228 A NATURAL HISTORY 



CHAPTER V. 



Contents. 

 Reafons for worfoipplng Serpents^ feejji to rife from Mtfappli cation 

 offotne Scripture Pafages : But efpecially, i . From the Tri^ 

 umphs of the Paradtfaic Serpent. Pagan Hijiory from Mofes, 

 In the primitive Churchy a SeB of Chrijiians 'worjJnp'd Serpent Sy 

 and [aid the Serpent in Paradife ivas a good Creature, 2. 

 From the miraculous Cures done by the brazen Serpent, Alexan- 

 der affeBed the Honour of being begot by a Serpent^ adord as a 

 God, by a Decree of the Priejis, 



WHAT Reafon can be afigncd for giving religious Worfip 

 to Serpents f I anfwer, 



I T is no eafy Matter to find out the Original of Pagan Idola- 

 try, having no authentick Records of thofe remote Times, there- 

 fore Conjed:ureSj or nothing mufl: content the honeft Enquirer : 

 Something may be offered, without going beyond our Depth. 

 Before I proceed, it may be proper to obferve, viz. That Know- 

 ledge fprung from the Sons of Noah, who doubtlefs inftruded 

 their Succeflbrs in the Hiftory of the Creation, the Conquefl of 

 Paradife by a Serpent, that introduced the Knowledge of Good 

 and Evil upon Earth. 



Those whom we call Heathens, at firft were Members of the 

 true Church 5 the further Men went from the Spring, the Streams 

 grew more muddy, and flrange Conftrudiions were put upon the 

 Hiftory of ^^^'^w and Fve, Noah, and his Progeny, which in pro- 

 cefs of Time was metamorphofed into a Narrative of Fooleries and 

 fabulous Gods. 



S o the Mofaick Hiftory of their Travels thro' the Wildernefs, 

 and the Promulgation of the Law upon Mount Sinai, were flrange 

 and ftupendous Events, that foon fpread over the Nations in fome 

 Shape or other. 



I N the Phefiician Theology, we find the Creation defcribed, 

 almofi: in the Terms ufed by Mofes. Diodorus Siculus fjys, x\\q 

 Antients liv'd upon Roots and Fruits, The Phenician Re- 

 cords mention Vjoris, i. c. Adam, the firft that wore Garments 

 made of Animal Skins. The Vulcan of the Heathen was the 



Tubal- 



