tem of theology, the serpent is at once the emblem of the malignant destroyer, and of the beneficent Restorer of mankind; for, while, on the one hand, we hear the apology, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat;" on the other hand, we read, that, "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (in allusion to his healing properties), even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;" destroying Satan in the very form in which he first acted the destroyer. How many stars are there in these constellations? In Serpens 64; in Serpentarius 74. Hercules is, I think, mamma, the next constellation which I ought to select; for, in a most curious way, are the heads of Serpentarius and Hercules united. Surely it could not be without design, the union was effected; but, why should that which is one and the same, though under different appellations, be put asunder? for when, among the fabulous stories of Hercules, we are informed, that he slew the monstrous dragon in the fens of Lerna, and when we find on the globe his foot placed as in the act of crushing its head; can we refrain from the assured conviction that the story of Hercules is founded on some tradition respecting Him, who should bruise the serpent's head; and that heathen nations had imbibed the idea thus boldly ex pressed by the king of Israel, "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder, the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot." The three-headed serpent he has in his hand, entwined with the branch of a fruit-tree, should not be overlooked. The lion's skin with which he is clad, and the club of strength, are worthy of notice. look With what new ideas I shall for the future this celestial sphere! upon I hope, you will; for recollect, I am only allowing you to sip a few drops from an overflowing fountain. These facts, thus sparingly imparted, are but one link in the long chain of your progressive improvement. When you shall read the works of able mythologists for yourself, you will find a most astonishing resemblance between Hercules, and Creeshna, between Creeshna, and our Lord Jesus Christ. For your present inspection I will make you three very small drawings in memorial of the information I have given you to-day. The first shall represent Serpentarius standing upon Scorpio, as his footstool: the second, Hercules with his foot prepared to crush the head of Draco: and the third, the Indian Creeshna, encircled with the same grand deceiver, the evil principle, the old serpent, the Devil. With regard to the differences you will find, in the |