Of the Serpents in the Wilderness, and of the Brazen Serpent.

Thus much I thought proper to premise concerning the mystical serpent, and the reverence paid to it; as it may serve to illustrate some passages in the sacred history. For it is very certain, that the Israelites were tainted with the idolatry of the Egyptians during their residence among that people. The prophet Ezekiel mentions, that they committed whoredoms in Egypt: and God declares by the inouth of the same prophet, that they persevered in their evil practices after they had left that country. * But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Of these idols, one of the most ancient and most honoured, was the serpent. And it is probable, that the Israelites, upon account of this idolatry, were punished by the 'Saraphim, or

I Ezekiel, ch. xxiii. ver. 3. 3 Numbers, ch. xxi. ver. 6.

2 Ibid. ch. xx. ver. 8.

I should imagine, that the Cneph, or Caneph, and the Sar-eph, were of the same purport: and that they both denote Baixos, Basiliscus, or royal serpent.

I

fiery serpents; in consequence of which many were slain. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people; and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. As this sort of worship prevailed so much, it was very proper to punish those apostates who had lapsed into it, by the object of their adoration; at the same time to deter others from giving into it for the future. After this punishment had sufficiently taken place, it pleased God to order a brazen serpent to be made; and to be elevated upon a perch or standard; and he directed Moses to tell the people, that whoever looked up to that object should live. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

By this the people were taught, that their trust in Thermuthis, Agathodæmon, Hermes, or any serpentine divinity, was vain. All their resource was in another power; who was re

presented before them. But even to this emblem no adoration was to be paid. They were only to look upon it, and be saved. The miracle therefore was well calculated to affect the people before whom it was displayed; and with this we might rest satisfied. But it had certainly a farther allusion; and all the world is concerned in the happy consequences pointed out in this typical representation. It was undoubtedly an intimation of our being cleansed from all taint by our looking up to the person denoted under this emblem; and of our being preserved from utter death. It was not the design of providence to discover fully the meaning of these mysterious and wonderful works, which were exhibited in those days. But to those, who live in more enlightened times, the purport cannot be mistaken. Had it pleased God to have explained his meaning by his prophet upon the spot, I presume, that in express terms it would have amounted to this: "You have been devoted "to serpent-worship; and 1 punish you by "these very reptiles, which you have idly "adored. You have esteemed the serpent the " emblem of health, life, and divine wisdom; "and under this symbol you have looked up

"to an unknown power, stiled Thoth and Agathodæmon, the benign genius. For these "things you suffer. But I will shew you a

66

more just and salutary emblem, by which "health and life, as well as divine wisdom, are

signified. It is a type of the true Agatho"dæmon, that human divinity, the physician "of the soul; by whom these blessings are "one day to accrue. Behold that serpent

upon a perch, or cross; whoever looks up "to him, shall be saved from the present venom of the serpent, as well as from 'primeval infection. This is an emblem of that "benign power, that good genius, by whom "the world will be cured of every inherent " evil.”

Objection.

But it may be said,---Can we suppose, that the God of Israel would explain himself by the

This was the opinion of some of the fathers and particularly of Justin Martyr. Musnguor goe die THTH, as weεdny, τοτε, προέφην, εκηρυσσι (Μωσης) δι 8 καταλύειν μεν την δύναμιν τε Οφεως, τες και την παραβασιν ύπο το Αδαμ γενεσθαι ἐργασαμένε εκήρυσσε, σωτηρίαν δε τοις πιτευεσιν επί τέτον τον δια τε σημεία τετε (δοικνυμένον) τετ' εσι τον ταυρέσθαι μελλοντας απο των δηγματων τα οφέως άπερ εισιν αι κακαι gazes. x. T. λ. Dialog. cont. Tryph. § 94. p. 191. Some such word as divμevor seems to be wanting.

emblems of Egypt? I answer; most undoubt edly. The revealing of his mind by Egyptian symbols was like writing in the characers of that country. It was in a manner speaking their language; and therefore attended with great fitness and propriety. I have mentioned, that there was nothing reprehensible in the characteristics themselves. The only crime was in the misapplication. They had their meaning; and those who had any knowledge in the wisdom of the Egyptians, must have understood their immediate purport. This emblem therefore was very properly introduced.

The true Purport of the Emblem.

From the circumstances with which this curious history is attended, we may perceive, that, when the serpent was lifted up before the eyes of the Israelites, it was not intended merely as a sign and means of their recovery; but its salutary purport had a relation to the whole world. It was certainly an intimation of our being cleansed from all taint and impurity, and saved from final ruin. Our Saviour plainly speaks of it as a type of himself;