dead to the world, they desire only a blessed immortal existence. They therefore, from choice, appoint their sons, their daughters, or some other relatives or friends, as their heirs; and while yet living bequeath to them the free possession of their goods. For it behoves those, they think, who are enriched with spiritual wealth to leave for such as are not enlightened the riches of this blind world. Having thus disengaged themselves of the toils of wealth, and having no other snares to entice them, they flee without a look behind, bidding farewel to brothers, sons, parents, and wives; to numerous relations and affectionate companions; to the country in which they were born and educated, and which long familiarity, by the most powerful ties, had endeared to their hearts. But they do not remove to another city, as they seek true freedom, the freedom of the mind; and not like ill-fated slaves, a mere change of masters. For every town, even the best regulated, abounds with commotions, crimes, and disorders, intolerable to him who has once felt the charms of wisdom. They fix their habitations on the outside of cities, in gardens and villages, seeking retirement, not, I conceive, from religious hatred of mankind, but to avoid a pernicious intercourse with those who differ from them in opinions and manners."

"This society now prevails throughout the ha

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bitable globe, the members of it thinking it their duty to share with Greeks and barbarians, the consummate blessing which themselves enjoy. But it has prevailed more particularly in the provinces of Egypt, and about Alexandria. But the most distinguished of the Therapeutæ have collected from every quarter in a spot. beyond the lake Maria. This they consider as their native place, having preferred it as a situation exceedingly commodious, on account of its security and salubriousness. The houses, in which they assemble, are built in a very humble manner, being intended only for shelter from the inclemencies of heat and cold, and they are placed not contiguous as in towns (for too close a proximity would be disagreeable to men who prefer seclusion), nor yet at so great a distance as to preclude that communion, in which the members delight, or mutual assistance in case of being attacked by thieves."

"In each habitation is a sacred apartment called a sanctuary or monastery, in which, when alone, they perform the mysteries of a holy life. Into this place they bring neither meat nor drink, nor any article necessary for the body, but only the laws, the divinely inspired oracles of the prophets, the psalms, with such other writings as enlarge their knowledge, and perfect their piety. The idea of God is ever present to their thoughts;

so that their imagination dwells, even in sleep, upon the beauty of his attributes. Many of them, therefore, deliver magnificent visions, suggested by their sacred philosophy in the hours of repose."

"They are accustomed to pray each day in the morning and in the evening, asking, at the rising sun, a blessing on the day, that true blessing, which illumines the mind with heavenly light; and at its setting, that their souls, now exonerated from the load of sensual objects, and encompassed with their own enclosure, as with the silence and solemnity of a sacred court, might investigate the truth. They spend the whole interval, from morning to evening, in religious exercises, reading the holy Scriptures, and unfolding their symbolical meaning, according to that mode of interpretation, which they have derived from their fathers. For the words, they conceive, though expressing a literal sense, convey also a figurative sense, addressed to the understanding. They possess also the commentaries of those sages who, being the founders of the sect, left behind them numerous monuments of the allegorical style. These they use as models of allegory and composition; so that they not only employ themselves in mystic contemplation, but compose, in honour of God, psalms and

hymns, in all the variety of measures which the solemnity of religion admits."

"For six days each man continues in his separate apartment, without passing the threshold or casting a look on things without. On the seventh day, having collected into one assembly, they seat themselves, with a grave deportment, according to their age. Then one of the elders, more skilful than the rest, addresses them with grave looks, and a voice expressive of sedateness, intelligence, and thought; being not desirous to display powers of language, like the orators and sophists of the day, but to express moral truths, thoroughly digested, with a sobriety and accuracy that might not only glide over the ear, but reach the heart, and remain lasting principles of conduct."

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They regard temperance as the foundation on which the other virtues can be raised in the soul. No one eats or drinks until the sun sets; as they think the pursuit of wisdom the only meet employment of the day, and the mere support of the body the suitable work of darkness. Hence they devote to the former all the hours of light, and to the latter but a small portion of the night. Some, in whom the thirst of knowledge predominates, do not, till after three days' abstinence, feel the necessity of support, while a few

so feed on the rich and delicate viands, which wisdom supplies, as to abstain double that time, and then barely taste refreshment, being accustomed, as they say of the grasshopper, to feed on air, whose song, it is presumed, assuages the pain of hunger. Looking upon the Sabbath, in the highest sense a sacred festival, they deem it worthy of extraordinary reverence; in which, after providing for the soul, they alleviate the body, and release withal the beasts of burden from their daily labours. They eat no food more costly than coarse bread, seasoned with salt, to which the more delicate add hyssop in the room of meat; and drink no liquid, but the clear water of the stream. Thus they satisfy hunger and thirst, those imperious appetites to which nature has subjected the race of man, offering them no farther gratification than what is merely necessary to support life. For they eat only so as not to hunger, and drink that they might not be thirsty, avoiding plenitude as prejudicial both to the body and to the mind. Their clothing, like their houses, is mean and simple, as intended only to protect them from the extremes of cold and heat. Their chief object is to practise humility, being convinced, that as falsehood is the root of pride, freedom from pride is the offspring of truth. Falsehood and truth, indeed, they regard as two copious fountains, from the former of which flow

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