According to Josephus, the celebrated Jewish historian", our first father Adam, was instructed in Astrology by divine inspiration" Adam taught it to his posterity; for it appears that Seth was so excellent a proficient therein, "that foreseeing the flood, and the destruction of the world thereby, he engraved the fundamental principles of his art, in hieroglyphical emblems, for the benefit of after ages, on two pillars of brick and stone". Josephus affirms, that "he saw himself that of stone to remain in Syria in his own time:" and in the 3rd chapter of his first book, he says, that " man lived so long before the flood, to learn the arts and sciences, especially naming Astrology and Geometry", and in the same work he states, that Abraham, "having learned the art in Chaldea, when he sojourned into Egypt, he taught the Egyptians the knowledge of Arithmetic and Astrology".

The great sir Isaac Newton has the following remarks in regard to the origin of Astrology. " After the study of Astronomy was set on foot for the use of navigation, and the Egyptians, by the heliacal rising! and settings of the stars, had determined the length of the solar year, and by other observations had fixed the solstices, and fanned the fixed stars into asterisms, all which was done in the reigns of Amnion, Sesae, Ores, and Memnon, about a thousand years before Christ! Nicepsos, king of Sais, by the assistance of a priest of Egypt, invented Astrology; grounding it en the aspects of the planets, and after the Ethiopians had invaded Egypt, those Egyptians who fled from him to Babylon, carried thither the study of Astronomy and Astrology. And so says Diodorus, " the Chaldeans in Babylon, being colonies of the Egyptians, became famous for Astrology, having learnt it from the priests of Egypt"

The eastern nations have ever been famous for their skill in these abstruse sciences, which in those countries have always served as a ruling principle for the public administration of the state. It is true that as Astrology is practised in those despotic countries, it is liable to very great abuse; and in too many instances has led the way to fanaticism and imposition. But these considerations should have no real weight with the character of the science in general, since the most meritorious of discoveries, the most pure theories of an abstract nature, are liable to the same objection; which in fact will always be the case, where the fallibility of human nature is concerned. According to the oriental records, the birth of Astrology is confounded with the epocha, of the creation of the world. We are informed by their historians, that the son of Misraim, Naorawousoh, was the first Egyptian prince, and the first, of the magicians who excelled in Astrology and (as they never fail to add) enchantment.

Retiring into Egypt with his family, consisting of eighty persons, he settled on the banks of the hill, built Essous, the most ancient of the Egyptian cities, and commenced the first dynasty of the Miseraimian princes, who were stated to be cabalists, diviners, and eminently skilful in the mystic arts. The most celebrated of these were Naerasch, who according to oriental mythology, was the first who represented in figures and images, the twelve signs of the zodiac. Gharnak, who had the folly to publish these mysterious secrets, till then concealed by his family. Khasslim, author of the nilometer. Hersall, who devoted himself to the worship of idols. Sehlouk, who worshipped fire; Sourid, bis son, who erected the first pyramids, and who is also considered as the inventor of that wonderful mirror, which the ancient oriental poets have so much celebrated in their verses: and Firawnn, or Pharoah, the last prince of that dynasty, whose name was afterwards attributed to the most iniquitous kings of Egypt.

Terrified by the predictions and menaces of Noah, this prince endeavoured to destroy that prophet, believing that he should prevent, by his death, the threatened deluge. It, however, destroyed him and his whole family. Efilimoun alone, chief Astrologer of his time, had the good fortune to save himself from that general desolation. Admonished in a dream, to seek refuge in the ark of Noak, he flew to Babylon, where he acknowledged the divine mission of that prophet, embraced the dogma of the unity of God, and was admitted into the ark with all his family. Forming an alliance with Noah's family, he became the ancestor of twenty-six kings of the second dynasty, and built the city of Memphis, Misraim, his descendant, was the depositary of all the magical and Astrological secrets of the first ages of the world. All bis descendants are said also to have excelled in these sciences, and in others which the enemies of Astrology have endeavoured to link with the science of the stars From that prince was descended the celebrated Elboud-Schir, who surpassed all his ancestors in the great art of Cabal; and Adine, his son, under whose reign the noted magicians Haroutu and Marouth filled the east with their reputation: they were considered " as two demons escaped from hell". Under this reign the celebrated magician Nedoure, established the worship of the great idol of the sun.

This person, to whom tradition attributes a thousand astonishing and incredible events, was the author of that inexhaustible vase, which is mentioned by all the oriental poets.

Of his successors, they who were most distinguished in these mysterious sciences, were Schedad, whom the orientals consider as the first astronomer, and the father of the signs and celestial themes, or houses of heaven, which he formed from viewing the stars and constellations. Mennoawousch, the first who published these mysteries, and who is said to have circulated throughout Egypt several thousand copies of his work. He was said also to have been the inventor of warm baths; the institute* of the twelve religious feasts, in honor of the twelve signs of the zodiac; and is said, by his own single genius, to have discovered the secrets of the philosopher's stone: whereby the orientals affirm he acquired "an immense treasure", by converting simple metals into gold and silver. Menawousch, who is said to have made an ox, the object of his adoration. When afflicted by a severe malady, he heard a voice announcing his death, except he should have recourse to the benign influence of that animal. Under his reign, Egypt was desolated by the Arabians, who took this opportunity of learning from the Egyptians the Theurgie sciences, by which they afterwards acquired such distinguished reputation.