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129 THE ARISTÆUS—EURYDIKÉ FABLE EXPLAINED.

{{Page|129|THE ARISTÆUS—EURYDIKÉ FABLE EXPLAINED.}}

{{Style P-No indent|There is another hypothesis possible, which is that Zero-Ishtar was the high priest of the Chaldean worship, or Magian hierophant. When the Aryans of Persia, under Darius Hystaspes, overthrew the Magian Gomates, and {{Style S-Italic|restored}} the Masdean worship, there ensued an amalgamation by which the Magian Zoro-astar became the Zara-tushra of the {{Style S-Italic|Vendidad.}} This was not acceptable to the other Aryans, who adopted the Vedic religion as distinguished from that of {{Style S-Italic|Avesta.}} But this is but an hypothesis.}}

{{Style P-No indent|There is another hypothesis possible, which is that Zero-Ishtar was the high priest of the Chaldean worship, or Magian hierophant. When the Aryans of Persia, under Darius Hystaspes, overthrew the Magian Gomates, and {{Style S-Italic|restored}} the Masdean worship, there ensued an amalgamation by which the Magian Zoro-astar became the Zara-tushra of the {{Style S-Italic|Vendidad.}} This was not acceptable to the other Aryans, who adopted the Vedic religion as distinguished from that of {{Style S-Italic|Avesta.}} But this is but an hypothesis.}}

{{Style P-No indent|another allegory to show that the gross and popular rites are always more welcome than divine but simple truth, and proves the great difference that must have existed between the esoteric and the popular worship. As the poems of both Orpheus and Musæus were said to have been lost since the earliest ages, so that neither Plato nor Aristotle recognized anything authentic in the poems extant in their time, it is difficult to say with precision what constituted their peculiar rites. Still we have the oral tradition, and every inference to draw therefrom; and this tradition points to Orpheus as having brought his doctrines from India. As one whose religion was that of the oldest Magians—hence, that to which belonged the initiates of all countries, beginning with Moses, the “sons of the Prophets,” and the ascetic {{Style S-Italic|nazars}} (who must not be confounded with those against whom thundered Hosea and other prophets) to the Essenes. This latter sect were Pythagoreans before they rather degenerated, than became perfected in their system by the Buddhist missionaries, whom Pliny tells us established themselves on the shores of the Dead Sea, ages before his time, “{{Style S-Italic|per sæculorum millia.”}} But if, on the one hand, these Buddhist monks were the first to establish monastic communities and inculcate the strict observance of dogmatic conventual rule, on the other they were also the first to enforce and popularize those stern virtues so exemplified by Sakya-muni, and which were previously exercised only in isolated cases of well-known philosophers and their followers; virtues preached two or three centuries later by Jesus, practiced by a few Christian ascetics, and gradually abandoned, and even entirely forgotten by the Christian Church.}}

{{Style P-No indent|another allegory to show that the gross and popular rites are always more welcome than divine but simple truth, and proves the great difference that must have existed between the esoteric and the popular worship. As the poems of both Orpheus and Musæus were said to have been lost since the earliest ages, so that neither Plato nor Aristotle recognized anything authentic in the poems extant in their time, it is difficult to say with precision what constituted their peculiar rites. Still we have the oral tradition, and every inference to draw therefrom; and this tradition points to Orpheus as having brought his doctrines from India. As one whose religion was that of the oldest Magians—hence, that to which belonged the initiates of all countries, beginning with Moses, the “sons of the Prophets,” and the ascetic {{Style S-Italic|nazars}} (who must not be confounded with those against whom thundered Hosea and other prophets) to the Essenes. This latter sect were Pythagoreans before they rather degenerated, than became perfected in their system by the Buddhist missionaries, whom Pliny tells us established themselves on the shores of the Dead Sea, ages before his time, “{{Style S-Italic|per sæculorum millia.”}} But if, on the one hand, these Buddhist monks were the first to establish monastic communities and inculcate the strict observance of dogmatic conventual rule, on the other they were also the first to enforce and popularize those stern virtues so exemplified by Sakya-muni, and which were previously exercised only in isolated cases of well-known philosophers and their followers; virtues preached two or three centuries later by Jesus, practiced by a few Christian ascetics, and gradually abandoned, and even entirely forgotten by the Christian Church.}}

The {{Style S-Italic|initiated}} nazars had ever held to this rule, which had to be followed before them by the adepts of every age; and the disciples of John were but a dissenting branch of the Essenes. Therefore, we cannot well confound them with all the nazars spoken of in the {{Style S-Italic|Old Testament,}} and who are accused by Hosea with having separated or consecrated themselves to {{Style S-Italic|Bosheth;}} {{Style S-Hebrew|בשת}} (see Hebrew text) which implied the greatest possible abomination. To infer, as some critics and theologians do, that it means to separate one’s self to {{Style S-Italic|chastity}} or continence, is either to advisedly pervert the true meaning, or to be totally ignorant of the Hebrew language. The eleventh verse of the first chapter of Micah half explains the word in its veiled translation: “Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, etc.,” and in the original text the word is {{Style S-Italic|Bosheth.}} Certainly neither Baal, nor Iahoh Kadosh, with his {{Style S-Italic|Kadeshim,}} was a god of ascetic virtue, albeit the {{Style S-Italic|Septuaginta terms them, as well as the galli—the perfected priests—tetelesmevnou”,the initiated and the consecrated.^{[#fn1112 1112]}}}

The {{Style S-Italic|initiated}} nazars had ever held to this rule, which had to be followed before them by the adepts of every age; and the disciples of John were but a dissenting branch of the Essenes. Therefore, we cannot well confound them with all the nazars spoken of in the {{Style S-Italic|Old Testament,}} and who are accused by Hosea with having separated or consecrated themselves to {{Style S-Italic|Bosheth;}} {{Style S-Hebrew|בשת}} (see Hebrew text) which implied the greatest possible abomination. To infer, as some critics and theologians do, that it means to separate one’s self to ''chastity'' or continence, is either to advisedly pervert the true meaning, or to be totally ignorant of the Hebrew language. The eleventh verse of the first chapter of Micah half explains the word in its veiled translation: “Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, etc.,” and in the original text the word is {{Style S-Italic|Bosheth.}} Certainly neither Baal, nor Iahoh Kadosh, with his {{Style S-Italic|Kadeshim,}} was a god of ascetic virtue, albeit the ''Septuaginta'' terms them, as well as the ''galli''—the perfected priests—''τετελεσμένους'',the ''initiated'' and the ''consecrated''.{{Footnote mark|*|fn1112}}

[#fn1112anc 1112]. See “Movers,” p. 683.

{{Footnote return|*|fn1112}} See “Movers,” p. 683.

131 THE NAZARS AND NAZIREATES.

{{Page|131|THE NAZARS AND NAZIREATES.}}

The great {{Style S-Italic|Sod}} of the {{Style S-Italic|Kadeshim,}} translated in {{Style S-Italic|Psalm}} lxxxix. 7, by “assembly of the saints,” was anything but a mystery of the “{{Style S-Italic|sanctified”}} in the sense given to the latter word by Webster.

{{Style P-No indent|The great {{Style S-Italic|Sod}} of the {{Style S-Italic|Kadeshim,}} translated in {{Style S-Italic|Psalm}} lxxxix. 7, by “assembly of the saints,” was anything but a mystery of the “''sanctified''” in the sense given to the latter word by Webster.}}

The Nazireate sect existed long before the laws of Moses, and originated among people most inimical to the “chosen” ones of Israel, viz., the people of Galilee, the ancient {{Style S-Italic|olla-podrida}} of idolatrous nations, where was built Nazara, the present Nazareth. It is in Nazara that the ancient Nazoria or Nazireates held their “Mysteries of Life” or “assemblies,” as the word now stands in the translation,^{[#fn1113 1113]} which were but the secret mysteries of initiation,^{[#fn1114 1114]} utterly distinct in their practical form from the popular Mysteries which were held at Byblus in honor of Adonis. While the true {{Style S-Italic|initiates}} of the ostracised Galilee were worshipping the true God and enjoying transcendent visions, what were the “chosen” ones about? Ezekiel tells it to us (chap. viii) when, in describing what he saw, he says that the {{Style S-Italic|form}} of a hand took him by a lock of his head and transported him from Chaldea unto Jerusalem. “And there stood seventy men of the senators of the house of Israel. . . . ‘Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients . . . do in the dark?’” inquires the “Lord.” “At the door of the house of the Lord . . . behold there sat women weeping for Tammuz” (Adonis). We really cannot suppose that the Pagans have ever surpassed the “chosen” people in certain shameful {{Style S-Italic|abominations}} of which their own prophets accuse them so profusely. To admit this truth, one hardly needs even to be a Hebrew scholar; let him read the {{Style S-Italic|Bible}} in English and meditate over the language of the “holy” prophets.

The Nazireate sect existed long before the laws of Moses, and originated among people most inimical to the “chosen” ones of Israel, viz., the people of Galilee, the ancient {{Style S-Italic|olla-podrida}} of idolatrous nations, where was built Nazara, the present Nazareth. It is in Nazara that the ancient Nazoria or Nazireates held their “Mysteries of Life” or “assemblies,” as the word now stands in the translation,{{Footnote mark|*|fn1113}} which were but the secret mysteries of initiation,{{Footnote mark|†|fn1114}} utterly distinct in their practical form from the popular Mysteries which were held at Byblus in honor of Adonis. While the true {{Style S-Italic|initiates}} of the ostracised Galilee were worshipping the true God and enjoying transcendent visions, what were the “chosen” ones about? Ezekiel tells it to us (chap. viii) when, in describing what he saw, he says that the {{Style S-Italic|form}} of a hand took him by a lock of his head and transported him from Chaldea unto Jerusalem. “And there stood seventy men of the senators of the house of Israel. . . . ‘Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients . . . do in the dark?’” inquires the “Lord.” “At the door of the house of the Lord . . . behold there sat women weeping for Tammuz” (Adonis). We really cannot suppose that the Pagans have ever surpassed the “chosen” people in certain shameful {{Style S-Italic|abominations}} of which their own prophets accuse them so profusely. To admit this truth, one hardly needs even to be a Hebrew scholar; let him read the {{Style S-Italic|Bible}} in English and meditate over the language of the “holy” prophets.

This accounts for the hatred of the later Nazarenes for the orthodox Jews—followers of the {{Style S-Italic|exoteric}} Mosaic Law—who are ever taunted by this sect with being the worshippers of Iurbo-Adunai, or Lord Bacchus. Passing under the disguise of {{Style S-Italic|Adoni-Iachoh}} (original text, {{Style S-Italic|Isaiah}} lxi{{Style S-Italic|.}} 1), Iahoh and Lord Sabaoth, the Baal-Adonis, or Bacchus, worshipped in the groves and {{Style S-Italic|public sods}} or Mysteries, under the polishing hand of Ezra becomes finally the later-vowelled Adonai of the Massorah—the One and Supreme God of the Christians!

This accounts for the hatred of the later Nazarenes for the orthodox Jews—followers of the {{Style S-Italic|exoteric}} Mosaic Law—who are ever taunted by this sect with being the worshippers of Iurbo-Adunai, or Lord Bacchus. Passing under the disguise of {{Style S-Italic|Adoni-Iachoh}} (original text, {{Style S-Italic|Isaiah}} lxi{{Style S-Italic|.}} 1), Iahoh and Lord Sabaoth, the Baal-Adonis, or Bacchus, worshipped in the groves and {{Style S-Italic|public sods}} or Mysteries, under the polishing hand of Ezra becomes finally the later-vowelled Adonai of the Massorah—the One and Supreme God of the Christians!

“Thou shalt not worship the Sun who is named Adunai,” says the {{Style S-Italic|Codex}} of the Nazarenes; “whose name is also {{Style S-Italic|Kadush^{[#fn1115 1115]}}} and El-El. This Adunai will elect to himself a nation and congregate {{Style S-Italic|in crowds}} (his worship will be exoteric) . . . Jerusalem will become the refuge and city of the {{Style S-Italic|Abortive,}} who shall perfect themselves (circumcise) with a sword . . . and shall adore Adunai.”^{[#fn1116 1116]}

“Thou shalt not worship the Sun who is named Adunai,” says the {{Style S-Italic|Codex}} of the Nazarenes; “whose name is also ''Kadush''{{Footnote mark|‡|fn1115}} and El-El. This Adunai will elect to himself a nation and congregate {{Style S-Italic|in crowds}} (his worship will be exoteric) . . . Jerusalem will become the refuge and city of the {{Style S-Italic|Abortive,}} who shall perfect themselves (circumcise) with a sword . . . and shall adore Adunai.”{{Footnote mark|§|fn1116}}

[#fn1113anc 1113]. “Codex Nazaræus,” ii., 305.

{{Footnote return|*|fn1113}} “Codex Nazaræus,” ii., 305.

[#fn1114anc 1114]. See Lucian: “De Syria Dea.”

{{Footnote return|†|fn1114}} See Lucian: “De Syria Dea.”

[#fn1115anc 1115]. See Psalm lxxxix. 18.

{{Footnote return|‡|fn1115}} See Psalm lxxxix. 18.

[#fn1116anc 1116]. “Codex Nazaræus,” i. 47.

{{Footnote return|§|fn1116}} “Codex Nazaræus,” i. 47.

132 ISIS UNVEILED.

132 ISIS UNVEILED.