OF SERPENTS. 



is evident from that Inftance in Michal, who, to deliver David 

 her Hufband from bloody Affaffins that threaten'd his Life, laid an 

 Image in his Bed, a Teraphim^ fays the Hebrew, that is, a mate- 

 rial Image, probably a Figure of Wood, or Sticks haftily made 

 up, dreft in Man's Clothes, to make thofe fent by King Saul 

 to apprehend him, believe he was fick. 



Why does Laban call them his Gods ? Very probably becaufe 

 he believed they retain'd their AfFedlion for Mankind in the in- 

 vilible World, and being rank'd among the Gods, might be fer- 

 viceable to his Family, therefore adopted them to be Guardians 

 of his Houfe. They were only his domeftick Gods, and not the 

 eftabliChed Gods of the Country j and 'tis very likely they might 

 be the Images of Noalo and his Sons ; or fome other illuftrious 

 Anceftors, whom he had chofen for his Tutelary Gods. 



The Scripture mentions another fort of Teraphim, fometimes 

 confulted by the Jews as an Oracle, not imagining that thereby 

 they abandon'd the Worfliip of the true God. Such was the 

 Teraphim that Micha made and fet up in his Houfe, and to which 

 he appointed a Prieft of the Levitical Race, with an Ephod or 

 Sacramental Garment, by the Influence of which he flatter'd him- 

 felf that God would blefs his Houfe. This probably might be 

 fome Hieroglyphical Figure, to which the fuperftitious j^t'ie'j attri- 

 buted the Virtue of an Oracle, and the Power of foretelling 

 Things to come : Hence fpeaking Teraphims. 



From thefe Teraphim came the Lares, or the Houfhold Gods 

 of the old Romans, who before the Laws of the Twelve Tables, 

 ufed to bury th^Dead in their Houfes ; from whence arofe that 

 great Veneration they had for their Lares and Penates, a kind of 

 domeftick Divinities, worftiip'd in Houfes, and efteem'd Pro- 

 tectors of Families, which were nothing elfe but the fuppofed 

 Ghofts of thofe who formerly had belonged to the Family, whom 

 they reprefented by Images, which they placed in the Chimney- 

 Corner, or near their Doors, 



These were alfo look'd upon as Guardians of the Highways, 

 near to which their Images were fix'd for the Benefit of Travellers, 

 therefore call'd Dii Viales, Gods of the Roads. 'Tis faid by the 

 Prophet, The King of Babylon Jlood at the parting of the Way, and 

 confulted with the Images ; with the Teraphim, fays the Hebrew^ 

 EzeL xxi. 2 1. which the Jewip Interpreters fay were prophetick 



D d 2 Images, 



203 



