No fact is better authenticated by sacred and profane history, than the idea that the ancient heathens borrowed many things in their system of worship from the Hebrew religion, and then metamorphosed it over to suit their own carnal notions and tastes. Lately while looking over "Horne's Introduction," a most valuable work for the Bible student, I have been very much confirmed in this position. For the benefit of Bible readers, I will mention a few circumstances which show that the old heathens did pilfer their belief very much from our religion. And I will first remark that the names given to the heathen deities are in many cases altered from the titles of the God of our Hebrew fathers.
The heathen god Jupiter, or Jove, gets his name very plainly from the Hebrews' God, Jehovah.
Vulcan, another of their deities, receives his name from the well-known Bible character, "Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron." Gen. iv, 22. Vulcan, among his worshipers, was the god who presided over fire, and was the patron of all who worked in iron and metals. He was represented by some covered with sweat, and blowing with his nervous arm the fires of his forge. By others, as lame and deformed, holding a hammer, raised in the air, ready149to strike, while with the other hand he turns with his pincers a thunderbolt on his anvil.
The formation of man in the moral image of God. This was the origin of the fabled Golden Age among the heathen, which is extravagantly described by their poets, and may also be distinctly traced in the legends of the Scythian forefathers, and in the age of Perfection among the Hindoos.
In the classical story of the Garden of Hesperides, we may discover a tradition of the Mosaical Paradise.
The Bible account of the Fall of Man and Angels, is the probable origin of the old heathen tradition of the Titans and Giants invading heaven.
The disobedience of Eve is plainly alluded to in the legend of Pandora, who, among the heathens was regarded as the first woman. They say the god Jupiter gave her a box in which were enclosed all human woes, and when she opened it, contrary to the command of the gods, disease and every calamity immediately overspread the face of the whole earth.
The serpent form, assumed by the Tempter in seducing Eve, has been handed down in the traditions of the most ancient nations, particularly the Peruvians, Hindoos, Egyptians, Greeks, and Goths.
The acknowledgment of the necessity of an Atonement for sin, may be inferred from the animal sacrifices of the heathen, which custom they undoubtedly borrowed from our Jewish forefathers.
The heathens had a tradition concerning the primeval chaotic state of the world, as Moses tells us in the first chapter of the Bible, and the formation of all things by the Infinite One. This was true, especially of the Chaldeans, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Chinese, Hindoos, and old Greeks.
The heathen writers borrowed images from the accounts mentioned in the Scriptures. Such are the representations of their deities being veiled in the clouds, together with other particulars. Many of the occurrences mentioned in the Old Testament have been the foundation of monstrous stories among the ancients.
The story of Iphigenia being sacrificed by her father Agamemnon, was evidently taken from the circumstance of Jephthah's devoting his daughter.
The accounts of Scylla having cut off the purple lock of her father, Nisus, and giving it to his enemy Minos, is in all probability taken from the history of Samson and his treacherous Delilah.
Herodotus, who lived nearly five hundred years before Christ, relates the departure of the sun four times from its course, which he very naturally borrowed from events which transpired in the times of Joshua and Hezekiah.
The ancient Egyptians for a long time had a custom of marking, once a year, their houses, sheep, trees and lands with red, which of course was nothing but a pagan perpetuation of the Jewish Passover.
The account of the flood is also preserved by many heathen historians, but colored over and amplified as their fanciful tastes suggested. Berosus, a Chaldean priest and historian who lived more than two thousand years since, says: "That very anciently the gods being offended at the wickedness of the human race, foretold to Xisuthrus that they intended to destroy the world by a deluge. Xisuthrus immediately built a ship of great dimensions, and into it took his family and a multitude of creatures. The flood then came, and the vessel sailed off and finally struck the ground on the top of a great mountain." If we only substitute the word Noah for Xisuthrus, we shall find that the old Chaldean priest has given us quite a tolerable description of the flood.
The translation of Enoch may be traced in the Grecian fables of the translation of their heroes and demi-gods, particularly of Hesperus and Astræa; and in the translation of Dhruva among the Hindoos, of Buddha among the Ceylonese, and of Xaca among the Calmucks of Simeria.
And finally, the offerings even of the North American Indians bear a great resemblance, many of them, to those of the old Israelites. The slaying of the Paschal Lamb is undoubtedly commemorated by the red men in their annual Feast of the White Dog. The poor Indian also brings an offering of his corn and scanty vegetables to the Great Spirit, as the Jews offered the first fruits of their lands unto the Lord. There are also many other points of close resemblance in the worship of the Indians and the Jews, but we forbear to speak further on these points now.
The foregoing facts, candidly considered, form an argument in favor of the Christian religion which the captious sceptic will find no easy matter to overthrow.