The American Journal of Science and Arts Volume 60 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1835 edition. Excerpt: ...for determining whether the variation is increasing or diminishing, and at what rate. Th'e AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &c. Art. I.--Remarks on the HoJatry and Philosophy of the Zali-ans; by John W. Draper, of Christiansville, Mecklenburg Co., Va. There are several questions of chronological and philosophical importance, which would receive much light from a thorough development of the religion and philosophy of some eastern nations. Any one who is acquainted with Asiatic literature, cannot have failed to observe, that although a claim to extravagant antiquity cannot fairly be supported, yet we may safely allow to many others, as well as to the Chaldee priests, considerable acquaintance with science. To deduce some of their philosophical opinions, from such fragments as remain of their idolatry and religion, is the object of this paper. From the discourses of Sir W. Jones, the united testimony of the ancients, and from recent writings of oriental scholars, we may safely conclude, that the Iranians were the first idolaters of Asia, who forgetting the pure religion of their forefathers, indulged in the mythic reveries of astronomy, and joined them to the simple maxims of life. The Alexandrine Chronicle states, that Ninus first taught the Assyrians idolatrous worship. The name under which these first apostates went, was Tsabians, Zabians, or Sabeans.f The Zabians were the first corruptors of the true religion, and long before the time when the Jewish historians placed the birth of their ancestor Abraham, the Chaldeans had multiplied the invisible Deity, into Lords many, and Gods many.J That Zabianism was the first spe-- Chron. Alex. p. 64. t Prideaux Conn. Vol. I. p. 178. Maimonides Moreh Nevochim. t Shuckford's Conn. Vol. I. Ch. 5. Vol....