Emblems of our Lord 



emblem is a cross decussate^ being formed of two 

 pieces of wood crossing each other in the form of the 

 letter X, that being the shape of the instrument of 

 his death ; or, as others say, he was crucified upon a 

 cross of the usual form, but the ground being loose, 

 the cross gave way when he was lifted up, and sup- 

 ported itself upon the foot and one of the side arms \ 



S. Thomas — has a spear or arrow, sometimes a 

 builder's rule or square. 



S. John the Divine — as an Apostle, has a cup with 

 a serpent issuing out of it, in allusion to the cup of 

 sorrow which he drank, according to our Lord's 

 promise ; or to the cup having poison, which by his 

 prayer issued from it in the form of a serpent ; also 

 the eagle, who, soaring above the earth, symbolizes 

 S. John as Evangelist, because he records events 

 pointing to the Divine nature of our Lord. 



S. Paul. — His emblem is a sword, his attribute in a 

 double sense; it signifies the manner of his mar- 



^ Southey. 



