This very extraordinary work, which I could not sufficiently admire, has very often entertain’d my thoughts. We see an uniformity in human nature throughout all ages. We build our churches, especially cathedrals, in a cross, the symbol or cognizance of Christianity; the first builders of churches did it in the symbol of the deity, which was pictur’d out with great judgment, and that (most likely) from the beginning of the world. The circle and wings was the picture of the deity, which the old _Egyptian_ hierophants call’d CNEPH. As there were three varieties in this figure, so they had more names than one for it, I mean the whole figure, the circle, serpent, and wings. And sometimes they used one word, sometimes another, and sometimes conjoin’d them. _Eusebius_ in _pr. ev._ III. 3. writes, “that the _Egyptians_ painted God, whom they call’d _Kneph_, like a man in a blue garment, holding a circle and serpent (not scepter, for no such figure ever appears) and on his head, feathers or wings.” Now this very figure is seen on the portals of the _Persian_ temple of _Chilminar_. Authors are not sufficiently accurate in these matters, for want of a more perfect knowledge of them. _Cneph_ is properly the alate circle; yet sometimes they call the whole figure by that name. So a feather or two, or wings, are often plac’d on the heads of the _Egyptian_ deities; but the picture above-mention’d at _Chilminar_ has the wings, as more commonly, annexed to the circle. _Phtha_ was another name of one of these figures, which they sometimes join’d to the preceding, and made the word _Cnephtha_. _Kircher_ erroneously calls it _Hemptha_; for before him _Iamblichus_ err’d in calling _Cneph_, _Emeph_. _Strabo_ calls _Cneph_, _Cnuphis_, and says his temple was at _Syene_, XVII. Undoubtedly a temple some way of this form. _Athenagoras in Eroticis_ VI. calls him Κνεφαιος, _Cnepheus_; and says, “he can’t be seen by our eyes, nor comprehended by our mind.” _Hesychius_, and the etymologist _Suidas_, _voce_ κνεφυς, interpret the word, _obscure_, _hidden_, _not to be seen or understood_. _Iamblichus_ and _Proclus_ the like, who make _Amûn_ and _Phtha_ the same, _Prov._ viii. 30. The truth is, the word _Cneph_ comes from the _hebrew_ ענף _ganaph volare_, to _fly_, קנף a _wing_, _Psal._ xviii. 11. _He rode upon the cherubim, and did fly._