OF SERPENTS. 169 



B u T if this Was the Cafe, could flie be fo properly ^^id to be 

 tempted by another, as to tempt herfelf ? He adds, the Curfe of 

 the Serpent is not only to go upon its Bread, but, afiJ thou jjjak 

 go upon thy Belly, q. d. " Since Pleafure was thy Deiire, let the 

 *' Pleafure of the Earth enter into it. The Belly, fays the Allego- 

 c< fir^gy^ is the Receptacle of mofl Pleafures of the Animal Kind." 

 Creatures that go upon four Feet, or more, are deem*d impure ; 

 and fuch is he, who is a Lover of terrene Pleafures -, fuch a Per- 

 fon may be faid, always to go upon his Belly, becaufe he fludies 

 nothing more than its Gratification. Pleafure indeed, is attended 

 with a Train of Allurements and Charms. 'Tarquin^ violent Pur- 

 fuit of forbidden Pleafure, terminated, not only in the Ruin of 

 his Houfe, but Extirpation of Monarchy : Crcefus King oihydia 

 being conquer'd by Cyrus King of Perjia, gave the Conqueror this 

 Advice, If you would have the Lydians be your obedient Slaves, 

 make them Slaves to Pleafure. 



Nor is Philo alone in making the Serpent a Symbol of Plea- 

 fure, for Maimonides and others expound thofe hiftorical Paffages 

 in the fame manner ; afldng. Why fhould that Serpent be call'd a 

 fubtle Beaft, if it were not in a figurative Senfe ? In favour of 

 this Expofition, he quotes feveral Pafiages out of the Prophets, 

 that are allow'd to be intirely allegorical * ; and then adds, that 

 in Mofess journal of the Creation^ all things therein are not to be 

 underftood literally -f*. One of the moft learned Fathers feems 

 inclined to this Philonick Interpretation of Mofes J. It is obferva- 

 ble, that in reality, 'twas not the Pleafure of Rating which 

 tempted the Woman, but an anxious De/ire of greater Wifdom -, 

 which fhews a more refined Tafte in Eve, and overthrows the 

 Hypothefis of Philo and Clemens. 



Some Rabbinical Writers fay, the Devil that deluded the Wo- 

 man, came mounted upon a Serpent, in Bulk equal to a Camel, 

 and known by the Name Sammael, an Evil Angel ^ called alfo by 

 them, the Angel of the Dead, Prince of the aerial Region, and 

 Chief of the Demons. Other Rabbles look upon him as the 

 Prince of Angels -, and believe, he is to prefide at the lafl Judg- 

 ment J for which Reafon, they make him Offerings on the Day 



Z of 



* More Nevochim, cap. xxix. f Ibid. p. 2(5^, ScZfX- 



X Clew. Alexavdrinusy who flourifli'd in the lecond Age. 04>'« aAA-iyofejT«i— >iSov;f. 

 Edit. col. p. 59. A. B. A. D. 1688. 



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