wherein all the reason and philosophy of atheism is confuted, and

Chap. IV. Their arcane Theology. 315are ingenious, whiljl the fuperfcial vulgar look no further in th: obfervation ofihem, than the external fymlol or ceremony. And the fay. i: is true likewifeconcerning the Syrians and Indians^ and all thofe other nations, who have, befidestheir religious fables, a learning and dctlrine. Neither can it be difft:mbl:d,that Ongen in this place plainly intimates the fame alfo concerningChrillianity itfclf; namely, that befides the outfide ai.d exterior cortex ofit (in which notwithltaiiding there is Rothing fabulous) communicated toall, there was a more arcane and recondite doftrine bcJonging thereunto,which al' were not alike capable of; he elfewhere obferving this to bethat wifdom, that St. Paul fpake amongfi the perfeH. From whence heconcludes, that Celfus vainly boafted, -tx^Ix yi^ d'ix, For I know all thingsbelonghig to Chrijiianity, when he was acquainted only with the exteriorfurtace of it. But concrning the Egyptians, this was a thing molt notoriousand obR-rved by fundry other writers ; as for example Clemensoi Alexandria, a man alfo well acquainted with the affairs of Egypt;A'V'J"''?''^* * '«'? i'^ti'^JX^Q^ ""* TTXcoi a-tpicm oivclSi-jlo jxMrnoix, vii [*w (3t"fe»iAc4f tub tmi'Uiiuv rc7i xaiSercriv tivx\ SoxifJi.U3Ta.Tisi, xtto re t>),- TC'j(pri, acj rr,; ttxiSiix;, xJ t» yivn^f' ^The Egyptians do not reveal their religious myfteries prcmifcuoujly to all, norcommunicate the knowledge of divine things to the profane, but only to thofe, whoare to fucceed in the kingdom, and to fuch of the priejls, as are judged mofi fitlyqualified for the fame, upon account both of their birth and education. Withwhich agrceth alfo the teflimony of P/;