88 A NATURAL HISTORY 



SOCRATES, a Philofopher 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 perfeft Equanimity, and without the leafl 

 Reflexion upon Fate, upon God, and his Judges, notwithftand- 

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

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

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

 of an Heroic-Poem. 



SECT. II. 



WHY 'were they pwzijh'd 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 liind of Punifliment 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 inexpreffible 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 ASlions of the old Serpeiit, in iifmg an ill Tongue 

 againft God, againji Mofes, and Manna, the Bread of Heaven. 



SECT. III. 



TV HT called Fiery Serpents? 



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



1. T H E facred Volume feems to account for the natural Rea- 

 fon, when it fays, God fent 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 fomeyruiv/Z' Authors, they vicvcfcorcb'd 



I with 



* 04>iii; (cti'XVjrai. 



