143. 7 Most of the statements made here,
will also be found in the Prep. Evang. Lib. i. cap. iv. pp. 11, 48, 275 — 279,
&c. See also Orat. de laudd. Constant, p. 53.5. A. B. which will enable us
to ascertain the intention of our author here, where he is occasionally
obscure. This first is cited from Diodorus Siculus (Prep. Evang. p. 48. D.) in
these words : . . [Greek]
144. 8 Ib. p. 11. it. 275. C. where
we are told, that the Persian laws allowed
allowed
marriage with sisters, daughters, and mothers, on the authority of Bardesanes.
See p. 279. ib.
145. 1 As just cited from Bardesanes.
And, in his days, many of these things were practised in Media, Egypt,
Phrygia, and Galatia, as carried thither by the
Magi.
146. 2 See Viger's note (ib. p. 25.
" para_ Pe/rsaj") Bardesanes too, (ib. p. 276. D.) charges
the Philosophers of Greece with this detestable crime)... [Greek] (Ib. p. 277.)
This is said to have been practised under the sanction of the laws in Gaul. That Socrates, the most virtuous of all the
Philosophers, was addicted to this practice, many ancient authors of
respectability may be adduced to shew: and Theodoret with others asserts, that
it was recommended by Plato in his Republic. See Theod. Graec. affect. curat.
Serm. ix. p. mihi 618. I). Tom. iv. Viger is certainly mistaken when he
imagines that the Zerasdas of Theodoret, means Plato ; it being self
evident, as I think, that the Persian Zerdusht, ([Arabic]) or Gr.
Zoroaster, must have been intended. Notes to the Prep. Evang. p. 25.
seq. where it may be seen, that Autolycus accuses both the Epicureans and the
Stoics of the same crime. Caesarius imputes the same to the Chaldaeans and
Babylonians, (ib.) See also the Prep. Evang. (p. 11.) and Theodoret, Gr.
affect. curat. Ed. Gaisford, p. 472. seq. It may be doubted perhaps, whether
some of these charges can be substantiated. See Luzacii de Theodoreto judicium,
prefixed to Dr Gaisford's work. — These abominations are again touched upon,
Demonstr. Evang. Lib. iv. cap. x. p. 361, and Origen contra Cels. Lib. v. p.
248. seq.
147. 3 These particulars seem to be
resumed more specifically near the end of this section. Our text has [Syriac]
here, for [Syriac] I presume. I have, therefore, translated it by in
sepulchres : alluding, perhaps, to the sacrificing, and otherwise
destroying, of children.
148. 4 So, in the Prep. Evang. (p. 11.
C.).. [Greek] (See also Plutarch, Tom. ii. p. 409.) So also Bardesanes,
who attributes this to the Medes, &c. (ib. p. 277.) [Greek] Theodoret says
on the same subject:...[Greek] (p. 615. see also p. 614.) See also Cicero. Tusc. Quaest.
Lib. i. cap. xlv.
149. 5 So Bardesanes. (Prep. Evang. p. 275. B.) [Greek] See also
Viger's Note, (p. 25.) where much interesting matter, to this effect, is
collected together, it. Orat. de laudd. Constant, p. 535. B.
150. 6 This is applied to the Scythians,
generally, in the Prep. Evang. (p. 11.) in these words [Greek] Bardesanes
affirms that there is also a people in India, who indulge in cannibalism,
(ib. p. 278. D.) [Greek]
151. 7 This seems to be applied to the
Derbices of Persia, (Prep. Evang. ib. p. 11.) and the Massagetae...[...]
152. 8 This, according to Euseb. (l.c.)
and Theodoret, (l.c.) was done by the Tibareni. Theod. [Greek]
153. 9 Mention is made of this (Prep.
Evang. ib.) in these words, [...] Lit. Nor, as formerly, do they cast over the
aged with a snare (noose, &c.) A practice, perhaps, not unlike that of the
Persian hunters and warriors, who threw a sort of noose, — called the [Arabic]
Camand, — over the head of the animal they wished to take. [...]
154. 10 So the Hyrcaneans and Bactrians
(Prep. Evang. pp. 11, 12, and Theodoret as above.)
155. 1 So the Caspians (Prep. Evang. ib.)
and Bactrians (ib. p. 12.) Strabo Geogr. Lib. xi. p. 356. Edit. Casaubon.
156. 2 This, according to Theodoret, (Graec.
affect, curat. p. 615.) was done by the Scythians: [Greek] So Ibn Batuta
tells us (Travels, p. 220,) that he saw, at the funeral of the Emperor of
China, six favourite Mamluks, and four female slaves all buried alive with him!
See also Prep. Evang. (ib. p. 156. C.)
157. 3 So the Indians, as Bardesanes
tells us, burned the wives, together with the dead body of the husband, on the
funeral pile (Prep. Evang. p. 277. D.), just as it is the practice still in
Hindustan. See also Plutarch, Tract. [Greek] Tom. ii. p. mihi 499. See also
Origen contra Cels. Lib. v. p. 254. seq. as given by Celsus himself.
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