Further, we have another very important piece of history from _Abraham_’s being in _Egypt_, which the learned are not aware of; for hence ’tis more than presumption, that the _Egyptians_ learn’d the use of letters or alphabet-writing. If we seek into the accounts transmitted to us by _letters_, concerning their own origin, _Philo_ the _Jew_ expressly attributes the invention thereof to _Abraham_. Whence _Plato in Philebo_ and _in Phædro_, contends for their first appearance in _Egypt_, discover’d by _Theut_, “who, whether he be a god, or a man, is doubtful,” says he; meaning, the use of them must be a divine communication. _Syncellus_ writes, “the opinion of some is, that _Abraham_ brought letters out of _Chaldea_, and taught them to the _Phœnicians_, and they taught them to the _Greeks_.” _Diodorus_ V. writes, “the _Syrians_ invented letters, and the _Phœnicians_ learn’d the great secret from them.” _Eusebius, pr. ev._ X. confirms this, but asserts, “that by the _Syrians_ are meant the _Assyrians_ (as was often the case in old accounts) or the _Hebrews_ more particularly.” It was, in truth, the ancestors of _Abraham_. And this I believe is the real truth. God first imparted this knowledge to the patriarchal family, for preserving the sacred records of his church; and _Abraham_ now taught their use to _Assis_, the _Hercules_, son of _Nilus Jupiter_, who wrote in the _Phrygian_ letters, says _Cicero_. All this is exceedingly confirm’d by the explication which Mr. _Toland_ gives us concerning _Hercules Ogmius_, in his history of the Druids. _Lucian_ says, ’tis a word of their own language, by which the _Celts_ call _Hercules_. And the word has hitherto been inexplicable. He relates the picture of him (in _Hercule Gallico_) which he saw in _Gaul_, which was explain’d to him by a Druid. He was pictured as clad with a lion’s skin, a club in his right hand, a bent bow in his left, a quiver hanging o’er his shoulders. As for his form, he was an old man, bald before, wrinkled, and in colour like a sun-burnt sailor. A multitude of people were represented as drawn after him by golden chains from their ears, center’d in his tongue. The Druid told _Lucian_, that _Ogmius_ accomplish’d his great atchievements by his eloquence, and reduc’d the people of this western world, from rude and barbarous to a state of civility.