O F S E R P E N T S. 169 



^ IT T if this was the Cafe, could fhe be fo properly faid to be 

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

 the Serpent is not only to go upon its Breaft, but, and thou Jlo alt 

 go upon thy Belly, q. d. *' Since Pleafute was thy Defire, let the 

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

 i< r/zr^r, is the Receptacle of moft 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's violent Pur- 

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

 his Houfe, but Extirpation of Monarchy : CrceJ'us King oi Lydia 

 being conquer'd by Cyrus King of Perfea, 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 Matmonides and others expound thofe hiflorical PafTages 

 in the fame manner ; afking. Why fliould that Serpent be call'd a 

 fubtle Beafl, 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 Mofes's 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 1^. It is obferva- 

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

 tempted the Woman, but an anxious Defire 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 Satnmael, 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 laft Judg- - 

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



Z of 



* More Uevochim, cap. xxix. t Ibid. p. 265, & 27;. 



X Clem. Alexavdrinus, who flourifli'd in the fccond Age. 0<I)«; a?iAiiroftiT«(— iSoi/ij. 

 Edit. col. p. 69. A.B. ^. D. <688. 



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