The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
That _Canaan_ also and _Egypt_ were well peopled far within this period,
besides their plantation by _Canaan_ and _Misraim_, appeareth from the
history of _Abraham_, who in less then 400 years after the Flood,
journied from _Mesopotamia_ unto _Canaan_ and _Egypt_, both which he
found well peopled and policied into Kingdoms: wherein also in 430
years, from threescore and ten persons which came with _Jacob_ into
_Egypt_, he became a mighty Nation; for it is said, at their departure,
there journeyed from _Rhamesis_ to _Succoth_ about six hundred thousand
on foot, that were men, besides children. Now how populous the land from
whence they came was, may be collected not only from their ability in
commanding such subjections and mighty powers under them, but from the
several accounts of that Kingdom delivered by _Herodotus_. And how soon
it was peopled, is evidenced from the pillar of their King _Osyris_,
with this inscription in _Diodorus_; _Mihi pater est Saturnus deorum
junior, sum vero Osyris rex qui totum peragravi orbem usq; ad Indorum
fines, ad eos quoq; sum profectus qui septentrioni subjacent usq; ad
Istri fontes, et alias partes usq; ad Occanum._ [SN: _Who_ Osyris _and_
Saturnus Ægyptius _were_.] Now according unto the best determinations
_Osyris_ was _Misraim_, and _Saturnus Egyptius_ the same with _Cham_;
after whose name _Egypt_ is not only called in Scripture the laud of
_Ham_, but thus much is also testified by _Plutarch_; for in his
Treatise _de Osyride_, he delivereth that _Egypt_ was called _Chamia a
Chamo Noe filio_, that is from _Cham_ the son of _Noah_. And if
according to the consent of ancient Fathers, _Adam_ was buried in the
same place where Christ was crucified, that is Mount _Calvary_, the
first man ranged far before the Flood, and laid his bones many miles
from that place, where its presumed he received them. And this migration
was the greater, if as the text expresseth, he was cast out of the
East-side of Paradise to till the ground; and as the Position of the
Cherubines implieth, who were placed at the east end of the garden to
keep him from the tree of life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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