Passing from religious texts to works containing moral precepts, we find much light thrown upon the idea of God by the writings of the early sages of Egypt. First and foremost among these are the "Precepts of Kaqemna" and the "Precepts of Ptah-hetep," works which were composed as far back as B.C. 3000. The oldest copy of them which we possess is, unfortunately, not older than B.C. 2500, but this fact in no way affects our argument. These "precepts" are intended to form a work of direction and guidance for a young man in the performance of his duty towards the society in which he lived and towards his God. It is only fair to say that the reader will look in vain in them for the advice which is found in writings of a similar character composed at a later period; but as a work intended to demonstrate the "whole duty of man" to the youth of the time when the Great Pyramid was still a new building, these "precepts" are very remarkable. The idea of God held by Ptah-hetep is illustrated by the following passages:-- 1. "Thou shalt make neither man nor woman to be afraid, for God is opposed thereto; and if any man shall say that he will live thereby, He will make him to want bread." 2. "As for the nobleman who possesseth abundance of goods, he may act according to his own dictates; and he may do with himself that which he pleaseth; if he will do nothing at all, that also is as he pleaseth. The nobleman by merely stretching out his hand doeth that which mankind (_or_ a person) cannot attain to; but inasmuch as the eating of bread is according to the plan of God, this cannot be gainsaid." 3. "If thou hast ground to till, labour in the field which God hath given thee; rather than fill thy mouth with that which belongeth to thy neighbours it is better to terrify him that hath possessions [to give them unto thee]." 4. "If thou abasest thyself in the service of a perfect man, thy conduct shall be fair before God." 5. "If thou wouldst be a wise man, make thou thy son to be pleasing unto God." 6. "Satisfy those who depend upon thee as far as thou art able so to do; this should be done by those whom God hath favoured." 7. "If, having been of no account, thou hast become great; and if, having been poor, thou hast become rich; and if thou hast become governor of the city, be not hard-hearted on account of thy advancement, because thou hast become merely the guardian of the things which God hath provided." 8. "What is loved of God is obedience; God hateth disobedience." 9. "Verily a good son is of the gifts of God." [Footnote: The text was published by Prisse d'Avennes, entitled _Facsimile d'un papyrus égyptien en caractères hieratiques_, Paris, 1847. For a translation of the whole work, see Virey, _études sur le Papyrus Prisse_, Paris, 1887.]