Chapter V: Contents

_Reasons for worshipping Serpents, seem to rise from Misapplication of
some Scripture Passages: But especially, 1. From the Triumphs of the
Paradisaic Serpent. Pagan History from_ Moses. _In the primitive
Church, a Sect of Christians worship’d Serpents, and said the
Serpent in Paradise was a good Creature. 2. From the miraculous
Cures done by the brazen Serpent._ Alexander _affected the Honour of
being begot by a Serpent, ador’d as a God, by a Decree of the
Priests._

_WHAT Reason can be assigned for giving religious Worship to Serpents?_ I answer,

It is no easy Matter to find out the Original of Pagan Idolatry, having no authentick Records of those remote Times, therefore Conjectures, or nothing must content the honest Enquirer: Something may be offer’d, without going beyond our Depth. Before I proceed, it may be proper to observe, _viz._ That Knowledge sprung from the Sons of _Noah_, who doubtless instructed their Successors in the History of the Creation, the Conquest of Paradise by a Serpent, that introduced the Knowledge of Good and Evil upon Earth.

Those whom we call _Heathens_, at first were Members of the true Church; the further Men went from the Spring, the Streams grew more muddy, and strange Constructions were put upon the History of _Adam_ and _Eve_, _Noah_, and his Progeny, which in process of Time was metamorphosed into a Narrative of Fooleries and fabulous Gods.

So the _Mosaick_ History of their Travels thro’ the Wilderness, and the Promulgation of the Law upon Mount _Sinai_, were strange and stupendous Events, that soon spread over the Nations in some Shape or other.

In the _Phœnician Theology_, we find the Creation described, almost in the Terms used by _Moses_. _Diodorus Siculus_ says, the Antients liv’d upon Roots and Fruits. The _Phœnician_ Records mention _Ujoris_, _i. e._ _Adam_, the first that wore Garments made of Animal Skins. The _Vulcan_ of the Heathen was the _Tubal-cain_ of _Moses_, (_Gen._ iv. 22.) the first Artificer in Brass and Iron: _Plato_’s _Atlanticus_ is a Fable founded upon the History of _Noah_’s Flood: The Fable of the Giants storming Heaven, is taken from the Builders of the Tower of _Babel_, as before: Yea, says a Learned Father (after _Numenius_, the celebrated _Pythagorean_ and _Platonist_) what is _Plato_ but _Moses in an Athenian Dress_[419]? But to be more particular,

Footnote 419:

Τι γαρ εστι Πλατων η Μωσης αττικιζων. _Quid enim est Plato, nisi Moses
qui loquitur Atticè?_ Or, _Quid enim aliud est Plato, quam Moses
Atticissans_? Clementis Alexandrini Opera, Strom. lib 1. _Coloniæ_ p.
342.

1. _SATAN_, who conducted the War in _Eden_, display’d his Art under the Form of a Serpent, which _Moses_ represents as a Creature of superior Wisdom, and Illuminator of Mankind. Now the Tradition, that the _first Serpent_ had not only the Gift of speaking, but of communicating Science, and had held a Conference with the first Woman, to the vast Increase of her Knowledge, might at last swell to such a degree, that ignorant People might attribute to that Serpent, and her Race, a kind of Divinity; and for this Reason also, because in the Perfections of the Mind she exceeded our first Parents, who being constituted Governors of the Earth, must be supposed to be furnish’d with extraordinary Accomplishments: But, says Tradition, here is one who infused greater Knowledge into them, and made them more wise; and they, for contesting with the _Wisdom of the Serpent_, were turned out of Paradise, and ordain’d their Dwelling to be among the Beasts of the Field.

Surely, might the People say, so great a Being as this Serpent merits our awful Regards. Now, how far such Thoughts might operate in those early days of Ignorance and Superstition, I determine not: The Serpent indeed, is said to be more subtle than the Beasts of the Field, but not more wise than _Adam_ and _Eve_.

It is more strange, to think that in the primitive Church there were certain Hereticks call’d _Ophites_, took their Name from _Ophis_[420], who worshipped the Serpent that betray’d _Eve_, and ascribed all sorts of Knowledge to that Animal, maintain’d ’twas a good Creature, and that our first Parents were instructed by it to know Good and Evil. Yea, they believed, “the Serpent that tempted _Eve_ was the _Christ_, who afterwards came down and was incarnate in the Person of _Jesus_: That it was _Jesus_, but not the _Christ_, that suffer’d; for which reason they made all Proselytes to their Sect, to renounce Jesus[421].” If a Sect of Christians speak after this manner, what Ideas must the Heathen form of things?

Footnote 420:

A _Greek_ word that signifies _a Serpent_.

Footnote 421:

_Calmet._

One of the Fathers speaking of these Hereticks, observes how they affirm’d,——_That Wisdom made itself a Serpent_——had given Knowledge to Man, and that the Position of Man’s Bowels, winding about like Serpents, shews that there is in us a hidden Substance that engenders the Figure of Serpents[422]. Surely those Fathers of the Church were Children in Understanding, that gave way to such mystical Conundrums. Call them no more Fathers, but Children of Antiquity.

Footnote 422:

_Irenæus adv. Hæres._ (lib. 1. cap. 34.—_sophiam serpentem factam_—)
who flourish’d in the close of the 2d Century.

These Hereticks, in the Consecration of the Eucharist, always had a Serpent ready in a Box, which they produced on that Occasion, making it come out by certain Charms, and lick the Bread, and having kissed the same, they eat it[423]. Another Historian expresses it thus, _viz._ “When their Priests celebrated their Mysteries, they made one of these Creatures to come out of his Hole, and after he had roll’d himself upon the Things that were to be offer’d in Sacrifice, they said _Jesus Christ_ had sanctified them, and then gave them to the People to worship them[424].” _N. B._ I don’t apprehend how the _Learned Abbot_ makes them bring in the Name _Jesus_ here, a Name which in the same Page he says, they obliged their Proselytes to renounce.

Footnote 423:

_Bingh. Index Heret._

Footnote 424:

_Calmet_’s _Histor. Dict._ vol. ii. p. 668.

This strange Superstition seems to be derived from the Heathen, who at the Feasts of _Bacchus_, used to carry a _Serpent_, and to cry, _Evia, Evia_[425]: And _Evia_, says _Clemens Alexandrinus_, if it be asperated, _Hevia_, signifies in the _Hebrew_, a _female Serpent_. Dr. _Lightfoot_ observes, that there being no such Word in the _Hebrew_, _Clemens_ must mean the _Chaldee_, in which _Hivia_ signifies a Serpent.

Footnote 425:

Ευια, ευια.

2. The Reputation gain’d by the Serpent in Paradise, was heighten’d by the wonderful Cures done by the brazen Serpent in the Wilderness. As this strange Occurrence was capable of various Glosses, so it must undergo different Constructions. The _Brazen Serpent_ was brought to _Canaan_, where ’twas kept in remembrance of the miraculous Cures their Forefathers had received from it in the Wilderness; and, ’tis probable, the _Israelites_ themselves were the first that paid divine Honours to it, and the Idolatry might begin in the days of the Judges; others say, under the Kings of _Judah_[426].

Footnote 426:

_Jurieu_, vol. ii. from _Rabbi Kimchi_, who says they burnt Incense to
it, from the time the Kings of _Judah_ had corrupted themselves ...
_in locum_.

It lay quiet there, _until those Days, the Children of Israel burnt Incense to it_. That is, from the days _Israel_ began to commit Idolatry, to the days of _Hezekiah_; who, to prevent the Growth of that Serpentine Idolatry, _brake in pieces the brazen Serpent that Moses had made_. 2 Kings xviii. 4.

The Sound of the strange Cures done by the _brazen Serpent_, soon spread over the forsaken Nations, who, observing how the Wounded were healed by looking at it, conceived it to be a proper Instrument to be their Mediator, and consequently a fit Object for their Adoration, when even the Wounded in _Israel_, by addressing to its Shadow, were healed.

It is most probable, that the Adoration of Serpents by the Pagans, sprung from these two Fountains,

The _Wisdom of the Serpent_ in Paradise, and the _miraculous Cures_ done by the _Shadow of a Serpent_ in the Wilderness; which were improved by the Devil to secure his Honour and Interest, who wanted not Priests to display the Glories of their Character, to make the Serpent honourable in the sight of his Vassals. From hence, the _Egyptians_, _Phenicians_, yea most Nations, did imagine the Serpent to have some _Divinity in its Nature_, and for that reason (as hinted before) honour’d it with sacred Homage; this the Devil did, with a view to lessen Men’s Esteem for the Almighty Creator.

Hence also some Men of superior Dignity have affected to be esteem’d more than meer Men, making this as an Argument, that they were _begot by Serpents_, as we observed already, therefore I shall only add, _viz._

That _Alexander the Great_, after he had taken _Rhodes_, _Egypt_ and _Cilicia_, addrest _Jupiter Ammon_ to know his Original, for his Mother _Olympias_ had confest to his Father _Philip_, that _Alexander_ was not begot by him, but by a _Serpent_ of _vast Bulk_; whereupon _Philip_ was divorced from his Wife _Olympias_, and _Alexander_ was saluted Son of _Ammon_, and by Order of the Priests, his Companions were enjoin’d to worship him as a _God_, and not as a _King_.

_ALEXANDER_, when he had conquer’d _Darius_ III. surnam’d _Codomannus_, and was possest of the _Persian_ Empire, writ to the _Grecians_, that they should _decree him to be a God_. Hereupon several Decrees were made: The _Lacedemonians_ exprest their Compliance in this short Decree, _viz._ _Forasmuch as_ Alexander _would be a God, let him be a God_. Thus with Laconick Brevity, fashionable among the _Lacedemonians_, they humour’d and reproved the Pride of their King at once[427].

Footnote 427:

Επειδἡ Αλεξανδρος βουλεται Θεδς ειναι εσο Θεος. Æliani variæ Hist.
lib. ii. cap. xix.

_VARRO_ was of Opinion, that all gallant and heroick Men should believe themselves, tho’ falsly, to issue from the Gods ... that upon this Supposition, they might attempt great things with more Courage, and prosecute them with more Ardency; and tho’ the Motive was but imaginary, yet might produce glorious Effects[428]. When _Varro_ writ this, ’tis probable he had _Alexander the Great_ in his view.

Footnote 428:

Ex Diis genitos—_Aug. de Civitate Dei._ cap. 4.

Such is their Opinion of their King in _China_, that they think he is descended from the Race of some Demi-God, and so adore him accordingly. They believe there is some Divinity in his Blood, in so much that he never marries any but his next Relatives, for fear of staining the Royal Blood[429].

Footnote 429:

_Howel_’s _Londinopolis_. p. 384.

Among the Antients, Serpents were Emblems of Power; therefore _Epaminondas_, the brave _Theban_ General, to encourage his Army against a powerful Enemy, _bruised the Head of a Serpent_ before them as a Prognostick of Victory.

Thus King _James_ I. tho’ the _Dupe of all Christendom_, says a certain Gentleman, yet was the grand Idol of the Court-Clergy. That Pedantry which would have brought a School-Boy under the just Discipline of the Rod, in him was represented by his parasitical Preferment-hunting Ecclesiasticks, as divine Eloquence, and the Inspiration of the Almighty....