Revelations of Egyptian Mysteries and Allegories of the Greek Lyric Poets Clearly Interpreted

OF

EGYPTIAN MYSTERIES.

HISTORY OF THE CREATION,

THE CAUSES AND THE PROGRESS OF THE

DEGENERATION OF NATURE,

THE CONFLAGRATION AND MANNER OF THE

RESURRECTION OF THE WORLD,

AS ALLEGORICALLY REPRESENTED BY THE

EGYPTIAN PHILOSOPHY:

SHOWING

THE JUSTICE OF THE INCULCATIONS OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
PRIESTS AND WISE MEN, TEACHING THAT SALT WAS
FATALLY HURTFUL TO HUMAN NATURE.

WITH

A DISCOURSE ON THE MAINTENANCE AND
ACQUISITION OF HEALTH,

ON PRINCIPLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE

WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS.

BY

ROBERT HOWARD,

PRACTITIONER OF MEDICINE.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

LONDON:

G. J. PALMER, SAVOY STREET, STRAND.

PREFACE.

THE mind of man cannot repose in a state of ease, tranquillity, and confidence, whilst the former, and the future conditions of his world, and his own origin and destiny, are concealed from his view. In Scripture it is declared that wisdom shall be destroyed: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I COR. and will bring to nothing the understanding of the 1.19. prudent." This prophecy, respecting the knowledge of nature, has been wonderfully fulfilled in the latter times of the world.

The chief object of this work, is to pour a new light upon our knowledge of nature, by which, it has appeared to the author, the greatest possible benefit might be conferred upon society, and health and happiness beyond measure promoted.

Although, according to the prophecy of Scripture the wisdom of the wise, or knowledge of nature, has latterly been lost to the mind of man, it has still continued to remain before his eyes; but concealed under the dazzling and splendid masks of allegory, in the sacred writings, and those of the ancient poets. The author has proceeded by unravelling, as by a clue, many of those great mysteries: he has thus interpreted and explained many

of the masked representations belonging to the wisdom of Egypt, as set forth by the ancient poets Hesiod and Homer. In this way he believes he has arrived at conclusions of indubitable accuracy, and of unspeakable importance to the world. This opinion has not, however, been espoused, until after a profound investigation of the various subjects herein treated of: not until after an attentive consultation of nature, and very laborious comparison with parallel representations extant in the sacred writings. The perfect and unvarying concord in the great mass of evidence furnished from all these sources, appears sufficient to constitute an immovable support for the positions which he has assumed. The correctness of the views thus arrived at, by deduction from the dark representations of the wisdom of the ancients, in correspondence with the voice of nature, and the tenor of Scripture, appears to be so strongly established as must be satisfactory to every discerning and intelligent mind. These are the sentiments under which this work is humbly presented to the world.

The author has hereto attached a distinct discourse on health, founded on principles in accordance with the wisdom of the ancients. The subject of the health of man, is inseparable from this department of philosophy: in Scripture, and in the writings of the ancient poets, it is particularly held

in view.

6, Upper Gloucester Street, Dorset Square.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PREFACE.

PART I.

OF THE EARTH AND ITS CREATURES.

CHAPTER I.

A View of the Chief Functions of the Terrestrial, the Vegetable,

and the Animal Systems. Page 1.

CHAPTER II.

Of the Mind, and the manner in which it Collects Knowledge,

and Generates Ideas. 10.