so conspicuous as at once to attract the attention of the reader.

To the materials collected from Mr. Harmer, have been added some very important remarks from Shaw, Pococke, Russell, Bruce, and other eminent writers. It is admitted that many of these things have repeatedly passed through the press; but as the valuable observations which have been made by travellers and critics lie interspersed in separate and expensive publications, a compendious selection of them appeared very desirable, and is here accomplished.

But many of the following observations are original: they are not however particularly distinguished from the rest. I must here avail myself of an opportunity to acknowledge my obligations to Mr. Gillingwater, of Harleston in Norfolk, for the very liberal manner in which he favoured me with the use of his manuscript papers. They consist of additions to, and corrections of Mr. Harmer's Observations, and were communicated to that gentleman with a view to assist him in the farther prosecution of his work; but it was too late, as the fourth and last volume was then nearly completed at the press, and in a single instance only towards the close of it was any use made of these materials. From this col

lection I have made many extracts, and have enriched this volume with several new articles on subjects which had not before been discussed. In the progress of my work I have also derived very considerable assistance from many valuable books furnished by James Brown, Esq. of St. Albans, for which I acknowledge myself greatly obliged, and especially for his very careful correction of the manuscript before it went to the

press.

That this work might be rendered acceptable to the scholar, and those who have inclination to consult the sources from whence the information it contains is drawn, the authorities in most instances have been very particularly inserted. It must however be observed, that one principal object in view was the advantage of christians in general. I have aimed to furnish the plain reader with a book to which he may refer for information, on such passages of scripture as appear obscure and difficult, at least those which are to be explained by the method here adopted. Two indexes, one of scriptures incidentally illustrated, and the other of subjects discussed, are subjoined: an appendage, which I conceive no book ought to be destitute of that is designed to be useful.

A very considerable claim to candour may be

advanced in favour of this work. The number and difficulty of the subjects treated of-the compass of reading necessary to obtain materials to elucidate them-the singular felicity of avoiding undue prolixity or unsatisfactory concisenessand the perplexity arising from the jarring opinions of learned men on many of these subjects, render it an arduous task for an individual to accomplish. Without presuming to suppose that I have always succeeded in ascertaining the true meaning of those difficult texts which are brought forward, I have done the best which I could to remove their obscurity, and to give them a consistent and intelligible meaning. Nec semper feriet quodcunque minabitur arcus. Many of

the observations here advanced are indeed rather proposed to consideration, than offered to decide positively the meaning of those passages to which they are attached. The same diversity of sentiment which has influenced commentators and prevented an unanimity of judgment, may justly be supposed to induce some readers to form their opinion as variously.

ST. ALBANS, JANUARY 8, 1802.

SAMUEL BURDER.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

THE former edition of the first volume of this Work was so favourably received, as to encourage the Author to proceed in his labours. The same writers who supplied materials for that volume have been again examined, and much that is new selected from them. Other valuable authors have also been perused, and have afforded important assistance in composing the second volume. Considerable use has been made of the classical writers. The reader will find a great body of information condensed into a small compass, and applied to elucidate many obscure passages of Scripture. The Author has only to add, that he hopes his Readers will excuse the trouble of consulting the Work under two distinct arrangements, as, for the accommodation of the purchasers of the first volume, it was determined that in this new edition the second should be sold separately.

ST. ALBANS,

JANUARY 8, 1807.

ORIENTAL CUSTOMS:

ILLUSTRATIVE

OF THE

SACRED SCRIPTURES.

No. 1.-GENESIS iii. 15.

It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

THE

HE following traditions of the promised Messiah are remarkable for their coincidence with the first promise, and must have had an higher origin than unassisted human invention. In the Gothick mythology, Thor is represented as the first born of the supreme God, and is styled in the Edda, the eldest of sons; he was esteemed a "middle divinity, a mediator between God and man." With regard to his actions, he is said to have wrestled with death, and, in the struggle, to have been brought upon one knee; to have bruised the head of the great serpent with his mace; and in his final engagement with that monster to have beat him to the earth, and slain him. This victory, however, is not obtained but at the expence of his own life: "Recoiling back nine steps, he falls dead upon the spot, suffocated with the floods of venom, which the serpent vomits forth upon him." (EDDA, Fab. 11, 25, 27, 32.) Much the same notion, we are informed, is prevalent in the mythology of the Hindoos. Two sculptured figures are yet extant in one of their oldest pagodas, the former of which represents