OF SERPENTS. 189 



ninth infatiahle 'Thirji. Of the H^'brew word Saraph, the 

 Greeh, by changing the Pofition and Order of Letters, have bor- 

 rowed the Name PreJIer, which is a kind of fiery venemous Ser- 

 pent, called alfo Dipfas and Caiijbn, whofe Wound is accom-^ 

 panied with a moft vehement Heat and Thirfi:, and generally in- 

 curable, as fome have formerly faid. They may be properly called 

 Fiery, as their Colour was glowing, a proper Reprefentative of 

 Fire. In the Weji-hidies are Adders, red as Blood, about feven 

 or eight Foot long, and appear by Night as a burning Coal *'. 



2. They might be called Fiery a\(o, from a moral Cotifidera- 

 tion ; for, that raging Fleat in the Body might reprefent the out- 

 ragious Diforders of the Mind, flowing from confcious Guilt, 

 neither of which were the Attendants of an original State. Hence, 

 perhaps, it is that Satan's Temptations are ftyled Jiery Darts, be- 

 caufe when complied with, they kindle a Fire in the Confcience^ 

 a Prognoftick, and Tafte of the Unquenchable -f-. 



And indeed, what are all uneafy Sensations, but the Venom 

 of the old Serpent ? thence, that long Train of Complaints and 

 Groans. Keincjnbcr from ichence thou art fallen, is the Language 

 of every Calamity, but no calamitous Lnpreflion fo terrible, as 

 that which alarms the Mind about the awful Futurity. Of Sin 

 it is faid, that at laft, /'/ will bite like a Serpent, atid Jiing like an 

 Adder %. 



What fiU'd Adam\ Mind with Horror and Conflernation ? 

 What made him run with wild Confuiion among the Trees to 

 hide himfelfi' What was he afraid of? He, who was Lord of 

 the Earth, and Image of the Almighty ? Was not he in Paradife, 

 the Garden of God ; whence then this fudden and mighty Pa- 

 nick ? What produced this great and aftonifliing Change in one 

 who had a friendly Intercourfe with God a little before ? Oh I 

 'twas Guilt, Guilt, Guilt. A Confcioufnefs of his iniquitous 

 Compliance with the Serpent. What were thofe anxious dif- 

 quieting Thoughts that kindled the Fire in his Breaft, but the ve- 

 nemous, fiery Darts of Satan ? 



yUDAS is another Example; a Perfon highly honour'd by 

 Chrift, who made him his Ambaffador Extraordinary to the 

 Houfe of IJ'rael, and Treafurer of his Houfe and Privy Counfellor, 



* Atl. America, 179, \ 'B^h,y\. xd. /5tAv) — Twupapiim, 



X Prov. xxifi. 32, 



