Classical. Theology.—Vi.

CLASSICAL . THEOLOGY . —VI .

MNBON , SATURDAY , J .-LVC ' -IRK 28 , 1800 . '

CERES AND AUGUST—( CONTINUED . ) A s a fountain in a desert , giving existence , nourishment , mid vigour to its little paradise of umbrageous palms , bananas , mossy grass , and sweet flowers ; and not the less inviting to its free and hospitable shelter the weary ancl dying who have sought it as thoir last hope and found it to be a sacred

spring—Janus , amid a -wilderness of paganism , stood alone in his symbolic character as significant of God ' s saving health and probation unto all nations , ancl the personification of God the Saviour and God the Prince of Peace . This

truly figurative language or symbolism of figures , has become to a certain extent generall y known through the interpretations of many of tho most esteemed ancient authors , some of whom ive may conclude must have been admitted into thc Janian or Bifronicm mysteries ivhich show , in one respect afc least , a Hebraic etymon ,- tho Jews indeed under many of their kings initiated heathens into their mysteries . Janus ,

however , described as Noah , will bring us at once to the point in accordance with the second era of Mason-craft . In the statue of Janus , are there any marks or significations ( inquires the reader ) indicative of his having been , a Freemason ? We say there are ; and in no other way can we account for that personage ; being the only purely wise and

holy hero of all Paynimdom . In . Freemasonry , doubtless , there is much hidden that can never be found by the outer world , however much similarity tho learned may discern , between somo of our offices , and the solemn ceremonies and sacrifices in honour of Janus , who , we may here remark , was well represented by Ovid and "Virgil as Bi / rons Sens , though

otherwise not always so visaged . The foundations of tho city of Rome were laid by . Romulus ( luring the festival of tlie Palicia , observed in honour of the goddess Pales . Near a beautiful fountain that suddenl y p . ] iviing U ) i there , the king built the temple of J ' anus . Some time after when the Sabinos , a nei ghbouring nation , under

the command of Tatius their king , favoured by Jnno arid a moonless ni ght , attempted an attack upon Romulus by surprise , and had so far succeeded in their approach , unobserved and in silence , as even to surround and enter the city , it is related that at the instigation of Venus , Janus commanded tho Naiades to loose the sources of his fountain ancl pour its

overwhelming torrents upon the midnight enemy in his K teal thy and assasin-Iike attack . While this unexpectedl y oi ml reception clamped the ardour and impeded the operations of the Sabinos , the Romans had time to arm . themselves ; the rush of waters then subsided , and streams of blood soon supplied their place ; a desperate conflict issued , which added to the renown of the victorious Romans . Thc

Sabines ceded their original possessions , and came to settle in Rome . The two kings , Romulus aud Tatius , having made , a league to that effect , ratified tlie conclusion of peace by setting up au image of Janus Bifrons , thereby intending significantly to confirm their equal sovereignty . This united sway continued about six . years , when , Tatius beiug

slain , Romulus reigned in sole possession of their united dominions . Numa afterwards built a temple , so constructed as to havo double doors , ancl dedicated it with solemn praise to Janus . When Falises , a city of Hetruria , was taken , there was found the image of Janus Quadrifrontis , or Janus with four f-iccs , whereupon the temple of this god was built

witli four gates . Let us here observe that there were two Rheas ; the one also called Ilia , was the daughter of Numitor , the king of the Albanes , and the son of Procas , that monarch in whose reign the two lovely and loving divinities , Pomona and Vertniniuis from Betvnria were introduced into Lathun . To his tivo

sons , this king left the joint possession of his throne . Such an arrangement ill suited with the ambitious notions pf Amulius . Ilia ' s uncle , who soon eoatrived the securing of his

brother ' s rights , and the succession of tho crown , as he thought , to his own descendants . Ho caused Numitor to be expelled from Alba , ancl decreed the murder of the youthful prince , his nephew , the brother of Ilia ; while the princess herself , in all her youthful beauty , he consecrated as one of the Yeslales Virginesor ] iriestesses in tho service of tho

, goddess Vesta , who were required in fulfilment of their vow to remain in perpetual celibacy , or suffer the punishment of being buried alive . What is considered strange by one country has often been attributed to ignorance by another . Among the ancients an immaculate conception was easily accounted for , and believed to be , as an occurrence , more

sacred than esteemed extraordinary ; tbeir Dli fndigetes , or demigods and heroes , were most of them acknowledged to have been of no other birth . Nor can we pass over tho fact that , in some parts of Asia to this clay there is believed to exist , as a natural event , an occasional incorporeal connexion and incomposite parturiency , ivhichin a religious point of

, view is honoured with reverence , and devoutly expected and besought . Ilia Rhea became the mother of twins , and proclaimed their paternity to be of the god Mars . The Pythoness and the Sybil were consulted and pronounced against Amulius ,

declaring his precautions to be m vain , and that the children were the sons of Mars , who would himself protect' his offspring . Ilia named them Romulus and Remus , who , as soon as they had reached the age of early manhood , under the directions of their martial father the god of war , raised the cry of usurpation , and gathered forces against their

treacherous uncle Amulius . He was vanquished , ancl they reinstated their ' ' grandfather , Numitor , on the throne , who was the eldest' brother to whom properly the right of succession appertained from .-. Eneas , the twelfth king of the Latins . Historically , the name of Numitor ' s only daughter was Sylvia ; but whether her tivo sons were

exposed in the forest to the tender mercies of wild beasts by their cruel uncle , till Faustulus the shepherd found the . little innocents , and privately fostered ancl educated them as his own ; whether also Romulus despatched a rival in the death of his . brother , are drifts unessential , if attainable , to our inquiry . Yet , stillsince iEneas was called the son . of

, Venus and Anchises , there are the same staple grounds to support the averment of Mars and Ilia being the parents of Romulus and Remus , who built the world ' s " eternal city , " in the year 7 o 3 , j .. c .

Although wo road in the pages of ancient history of events occurring in several reigns of the gods as kings upon earth , we must go to tho sacred volume for their actual names , when we shall find that real jiei'sonages , especially the patriarchs , have been gratuitously converted into gods by a prosopiacal assumption of their celestial titles ancl

denominations . Thus Adam , as tho father of mankind , is Janus , as the father of the deities ; and in like manner Noah , as the Biceps of Ovid , is described as a monarch who ruled over that part of Ital y formerly called Latiuin , at the . time Saturn fled from the anger of his son Jupiter . It is said Janus so kindly and hospitably received himthat as

, a grateful return and mark of esteem , ho endowed him with the rarest powers of wisdom ancl prudence , through which ho became associated in the government . We havo no doubt that . Janus received Saturn in a most friendl y manner ; but after all there is but the combination of similar events —what is said of the one has been said of the other .

Their reign is made the consummation of that remarkable period , when contentment , relig ion , and tranquillit y breathed , united , and lived together on the earth , which brought forth her fruits consequently in abundance ; and there was peace ancl prosperity , and a good will among all mon , at least " No fences parted fields ; no marks , nor hounds , of liti

Distinguished acres gious grounds , " » Nee signare quidem aut partiji limits canipum fna enV ' -r-Georg . 1 . J , * ' .