CONTAINING

I. HODEGUS; or the PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE, that guided the Ifraelites in the Wildernefs, NOT MIRACULOUS: but, as faithfully related in Exodus, a thing equally practis'd by other nations, and in those places not onely useful but necessary. II. CLIDOPHORUS; or of the EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC PHILOSOPHY, that is, of the External and Internal Doctrine of the antients: the one open and public, accommodated to popular Prejudices and the establish'd Religions; the other private and fecret, wherin, to the few capable and difcrete, was taught the real TRUTH ftript of all difguiles. III. HYPATIA; or the hiftory of a moft beautiful, moft virtuous, most learned, and EVERY WAY ACCOMPLISH'D LADY; who was torn to pieces by the CLERGY of Alexandria, to gratify the pride, emulation, and cruelty of their Archbishop CYRIL, commonly but undefervedly ftil'd Saint CYRIL. IV. MANGONEUTES: being a DEFENSE OF NAZAREN US, addrefs'd to the right reverend JOHN lord Bishop of London; against his Lordfhip's Chaplain Dr. MANGE Y, his Dedicator Mr. PATTERSON, and (who ought to have been nam'd first) the reverend Dr. BRETT, once belonging to his Lordship's Church.

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PREFACE.

I.

HE Title-pages of the following Differtations do clearly enough indicate their feveral fubjects: but the defign of writing, and the occafion of publishing each,require I fhou'd give fome neceffary information to the Reader, before he begins to peruse them. After acquainting my felf, in the best manner I was able, with the various origins and peculiar conftitutions of the Greec and Roman Republics, not forgetting the Perfian and other Monarchies; I judg'd my pains might be no less agreeably rewarded, if I thou'd ufe the like means, to get as clear a notion as poffible of the MOSAIC Theocracy, or the Government of the Ifraelites. The curiofity that's natural to man, which makes him fo ambitious of the character

Παλαιατε πολλατε ειδώς,

vehemently urg'd me to pry not indiligently into fuch remote antiquities: and my duty, as the Religion I profeft was founded on the MOSAIC Inftitution, infpir'd me with ftill greater ardor in my researches. But as the polity of the Jews cou'd not be learnt without their history, both contain'd in the fame books, and in the fame thread of narration interwoven; fo, notwithstanding the almoft impenetrable obfcurity with which thofe books are accus'd, I continually made fuch discoveries in them, relating to matters either different from what was taught by my guides, or that were not taught by any at all, as prov'd