88 A NATURAL HISTORY 



SOCRATES, a Philofopber of Athens, was a Philofopher 

 in Prifon, as well as in the Mufeum : When bound in Fetters, 

 and he had nothing but Death before his Face, he then converfed 

 with his Friends with perfe(ft Equanimity, and without the lead 

 Reflexion upon Fate, upon God, and his "Judges, notwithfland- 

 ing his bafe Treatment, and the notorious Injuftice of his Sen- 

 tence. The Scripture reprefents Job as a Champion in Afflidlion, 

 who by his paffive Fortitude under it, became the proper Hera 

 of an Heroic-Poem. 



SECT. II. 



WHT were they punijlSd by Serpents ? 



Perhaps it might be to put them in remembrance of the 

 firft Sin, that was introduced into Paradife by the old Serpent : 

 This kind of Punifhment could not but bring to their Mind that 

 gloomy Moment in which the human Nature was morally and 

 mortally wounded by that evil Spirit, in the Form of a Serpent. 

 This being allow'd, we may infer, that Man's Memory ftands in 

 need of a Remembrancer, even of Paradife loft. And oh ! who 

 can think of that inexpreflible Lofs, without dropping, a filent 

 and folemn Tear ? 



Some Learned Jews themfelves^ fpeaking upon this Subjecft, 

 fay, the Reafon why they were chaftifed by Serpents, was becaiife 

 they had done the ABio7is of the old Serpent, in iifing an ill Tongue 

 againfi God, againji Mofes, and Mapjia^ the Bread of Heaven. 



SECT. III. 



WHT called Fiery Serpents ? 



A Natural and a moral Reafon may be afligned for it. 



I. The facred Volume feems to account for the natural Reo'- 

 fon, when it fays, Godfent fiery Serpents. The Hebrew word is 

 Seraphim, that is Burners., becaufe they appeared in the form of 

 a Flame. The LXX calls them Serpents of Death *, becaufe 

 their Wounds proved mortal. 



As SOON as the People were wounded, their Blood was in- 

 flamed, and according to iovdQjewiJh Authors, they wtxtfcoixh'd 



%mth 



