129 45

DEDICATIO N.

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD VISCOUNT LEWISHAM,

LORD WARDEN OF THE STANNARIES, AND PRESI-
DENT OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY.

MY LORD,

It is not arifing from a vain prefumption of any literary merit in this work, which could poffibly recommend it to your Lordship's patronage, that I take the liberty of this Dedication: neither is it in order to offer up the vain incenfe of adulation, which would be the more difgufting, where every real virtue, which alone can add true nobility to the mind of man,

is

fi

is confpicuously exemplified, in a life of pure Benevolence, and unfullied morality: but the Author's principal motive is, to express in the most public manner, his grateful acknowledgments for thofe kind attentions which were paid to him, while refiding two years at HAYES, for the recovery of his health, during which time, the following Sketches were the principal amusement of,

DEDICATION.

my Lord,

your lordship's most obliged

and faithful fervant,

JOHN WALSH.

CONTENT S,

SKETCH I

227

OF Primeval Tradition.

13!

SKETCH II.

The Character of Mofes, previous to his

Miffion.

SKETCH III.

Of the invention of Letters.

Page

SKETCH Iy.

Whether the Hebrew be the fame of the

Primeval Language, or not..

SKETCH V.

The Learning of Mofes, and whence derived.

SKETCH VI.

Whether Heathen Philofophers borrowed from

-The opinion of Sir John

Mofes

Marfham refuted.

8

23

58

79

97

SKETCH

CONTENT S.

SKETCH VII.

Why Mofes did not teach natural Philofophy,

er Aftronomy.

со

Page 112

SKETCH VIII.

SECT. I.

Of Rabbinical, Philofophical and Religious

Theories, erroneously founded on the Mofaic

Writings.

SECT. II.

Remarks on Dean Digby's Lectures, &c. &c.

SKETCH IX.

Cautions in religious inquiry. The Laws of

Creation infcrutable.

SKETCH X.

The Hexaemeron of Mofes almoft explained by

paffages felected from profane Writers.

SKETCH XI.

The Antiquities of Sanchoniathon and Manetho,

how far correfpondent with the Mofaical

Hiftory.

SKETCH XII.

Emblems mentioned by Pignorius, explained.

SKETCH XIII.

Of the Being of a GOD. Of the Sabeans, and

opinions refpecting Zoroafter; in treating on

which fubjects is introduced an Antidote to the

pernicious principles inculcated in a late work

intitled-the RUINS, or a furvey of the revo-

lutions of empires-by Volney.

122

135

153

161

138

202

210

SKETCH I.

OF PRIMÆVAL TRADITION.

THE

HE firft inquiry of the human mind, when it begins to expand, and is capable of Reflection, is concerning the origin of fenfible Objects. The ears of the wifest parent are repeatedly faluted with fuch Interrogatories from his child, as he finds himself unable

to

Such is the natural thirft of man after knowledge, that with avidity he recurs to antiquity, being unable to pry into futurity, he delights particularly to enquire into the beginning of those kingdoms and families wherein he finds himself interested: nay, into the origin of the world, and the æra of human existence. The fabulous accounts of profane writers yield him no fatisfaction, being enveloped in thick darkness, fave only in thofe veftiges which still retain the evident marks of an origin derived from revelation.

6.

That Adam was capable of giving fuch inftruction is eafily deduced from this reafon; We cannot form an idea

B

of