,94 A NATURAL HISTORY 



SECT. III. 



This artificial Serpent might (as Ibme have thought) pre- 

 jbgure the Mcffiab^ the Healer of Ipiritual Maladies. Many take 

 it fur a Reprefentation of his Paffion and Ciucifixion : The Ana- 

 logy may be thus illuilrated, viz. Tlie Cures wrought by the 

 Serpent and the Saviour, deriv'd their Efficacy from Divine Ap- 

 pointment. 



If the brazen Serpent had been the mere Contrivance of 

 Mofes^ it would not have anfwer'd the Intention : fo all human 

 Institutions adopted into Divine Woiihip will be as little avail- 

 able to true Happinefs, (JVho has required this at y cur Hand?) of 

 that Sovereign, who accepts no Worlhip but what has the Sanc- 

 tion of his Wifdom and Will. 



Both Cures were performed by the moil unlikely Means. 

 The Serpent that healed their Wounds, was made of Brafs ; a 

 Prefcription in which there was no Probability of producing that 

 happy Effed: : And where was the promifing Alped: arifingfroni 

 the Manner of our Saviour's Appearance on Earth ? What great 

 Things could be expecfted from a Root of a dry Ground ? How 

 improbable was it that a Perfon fo mean in exten al Form lliould 

 overthrow the Kingdom of Darknefs, a Kingdom that had been 

 flrengthning its Barriers for about four thoufand Years ? Who 

 could think that he had fuch powerful Intereft in Heaven, who 

 was of no Reputation on the Earth ? 



Behold here a Scene of Paradoxes ! Patients recovered by 

 the Death of the Phyfician. Upon Mount Golgotha we fee Pa- 

 radife, loft by the firft Adam^ regained by the Death of the fecond 

 Adam ; Principalities and Powers led captives by a dying Man ; 

 there we fee Life reftored by Death, a Crown of Glory purchafed 

 by an ignominious Crofs. Were the Ifraelites healed by a Crea- 

 ture made in the Likenefs of the Serpent that hurt ? So Men are 

 reftor'd by one made like themfelves. 



How was this miraculous Core in the Wildernefs obtained? 

 It was by an ocular View, that is, by looking at the artificial 

 Serpent. None elfe were entitled to a Relief. Thus Salvation 

 comes by Faith, which in the prophetick Dialed: is rcprefented by 

 looking, EJ\ xlv. 22. Look unto me and be yejaved all the Ends of 



the 



