This Deification of Creatures, seems to begin about the time of the _Confusion at Babel_, or the Dispersion immediately consequent thereupon, particularly in the Family of _Nimrod_, the Son of _Cush_, Grandson of _Noah_. May not we date the _Original of Paganism_ from that remarkable Person? ’Tis the Conjecture of some, that _Nimrod_ was the first Man that was deify’d, and probably for the important Service he did to his Country, as a _mighty Hunter_, in destroying wild Beasts that otherwise would soon have devour’d the Inhabitants, which were not very numerous in those days. ’Tis certain, that such Benefactors to Mankind were rank’d among the Gods. If so, who will pretend to say, _our modern Fox-Hunters don’t carry one Characteristic of Divinity about them_? Some think that the true Religion was universal for about four hundred Years after the Deluge, because it does not appear from _Abram_’s Traverse thro’ _Mesopotamia_, _Canaan_, _Philistia_, _Egypt_, _&c._ that those Countries were Idolaters. Others apprehend _Abram_ himself was originally an Idolater, at least that Idolatry had overspread the Nations in his time, for which they quote _Joshua_ xxiv. 2. _Your Fathers ... even Terah the Father of Abraham ... served other Gods_. It’s evident from hence, that _Terah_ had fallen into Idolatry, and some are of Opinion, that _Abram_ himself was an Idolater, till God made him sensible of the Vanity of Idol-worship, and that it was thro’ him that his Father _Terah_ was brought under the same Conviction, by this Device, _viz._ The _Jews_ say that _Terah_ was not only an Idolater, but also a Carver, and Dealer in Images and Idols; that one day when he went a Journey, he left _Abram_ to take care of the Shop; but _Abram_ being already convinced of the Sinfulness of Idols, ask’d all that came to buy _Idol-Gods_ of him, _How old are you?_ They told him their Age; and he replied to them, _This God that you would buy and worship, is younger than you are; it was made but the other day, and of contemptible Matter, therefore believe what I say, and renounce this vain Worship_. The _Buyers_ struck with Confusion at these Reproaches, went away without buying, asham’d of their Stupidity[367]. Footnote 367: Fa _Calmet_ under _Terah_, vol. xiii. Q. _What might move Men to the first Idolatry?_ Perhaps it might be a _strong Attachment to the Senses_, which they made their sovereign Judges in Spirituals: It was hard for vulgar Heads in those Days of Darkness to elevate their Thoughts above sensible Objects.