mes used as a mark of high honour. The Psalmist
repeatedly addresses God as his Rock, [274]the Rock of his refuge; the Rock
of his salvation. It is also used without a metaphor, for a title of
respect: but it seems then to have been differently expressed. The sacred
writers call that lordly people the Sidonians, as well as those of Tyre,
[275]Sarim. The name of Sarah was given to the wife of Abraham by way of
eminence; and signifies a [276]lady, or princess. It is continually to be
found in the composition of names, which relate to places, or persons,
esteemed sacred by the Amonians. We read of Serapis, Serapion, Serapammon:
also of Sarchon, and Sardon; which is a contraction for Sar-Adon. In Tobit
mention is made of [277]Sarchedonus; the same name as the former, but with
the eastern aspirate. The Sarim in Esther are taken notice of as persons of
high [278]honour: the same dignity seems to have been known among the
Philistim, by whom it was rendered [279]Sarna, or Sarana: hence came the
[280]Tyrian word Sarranus for any thing noble and splendid. In the prophet
Jeremiah are enumerated the titles of the chief princes, who attended
Nebuchadnezzar in his expedition against Judea. Among others he mentions
the [281]Sarsechim. This is a plural, compounded of Sar, and Sech, rendered
also Shec, a prince or governor. Sar-Sechim signifies the chief of the
princes and rulers. Rabshekah is nearly of the same purport: it signifies
the great prince; as by Rabsares is meant the chief [282]Eunuch; by Rabmag,
the chief of the Magi. Many places in Syria and Canaan have the term Sar in
composition; such as Sarabetha, Sariphaea, Sareptha. Sardis, the capital of
Croesus, was the city of Sar-Ades, the same as Atis, the Deity of the
country.

High [283]groves, or rather hills with woods of antient oaks, were named
Saron; because they were sacred to the Deity so called. Pliny takes notice
of the Saronian bay near Corinth, and of the oaks which grew near it.
[284]Portus Coenitis, Sinus Saronicus olim querno nemore redimitus; unde
nomen. Both the oaks and the place were denominated from the Deity Sar-On,
and Chan-Ait, by the Greeks rendered [Greek: Saron], and [Greek:
Koineitis], which are titles of nearly the same purport. Saron was
undoubtedly an antient God in Greece. [285]Lilius Gyraldus styles him Deus
Marinus; but he was, properly, the Sun. Diana, the sister of Apollo, is
named [286]Saronia: and there were Saronia sacra, together with a festi