SACRIFICE OF THE ELEMENTS. 
| EAR the altar end of Pluscardine Abbey, the bas-relief, reprefented in the 
T upper part of the plate, is carved over the l'acred cell, or rep^fitory of the 
^uchariftic elements. The import and allufion of the figures fculpoired there, 
Carn e under confideration when defcribing a monument of fimilar appropi iation, 
"'hich is carved near the altar place of the chapel which Rands by the ruins of 
tyford Caftle * 
The above bas-relief is only introduced now, on account of the refemblance in many"' 
P ar ticulars to the defign of the one beneath, which is placed in the end of the facrifty, 
' v ^ere it opens to another altar. This refemblance is a powerful inducement to 
Relieve, that they had been carved with fome correspondent allufions. 1 he fimilar 
°® c e of the kneeling cherubs gives facred importance to the figures on the fhield 
V/ hich they fupport. This expreffion of angelic piety, fo grateful, fo folemn, will 
nor admit of touching (lightly on the fymbols which they feemingly prefent in 
l °naage to the fkies. In the four divifions of the fhield made by the crofs, the ele- 
cts are chara&erized. Thefe had been judged to have fome primitive reference to 
folemnities of the altar; and their high import has been often felt. It will be 
f Car ce admitted as an argument of much moment, in this diiquifition, that 
ln l he appropriate language of feveral churches the fymbols of the Eucbariftical 
Orifice are ftill diftinguiihed by the title of the Elements. The fathers borrowed 
^t'ch of the language of the ancient Mysteries, and, appropriating it to the evan- 
gelical inftitutions, mingled much of the fublimefl fpeculations of the ancient philo- 
sophy wit)-, t he tenor of that piety to be indulged in thofe Rites authorized by the 
§°fpel of Jesus ; the grandeur of the deep folemnities which fo long hallowed the 
^ e mpl e of Eleusis, and other Sanctuaries which preferved the oracles of the Egyptian 
^ nes > and fpread a wonderful imprefiion of their high and lafting moment. The 
§ r eat iq eas 0 f t hat infpiration from the Throne of God, which puts the univerfe in 
’T°tio n , and the laws eftablifhed over Nature, as the agents of Infinite WiiHom, led 
l ^ e m, through variety of fteps, to venerate thofe elementary influences that preferve 
[ lle whole; and, by recognizing thefe, gradually to afeend to die fenfe and acknow- 
e ^gment of that Supreme Intelligence which reigns for ever. 
j ^ I he aftonifhing virtues which proceed from the emanations oi the folar fire, long 
c deep imprefiions on the minds of men ! 
The benign influences of the Sun, on which the feafons of die year and flourifhing 
^ ate of all nature feems in fo great a meafure to depend, attracted early veneration : 
t ‘ays are the moil fubtile penetrating fire. Homage, even to a fault, paid to the 
J^cflive fymbols of his power* is attributed to Zoroaster and the Eaitein Magi. 
lle y recognized the other elements ailing in union with the folar influence, as the 
q ^ fprings of vegetation and of life ; fymbols of thefe, therefore, could not fail to 
^ Cu Py a diftinguiflied iphere in the fyftem of hieroglyphical communication. They 
_ ^quent on the facred Obelisks of Egypt, and on the Patriarchal Columns 
lc h were transferred into their temples. 
Ts accurately fculptured on an antique gem in the Gorlean JvTufeurii y they aie ex- 
Pre Ted at the circle marked ERYX, and on the piece of metal intitled ABRAX. 
N° 14, 
Thefe 
