi F. Oneirocritica by Nicolaus Rigaltius. Lutet. 1603. [d]-Non enim credo, nullo perceptó áut cæteros artifices verfari in fuo munere, aut eos, qui divînatione tantur, futura prædicere, Cic. de Fato, c, 6.

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of analogy, by which the Egyptian hieroglyphics (now grown venerable, and even facred) were explained. So that the pro phetic ftyle, which is all over painted with hieroglyphic imagery, receives an evident illuftration from these two works.

I have faid, that this fuperftition was more immediately to our purpose, than any other. For fome of the more important prophecies are delivered in the way of dreams; and therefore, without doubt, the rules for interpreting the fymbols presented to the mind of the prophet in these inspired dreams, were the very fame with those that were laid down in the Gentile Oneirocritics. The conclufion, I know, may ap pear bold and hazardous. But you will reflect that there is really nothing more ftrange in applying this mode of interpretation to dreams, than to any other species of prophecy, to vifions, for inftance, or parables, or even, in general, to any part of the prophetic ftyle. The compliance, on the part of the infpirer, is the fame on

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every fuppofition; and only fhews that, when the Deity thinks fit to reveal himself to men, he does it in a way that is fuitable to their ideas and apprehenfions. Nor is any fanction, in the mean time, given, by this accommodation of himself, to the pagan practice of divining by dreams. For, though the fame fymbols be interpreted in the fame manner, yet the prophecy doth not depend on the interpretation, but the infpiration of the dream. A casual dream, thus interpreted, is only a dream ftill; the received fenfe of the fymbols, reprefented in it, no way inferring the completion of it. But when the Almighty fends the dream, the symbols are of another confideration, and not only fignify, but predict, an event.

Now, if men will mistake a barely fignificant emblem, for a prophetic infpiration, the fault is in themselves, and not in the use of the common emblems: which may be the vehicle of a true prophecy, though craft or fuperftition take occafion from them

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to divine lies [e]. It follows, that the rules, which the antient diviners observed in explaining fymbolic dreams, may be safely and juftly applied to the interpretation of fymbolic prophecies, and especially to fuch of them as were delivered in the form of dreams.

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4. It is laftly to be observed, that not only the Arabic and other oriental writers, but even the Greek and Latin poets may contribute very much to the exposition of the ancient prophets. For these poets abound in ftrong metaphors and glowing images, which were either copied from the fymbolic language of the Eaft, or invented on the fame principles of analogy as prevailed in the Egyptian hieroglyphics. So that many expreffions, which feem dark and ftrange in the writings of the Jewish prophets, may be clearly illuftrated and familiarized to us, even from claffic ufage and example.

VOL. II,

[e] Ezekiel xiii. 9.
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And now from thefe feveral fources that is, from the fcriptures themselves-from the ftill fubfifting monuments of Egyptian hieroglyphics. -from the Gentile ceremonies and fuperftitions and from the greater works of genius and fancy, tranfmitted to us both from the Eastern and Western poets-fuch a -vocabulary of the prophetic terms and fymbols may be, nay hath been [f], drawn up, as ferves to determine the fenfe of them in the fame manner, as any common art or language is explained by its own proper key, or dictionary; and there is, in truth, no more difficulty in fixing the import of the prophetic ftyle, than of any other language or technical phrafeology whatfoever.

III. But, if the cafe be fo clear, you may now be tempted to afk, "What then becomes of the obfcurity, in which the

[f] See Dr. Lancaster's Symbolical and Alphabetical Dictionary, prefixed to his abridgment of the Commentary on the Revelations, by Mr. Daubuz.

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