Let us now proceed to the Eastern Nations. As the _Romans_ received the small Skill they had in the Sciences, from the _Greeks_; so the _Greeks_, receiv’d their chief Mystick Learning from the _Barbarians_: That is, from the _Ægyptians_, _Persians_, _Phœnicians_, and other Eastern Nations; for ’tis not only the Western, or Northern People, that they called _Barbarians_, but indeed, all Nations besides themselves. For that is commonly the Vanity of great Empires, to uncivilize, in a Manner, all the rest of the World; and to account all those People _barbarous_, that are not subject to their Dominion. These however, whom they called so, were the most ancient People, and had the first Learning that was ever heard of after the Flood. And amongst these, the _Ægyptians_ were as famous as any; whose Sentiments in this particular of the Conflagration, are well known. For _Plato_, who liv’d amongst them several Years, tells us in his _Timæus_, that it was the Doctrine of their Priests, that the fatal Catastrophes of the World, were by _Fire_ and _Water_. In like manner, the _Persians_ made their beloved God, _Fire_, at length to consume all Things that are capable of being consum’d: For that is said to have been the Doctrine of _Hydaspes_, one of their great _Magi_, or Wise Men. As to the _Phœnicians_, I suspect very much, that the _Stoicks_ had their Philosophy from them (_Just. Mar. Apol. 2._) and amongst other Things the Conflagration. We shall take Notice of that hereafter. But to comprehend the _Arabians_ also, and _Indians_, give me leave to reflect a little upon the Story of the _Phœnix_. A Story well known, and related by some ancient Authors, and is in short this: The _Phœnix_, they say, is a Bird in _Arabia_, _India_, and those Eastern Parts, single in her Kind, never more than one at a Time, and very long-lived; appearing only at the Expiration of the _Great Year_, as they call it: And when she makes herself a Nest of Spices, which being set on fire by the Sun, or some other secret Power, she hovers upon it, and consumes herself in the Flames. But, which is most wonderful, out of these Ashes riseth a second _Phœnix_, so that it is not so much a Death, as a Renovation. I do not doubt but the Story is a Fable, as to any such kind of Bird, single in her Species, living, and dying, and reviving in that Manner: But ’tis an Apologue, or a Fable with an Interpretation, and was intended as an _Emblem_ of the World; which, after a long Age, will be consum’d in the last Fire: And from its Ashes or Remains, will arise another World, or a new-form’d Heavens and Earth. This, I think, is the true Mystery of the _Phœnix_, under which Symbol the Eastern Nations preserv’d the Doctrine of the Conflagration, and Renovation of the World. They tell somewhat a like Story of the Eagle, soaring aloft so near the Sun, that by his Warmth and enlivening Rays, she renews her Age, and becomes young again. To this the _Psalmist_ is thought to allude, Psal. ciii. 5.