Each member of the Egyptian
Pantheon presided over some special field of human interest or human
environment. To him, who had lived next to nature till her study had
become a worship, there were no flaws in her chronology, no
shortcomings or plethora. The earth responded to the skies; the waters
were in harmony with the earth, the harvests with all. There was unity
in the control over the universe and the hand that was powerful enough
to swing the moon was mighty enough to flood the Nile, was tender
enough to nourish the harvests, was wise enough to govern men. Where,
then, was any need of a superfluity of powers?
But behold, something had thrust a dread hand between the tender
ministrations of this other Thing and the benefits to men. By this
time it had reached the remotenesses of Egypt that it was the God of
the Hebrews. The young man arrived at this alternative in his
reasoning: There was a minister of good and another of evil--two powers
presiding over the earth,--or,--the sole minister was offended and had
deserted its charge, or had loosed upon Egypt the evil at its command.
Here Kenkenes paused. He could not arrive at any conclusion on the
matter or convince himself that he had not reasoned well.
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