Chapter II. The Sign LIBRA.

Chapter II. The Sign LIBRA.The Redeemer's Atoning Work; or The Price deficient balanced by the Price which covers.In the first chapter of this book we saw that this Coming Seed of the woman was, among other things, to give up His life for others.Thesecondchapter is going to define and develope the manner and object of this death.The name of the Sign, together with its three constellations and the names of the stars composing them, give the complete picture of this Redemption.Plate 5: Libra (the Scales)The Sign contains 51 stars, two of which are of the 2nd magnitude, one of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.The Hebrew name isMozanaim,the Scales,weighing. Its name in Arabic isAl Zubena,purchase, orredemption. In Coptic, it isLambadia,station of propitiation(fromLam,graciousness, andbadia,branch). The name by which it has come down to us is the Latin,Libra, which meansweighing, as used in the Vulgate (Isa. xl. 12).Libra contains three bright stars whose names supply us with the whole matter. The brightest, α (in the lower scale), is namedZuben al Genubi, which meansthe purchase, orprice which is deficient. This[pg 046]points to the fact that man has been utterly ruined. He is“weighed in the balances and found wanting.”“None of them can by any means redeem his brother,Nor give to God a ransom for him;For the redemption of their soul is costly,And must be let alone for ever.”(Ps. xlix. 7,r.v.)“Surely men of low degree are vanity (Heb.a breath),And men of high degree are a lie;In the balances they go up;They are altogether lighter than vanity”(Heb.a breath).(Ps. lxii. 9,r.v.)This is the verdict pronounced and recorded by this starZuben al Genubi.Is there then no hope? Is there no one who can pay the price?Yes; there is“the Seed of the woman.”He is not merely coming as a child, but He is coming as an atoning sacrifice.He is coming for the purpose of Redemption! He can paythe price which covers! Hence in the upper scale we have another bright star with this very nameZuben al Chemali—THE PRICE WHICH COVERS! Praised be God!“They sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy ... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.”(Rev. v. 9.) This is the testimony of β, the second brightest star! It has another name,al Gubi,heaped up, orhigh, telling of the infinite value of this redemption price. But there is a third star, γ, below, towardsCentaurusand theVictimslain, telling, by that and by its name, of theconflictby which that redemption would be[pg 047]accomplished. It is calledZuben AkrabiorZuben al Akrab, which meansthe price of the conflict!There is, however, some reason to suppose that Libra is a very ancient Egyptian corruption, bringing in human merit instead of Divine righteousness;“the way of Cain”instead of the way of God. In the more ancient Akkadian the months were called after the names of the signs,38and the sign of the seventh month is the sign that we now call Libra. The Akkadian name for it wasTulku.Tulmeansmound(likedhulanddul), andkumeanssacred;hence,Tulkumeansthe sacred mound, orthe holy altar.39Not only is the name and its meaning different, but the teaching is infinitely greater and more important, if we may believe that the original picture of this sign was not a pair of scales, but the representation ofa holy altar. This would agree still better with the three constellations which follow.The names of the stars would also be more appropriate, for it is the Sacrifice of Christ which they foreshadowed, and here it was that the price which covered was paid, and outweighed the price which was deficient. What that price was to be, and how it was to be paid, and what was to be the result in the Person of the Redeemer, is set forth in detail in the three sections of this chapter by the constellations ofThe Crossendured,The Victimslain, andThe Crownbestowed.[pg 048]1. CRUX (The Cross).The Cross Endured.The Hebrew name wasAdom, which meanscutting off, as in Dan. ix. 26:—“After threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off.”The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet was calledTau, which was anciently made in the form of a cross. The ancientPhœnicianwas [Symbol: right-tilted cross]; the ancientHebrew, as found on coins, was [Symbol: right-tilted cross] and [Symbol: vertical cross]; theAramaic, as found on Egyptian monuments, was a transition [Symbol: tilted cross] or [Symbol: stretched cross], which passed into the present square Hebrew character ת. This letter is calledTau, and meansa mark; especiallya boundary-mark, a limit or finish. And it is the last letter, which finishes the Hebrew alphabet to this day.Plate 6: Crux (the Cross)The Southern Cross was just visible in the latitude of Jerusalem at the time of the first coming of our Lord to die. Since then, through the gradual recession of the Polar Star, it has not been seen in northern latitudes. It gradually disappeared and became invisible at Jerusalem when the Real Sacrifice was offered there; and tradition, which preserved its memory, assured travellers that if they could go far enough south it would be again seen. Dante sang of“the four stars never beheld but by the early race of men.”It was not until the sixteenth century had dawned that missionaries and voyagers, doubling the Cape for the first time, and visiting the tropics and southern seas, brought back the news of“a[pg 049]wonderful cross more glorious than all the constellations of the heavens.”It is a small asterism, containing only about five stars,viz., one of the 1st magnitude, two of the 2nd, one of the 3rd, and one of the 4th. Four of these are in the form of a cross.Long before the Christian Era this sign of the Cross had lost its true meaning, and had been perverted in Babylon and Egypt as it has since been desecrated by Rome. The Persians and Egyptians worshipped it. The cakes made and eaten in honour of the Queen of Heaven were marked with it. This heathen custom Rome has adopted and adapted in her Good Friday cakes, which are thus stamped. But all are alike ignorant of what it means,viz.,“IT IS FINISHED.”In Egypt, and in the earliest times, it was the sign and symbol oflife. To-day, Romanists use it as the symbol ofdeath! But it meanslife! Natural life given up, and eternal life procured. Atonement, finished, perfect, and complete; never to be repeated, or added to. All who partake of its benefits in Christ now, in grace, by faith“ARE made nigh by the blood of Christ”(Eph. ii. 13), and of them Jesus says,“He that heareth my voice, and believeth on Him that sent me HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but IS PASSED from death unto life”(John v. 24). So perfect and complete is the work which Jesus finished on the Cross that we cannot seek to add even our repentance, faith, tears, or prayers, without practically asserting[pg 050]that the work of Christ is not finished, and is not sufficient!The Hebrew names of this constellation—AdomandTau—rebuke our Pharisaic spirit, which is the relic and essence of all false religions, and points to the blessed fact that the Sacrifice was offered“once for all,”and the atoning work of Redemption completely finished on Calvary.“'Tis finished! the Messiah dies!Cut off for sins, but not His own;Accomplished is the sacrifice,The great redeeming work is done.”In the ancient Egyptian Zodiac of Denderah this first Decan ofLibrais represented as a lion with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, as if in thirst, and a female figure holding a cup out to him. Under his fore feet is the hieroglyphic symbol of running water. What is all this but“the Lion of the tribe of Judah”brought down“into the dust of death,”and saying“I am poured out like water ... my strength is dried up”(Ps. xxii. 13-18):“I thirst”(John xix. 28):“and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”(Ps. lxix. 21)?The Egyptian name of this Lion, however, points to his ultimate triumph, for it is calledSera, that is,victory!This brings us to—2. LUPUS or VICTIMA (The Victim).The Victim Slain.Its modern name isLupus(a wolf), because it looks like one. It may be any animal. The great point[pg 051]of this ancient constellation is that the animal has beenslain, and is in the act of falling down dead.Plate 7: Lupus or Victima the VICTIM SlainIts Greek name isThera,a beast, andLycos,a wolf. Its Latin name isVictima, orBestia(Vulg. Gen. viii. 17), which sufficiently indicates the great lesson. This is confirmed by its ancient Hebrew name,Asedah, and ArabicAsedaton, which both meanto be slain.More than 22 of its stars have been catalogued. None of them are higher than the 4th magnitude; most of them are of the 5th or 6th.True, He was“by wicked hands crucified and slain,”but He is slain here by the Centaur,i.e.by Himself! To make it perfectly clear that it was His own act (without which His death would lose all merit), He uttered those solemn words:“I lay down my life for the sheep.... No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again”(John x. 15-18). He“offered Himself without spot to God.”“He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself”(Heb. ix. 11, 26).In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah He is pictured as a little child with its finger on its lips, and He is calledSura,a lamb! In other pictures He has, besides, the horn of a goat on one side of His head. All this pointed to one and the same great fact,viz., the development and explanation of what was meant bythe bruising of His heel! It meant that this Promised[pg 052]Seed of the woman should come as a child, that He should suffer, and die upon the Cross, for“He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter;And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb;SO HE opened not his mouth.”(Isa. liii. 7.)Hence, the constellation prefigures a silent, willing sacrifice—Christ Jesus, who,“being found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross”(Phil. ii. 5-8).3. CORONA (The Crown).The Crown Bestowed.“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”This is what is foreshown by this concluding section of the second chapter. Each chapter ends with glory. As in the written Word of God, we frequently have the glory of the Second Coming mentioned without any allusions to the sufferings of the First Coming, but we never have the First Coming in humiliation mentioned without an immediate reference to the glory of the Second Coming.So here, theCrossis closely followed by theCrown! True,“we see not yet all things put under Him, but we see Jesus ... for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour”(Heb. ii. 9).Yes,“the crowning day is coming,”and all heaven shall soon resound with the triumphant song,“Thou[pg 053]art worthy, ... for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood”(Rev. v. 9).The shameful Cross will be followed by a glorious crown, and“every tongue shall confess that Jesus. Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”“Mighty Victor, reign for ever,Wear the crown so dearly won;Never shall Thy people, neverCease to sing what Thou hast done.Thou hast fought Thy people's foes;Thou wilt heal Thy people's woes!”The Hebrew name for the constellation isAtarah,a royal crown, and its stars are known to-day in the East by the plural,Ataroth!Its Arabic name isAl Iclil,an ornament, orjewel.Plate 8: CORONA (the Crown)It has 21 stars: one of the 2nd magnitude and six of the 4th. It is easily known by the stars θ, β, α, γ, δ, and ε, which form a crescent.Its brightest star, α, has the Arabic name ofAl Phecca,the shining.Thus ends this solemn chapter ofLibra, which describes the great work of Redemption, beginning with the Cross and ending with the Crown. The Redeemer's work of Atonement is most blessedly set forth, and He alone is seen as the substitute for lost sinners.“What wondrous love, what mysteriesIn this appointment shine!My breaches of the law are His,And His obedience mine.”[pg 054]Chapter III. The Sign SCORPIO.The Redeemer's Conflict.We come now right into the heart of the conflict. The star-picture brings before us a gigantic scorpion endeavouring to sting in the heel a mighty man who is struggling with a serpent, but is crushed by the man, who has his foot placed right on the scorpion's heart.The Hebrew name isAkrab, which is the name of a scorpion, but also meansthe conflict, orwar. It is this that is referred to in Ps. xci. 13:“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder.The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”David uses the very word in Ps. cxliv. 1, where he blesses God for teaching his handsto war.The Coptic name isIsidis, which meansthe attack of the enemy, oroppression; referring to“the wicked that oppress me, my deadly enemies who compass me about”(Ps. xvii. 9).The Arabic name isAl Akrab, which meanswounding him that cometh.Plate 9: SCORPIO (the Scorpion)There are 44 stars altogether in this sign. One is of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, eleven of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.[pg 055]The brightest star, α (in the heart), bears the ancient Arabic name ofAntares, which meansthe wounding. It is called by the LatinsCor Scorpii, because it marks the scorpion's heart. It shines ominously with a deep red light. The sting is called in HebrewLesath(Chaldee,Lesha), which meansthe perverse. The stars in the tail are also known asLeshaa, orLeshat.40The scorpion is a deadly enemy (as we learn from Rev. ix), with poison in its sting, and all the names associated with the sign combine to set forth the malignant enmity which is“set”between the serpent and the woman's Seed.That enmity is shown more fully in the written Word, where we see the attempt of the enemy (in Exod. i.) to destroy every male of the seed of Abraham, and how it was defeated.We see his effort repeated when he used Athaliah to destroy“all the seed royal”(2 Kings xi.), and how“the king's son”was rescued“from among”the slain.We see his hand again instigating Haman,“the Jews' enemy,”to compass the destruction of the whole nation, but defeated in his designs.When the woman's Seed, the virgin's Son, was born, we are shown the same great enemy inciting Herod to slay all the babes in Bethlehem (Matt. ii.), but again he is defeated.[pg 056]In the wilderness of Judæa, and in the Garden of Gethsemane the great conflict is renewed.“This is your hour and the power of darkness,”41He said to His enemies.The real wounding in the heel was received at the Cross. It was there the scorpion struck the woman's seed. He died, but was raised again from the dead“to destroy the works of the devil.”To show us this; to prevent any mistake; to set forth the fact that this conflict onlyapparentlyended in defeat, and that it did not really so end, we have the first two constellations belonging to this sign presentedin one picture! Indeed, the picture is threefold, for it includes the sign itself (as shown on the cover)!If these pictures had been separated, then the conflict would have been separated from the victory; the deadly wound of the serpent's head from the temporary wound in the Victor's heel. Hence,threepictures are required, in which thescorpion, theserpent, and theman, are all involved, in order to present at the same time the triumphant issue of the conflict.Hence, we must present, and consider together, the first two sections of this mysterious chapter.1 and 2. SERPENS and OPHIUCHUS.The Struggle with the Enemy.Here,Serpens, the serpent, is seen struggling vainly in the powerful grasp of the man who is namedO-phi-u-chus. In Latin he is called Serpentarius.[pg 057]He is at one and the same moment shown to be seizing the serpent with his two hands, and treading on the very heart of the scorpion, marked by the deep red starAntares(wounding).Just as we read the first constellation of the woman and childComa, as expounding the first signVirgo, so we have to read this first constellation as expounding the second signLibra. Hence, we have here a further picture, showing the object of this conflict on the part of the scorpion.In Scorpio we see merely the effort to woundOphiuchusin the heel; but here we see the effort of the serpent to seizethe Crown, which is situated immediately over the serpent's head, and to which he is looking up and reaching forth.The contest is for Dominion! It was the Devil, in the form of a serpent, that robbed the first man of his crown; but in vain he struggled to wrest it from the sure possession of the Second Man. Not only does he fail in the attempt, but is himself utterly defeated and trodden under foot.Plate 10: SERPENS (the Serpent) and OPHIUCHUS (the Serpent Holder)There are no less than 134 stars in these two constellations. Two are of the 2nd magnitude, fourteen of the 3rd, thirteen of the 4th, etc.The brightest star in the Serpent, α (in the neck), is namedUnuk, which meansencompassing. Another Hebrew name isAlyah,the accursed. From this isAl Hay(Arabic),the reptile. The next brightest star is β (in the jaw), named, in Arabic,Cheleb, orChelbalrai, the serpent enfolding. The Greek name,[pg 058]Ophiuchus, is itself from the Hebrew and Arabic nameAfeichus, which meansthe serpent held. The brightest star inOphiuchus, α (in the head), is calledRas al Hagus(Arabic),the head of him who holds.Other Hebrew names of stars, not identified, areTriophas,treading under foot;Saiph(in the foot42of Ophiuchus),bruised;Carnebus,the wounding;Megeros,contending.43In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a throned human figure, calledApi-bau,the chief who cometh. He has a hawk's head to show that he is the enemy of the serpent, which is calledKhu, and meansruledorenemy.All these combine to set before us in detail the nature of the conflict and its final issue. That final issue is, however, exhibited by the last of the three constellations of this chapter. The Victor Himself requires a whole picture to fully set forth the glorious victory. This brings us to—3. HERCULES (The Mighty Man).The Mighty Vanquisher.Here the mighty one, who occupies a large portion of the heavens, is seen bending on one knee, with his right heel lifted up as if it had been wounded,[pg 059]while his left foot is set directly over the head of the great dragon. In his right hand he wields a great club, and in his left hand he grasps a triple-headed monster (Cerberus). And he has the skin of a lion, which he has slain, thrown around him.44In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a human figure, likewise with a club. His name isBau, which meanswho cometh, and is evidently intended for Him who cometh to crush the serpent's head, and“destroy the works of the devil.”In Arabic he is calledAl Giscale, the strong one.Plate 11: HERCULES (the Mighty One)There are 113 stars in this constellation. Seven are of the 3rd magnitude, seventeen of the 4th, etc.The brightest star, α (in his head), is namedRas al Gethi, and meansthe head of him who bruises.The next, β (in the right arm-pit), is namedKornephorus, and meansthe branch, kneeling.The star κ (in the right elbow) is calledMarsic,the wounding.The star λ (in the upper part of the left arm) is namedMa'asyn,the sin-offering.While ω (in the lower part of the right arm) isCaiam, orGuiam,punishing; and in Arabic,treading under foot.[pg 060]Thus does everything in the picture combine to set forth the mighty works of this stronger than the strong man armed!We can easily see how the perversion of the truth by the Greeks came about, and how, when the true foreshadowings of this Mighty One had been lost, the many fables were invented to supply their place. The wiser sort of Greeks knew this perfectly well.Aristotle(in hisMetaphysics, x. 8) admits, with regard to Greek mythology, that religion and philosophy had been lost, and that much had been“added after the mythical style,”while much had come down, and“may have been preserved to our times as the remains of ancient wisdom.”Religion, such as it was (Polybiusconfesses), was recognised as a“necessary means to political ends.”Neandersays that it was“the fragments of a tradition, which transmitted the knowledge of divine things possessed in the earliest times.”Aratusshews the same uncertainty as to the meaning of this Constellation ofHercules. He says:“Near this, and like a toiling man, revolvesA form. Of it can no one clearly speak,Nor what he labours at. They call him simply‘The man upon his knees’: In desperate struggleLike one who sinks, he seems. From both his shouldersHis arms are high-uplifted and out-stretchedAs far as he can reach; and his right footIs planted on the coiléd Dragon's head.”Ancient authorities differ as to the personality of Hercules, and they disagree as to the number, nature, and order of what are sometimes called“the twelve[pg 061]labours of Hercules.”But there is no doubt as to the mighty foretold works which the woman's Seed should perform.From first to last Hercules is seen engaged in destroying some malignant foe: now it is the Nemean lion; then it is the slaying of the boar of Erymanthus; again, it is the conquest of the bull of Crete; then the killing of the three-headed hydra, by whose venom Hercules afterwards died. In the belly of the sea monster he is said to have remained“three days and three nights.”This was, doubtless, a perversion of the type of Jonah, introduced byLycophron, who (living at the court ofPtolemy Philadelphus, under whose auspices the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek) would have known of that Divine miracle, and of its application to the Coming One. Bishop Horsley believed that the fables of the Greek mythology could be traced back to the prophecies of the Messiah, of which they were a perversion from ignorance or design. This is specially true of Hercules. In his apparently impossible tasks of overthrowing gigantic enemies and delivering captives, we can see through the shadow, and discern the pure light of the truth. We can understand how the original star-picture must have been a prophetic representation of Him who shall destroy the Old Serpent and open the way again, not to fabled“apples of gold,”but to the“tree of life”itself. He it is who though suffering in the mighty conflict, and brought to His knee, going down even to“the dust of death,”shall yet, in resurrection and advent glory, wield His[pg 062]victorious club, subdue all His enemies, and plant His foot on the Dragon's head. For of Him it is written:—“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder;The young lion and the dragon shalt Thou trample under foot.”(Ps. xci. 13.)“Come, Lord, and burst the captives' chains,And set the prisoners free;Come, cleanse this earth from all its stains,And make it meet for Thee!Oh, come and end Creation's groans—Its sighs, its tears, its blood,And make this blighted world againThe dwelling-place of God.”

The Redeemer's Atoning Work; or The Price deficient balanced by the Price which covers.

In the first chapter of this book we saw that this Coming Seed of the woman was, among other things, to give up His life for others.

Thesecondchapter is going to define and develope the manner and object of this death.

The name of the Sign, together with its three constellations and the names of the stars composing them, give the complete picture of this Redemption.

Plate 5: Libra (the Scales)

The Sign contains 51 stars, two of which are of the 2nd magnitude, one of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.

The Hebrew name isMozanaim,the Scales,weighing. Its name in Arabic isAl Zubena,purchase, orredemption. In Coptic, it isLambadia,station of propitiation(fromLam,graciousness, andbadia,branch). The name by which it has come down to us is the Latin,Libra, which meansweighing, as used in the Vulgate (Isa. xl. 12).

Libra contains three bright stars whose names supply us with the whole matter. The brightest, α (in the lower scale), is namedZuben al Genubi, which meansthe purchase, orprice which is deficient. This[pg 046]points to the fact that man has been utterly ruined. He is“weighed in the balances and found wanting.”

“None of them can by any means redeem his brother,Nor give to God a ransom for him;For the redemption of their soul is costly,And must be let alone for ever.”(Ps. xlix. 7,r.v.)“Surely men of low degree are vanity (Heb.a breath),And men of high degree are a lie;In the balances they go up;They are altogether lighter than vanity”(Heb.a breath).(Ps. lxii. 9,r.v.)

“None of them can by any means redeem his brother,Nor give to God a ransom for him;For the redemption of their soul is costly,And must be let alone for ever.”

“None of them can by any means redeem his brother,

Nor give to God a ransom for him;

For the redemption of their soul is costly,

And must be let alone for ever.”

(Ps. xlix. 7,r.v.)

“Surely men of low degree are vanity (Heb.a breath),And men of high degree are a lie;In the balances they go up;They are altogether lighter than vanity”(Heb.a breath).

“Surely men of low degree are vanity (Heb.a breath),

And men of high degree are a lie;

In the balances they go up;

They are altogether lighter than vanity”(Heb.a breath).

(Ps. lxii. 9,r.v.)

This is the verdict pronounced and recorded by this starZuben al Genubi.

Is there then no hope? Is there no one who can pay the price?

Yes; there is“the Seed of the woman.”He is not merely coming as a child, but He is coming as an atoning sacrifice.

He is coming for the purpose of Redemption! He can paythe price which covers! Hence in the upper scale we have another bright star with this very nameZuben al Chemali—THE PRICE WHICH COVERS! Praised be God!“They sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy ... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.”(Rev. v. 9.) This is the testimony of β, the second brightest star! It has another name,al Gubi,heaped up, orhigh, telling of the infinite value of this redemption price. But there is a third star, γ, below, towardsCentaurusand theVictimslain, telling, by that and by its name, of theconflictby which that redemption would be[pg 047]accomplished. It is calledZuben AkrabiorZuben al Akrab, which meansthe price of the conflict!

There is, however, some reason to suppose that Libra is a very ancient Egyptian corruption, bringing in human merit instead of Divine righteousness;“the way of Cain”instead of the way of God. In the more ancient Akkadian the months were called after the names of the signs,38and the sign of the seventh month is the sign that we now call Libra. The Akkadian name for it wasTulku.Tulmeansmound(likedhulanddul), andkumeanssacred;hence,Tulkumeansthe sacred mound, orthe holy altar.39

Not only is the name and its meaning different, but the teaching is infinitely greater and more important, if we may believe that the original picture of this sign was not a pair of scales, but the representation ofa holy altar. This would agree still better with the three constellations which follow.

The names of the stars would also be more appropriate, for it is the Sacrifice of Christ which they foreshadowed, and here it was that the price which covered was paid, and outweighed the price which was deficient. What that price was to be, and how it was to be paid, and what was to be the result in the Person of the Redeemer, is set forth in detail in the three sections of this chapter by the constellations ofThe Crossendured,The Victimslain, andThe Crownbestowed.

1. CRUX (The Cross).The Cross Endured.The Hebrew name wasAdom, which meanscutting off, as in Dan. ix. 26:—“After threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off.”The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet was calledTau, which was anciently made in the form of a cross. The ancientPhœnicianwas [Symbol: right-tilted cross]; the ancientHebrew, as found on coins, was [Symbol: right-tilted cross] and [Symbol: vertical cross]; theAramaic, as found on Egyptian monuments, was a transition [Symbol: tilted cross] or [Symbol: stretched cross], which passed into the present square Hebrew character ת. This letter is calledTau, and meansa mark; especiallya boundary-mark, a limit or finish. And it is the last letter, which finishes the Hebrew alphabet to this day.Plate 6: Crux (the Cross)The Southern Cross was just visible in the latitude of Jerusalem at the time of the first coming of our Lord to die. Since then, through the gradual recession of the Polar Star, it has not been seen in northern latitudes. It gradually disappeared and became invisible at Jerusalem when the Real Sacrifice was offered there; and tradition, which preserved its memory, assured travellers that if they could go far enough south it would be again seen. Dante sang of“the four stars never beheld but by the early race of men.”It was not until the sixteenth century had dawned that missionaries and voyagers, doubling the Cape for the first time, and visiting the tropics and southern seas, brought back the news of“a[pg 049]wonderful cross more glorious than all the constellations of the heavens.”It is a small asterism, containing only about five stars,viz., one of the 1st magnitude, two of the 2nd, one of the 3rd, and one of the 4th. Four of these are in the form of a cross.Long before the Christian Era this sign of the Cross had lost its true meaning, and had been perverted in Babylon and Egypt as it has since been desecrated by Rome. The Persians and Egyptians worshipped it. The cakes made and eaten in honour of the Queen of Heaven were marked with it. This heathen custom Rome has adopted and adapted in her Good Friday cakes, which are thus stamped. But all are alike ignorant of what it means,viz.,“IT IS FINISHED.”In Egypt, and in the earliest times, it was the sign and symbol oflife. To-day, Romanists use it as the symbol ofdeath! But it meanslife! Natural life given up, and eternal life procured. Atonement, finished, perfect, and complete; never to be repeated, or added to. All who partake of its benefits in Christ now, in grace, by faith“ARE made nigh by the blood of Christ”(Eph. ii. 13), and of them Jesus says,“He that heareth my voice, and believeth on Him that sent me HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but IS PASSED from death unto life”(John v. 24). So perfect and complete is the work which Jesus finished on the Cross that we cannot seek to add even our repentance, faith, tears, or prayers, without practically asserting[pg 050]that the work of Christ is not finished, and is not sufficient!The Hebrew names of this constellation—AdomandTau—rebuke our Pharisaic spirit, which is the relic and essence of all false religions, and points to the blessed fact that the Sacrifice was offered“once for all,”and the atoning work of Redemption completely finished on Calvary.“'Tis finished! the Messiah dies!Cut off for sins, but not His own;Accomplished is the sacrifice,The great redeeming work is done.”In the ancient Egyptian Zodiac of Denderah this first Decan ofLibrais represented as a lion with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, as if in thirst, and a female figure holding a cup out to him. Under his fore feet is the hieroglyphic symbol of running water. What is all this but“the Lion of the tribe of Judah”brought down“into the dust of death,”and saying“I am poured out like water ... my strength is dried up”(Ps. xxii. 13-18):“I thirst”(John xix. 28):“and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”(Ps. lxix. 21)?The Egyptian name of this Lion, however, points to his ultimate triumph, for it is calledSera, that is,victory!This brings us to—

The Cross Endured.

The Hebrew name wasAdom, which meanscutting off, as in Dan. ix. 26:—“After threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off.”The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet was calledTau, which was anciently made in the form of a cross. The ancientPhœnicianwas [Symbol: right-tilted cross]; the ancientHebrew, as found on coins, was [Symbol: right-tilted cross] and [Symbol: vertical cross]; theAramaic, as found on Egyptian monuments, was a transition [Symbol: tilted cross] or [Symbol: stretched cross], which passed into the present square Hebrew character ת. This letter is calledTau, and meansa mark; especiallya boundary-mark, a limit or finish. And it is the last letter, which finishes the Hebrew alphabet to this day.

Plate 6: Crux (the Cross)

The Southern Cross was just visible in the latitude of Jerusalem at the time of the first coming of our Lord to die. Since then, through the gradual recession of the Polar Star, it has not been seen in northern latitudes. It gradually disappeared and became invisible at Jerusalem when the Real Sacrifice was offered there; and tradition, which preserved its memory, assured travellers that if they could go far enough south it would be again seen. Dante sang of“the four stars never beheld but by the early race of men.”It was not until the sixteenth century had dawned that missionaries and voyagers, doubling the Cape for the first time, and visiting the tropics and southern seas, brought back the news of“a[pg 049]wonderful cross more glorious than all the constellations of the heavens.”

It is a small asterism, containing only about five stars,viz., one of the 1st magnitude, two of the 2nd, one of the 3rd, and one of the 4th. Four of these are in the form of a cross.

Long before the Christian Era this sign of the Cross had lost its true meaning, and had been perverted in Babylon and Egypt as it has since been desecrated by Rome. The Persians and Egyptians worshipped it. The cakes made and eaten in honour of the Queen of Heaven were marked with it. This heathen custom Rome has adopted and adapted in her Good Friday cakes, which are thus stamped. But all are alike ignorant of what it means,viz.,“IT IS FINISHED.”

In Egypt, and in the earliest times, it was the sign and symbol oflife. To-day, Romanists use it as the symbol ofdeath! But it meanslife! Natural life given up, and eternal life procured. Atonement, finished, perfect, and complete; never to be repeated, or added to. All who partake of its benefits in Christ now, in grace, by faith“ARE made nigh by the blood of Christ”(Eph. ii. 13), and of them Jesus says,“He that heareth my voice, and believeth on Him that sent me HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but IS PASSED from death unto life”(John v. 24). So perfect and complete is the work which Jesus finished on the Cross that we cannot seek to add even our repentance, faith, tears, or prayers, without practically asserting[pg 050]that the work of Christ is not finished, and is not sufficient!

The Hebrew names of this constellation—AdomandTau—rebuke our Pharisaic spirit, which is the relic and essence of all false religions, and points to the blessed fact that the Sacrifice was offered“once for all,”and the atoning work of Redemption completely finished on Calvary.

“'Tis finished! the Messiah dies!Cut off for sins, but not His own;Accomplished is the sacrifice,The great redeeming work is done.”

“'Tis finished! the Messiah dies!

Cut off for sins, but not His own;

Accomplished is the sacrifice,

The great redeeming work is done.”

In the ancient Egyptian Zodiac of Denderah this first Decan ofLibrais represented as a lion with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, as if in thirst, and a female figure holding a cup out to him. Under his fore feet is the hieroglyphic symbol of running water. What is all this but“the Lion of the tribe of Judah”brought down“into the dust of death,”and saying“I am poured out like water ... my strength is dried up”(Ps. xxii. 13-18):“I thirst”(John xix. 28):“and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”(Ps. lxix. 21)?

The Egyptian name of this Lion, however, points to his ultimate triumph, for it is calledSera, that is,victory!

This brings us to—

2. LUPUS or VICTIMA (The Victim).The Victim Slain.Its modern name isLupus(a wolf), because it looks like one. It may be any animal. The great point[pg 051]of this ancient constellation is that the animal has beenslain, and is in the act of falling down dead.Plate 7: Lupus or Victima the VICTIM SlainIts Greek name isThera,a beast, andLycos,a wolf. Its Latin name isVictima, orBestia(Vulg. Gen. viii. 17), which sufficiently indicates the great lesson. This is confirmed by its ancient Hebrew name,Asedah, and ArabicAsedaton, which both meanto be slain.More than 22 of its stars have been catalogued. None of them are higher than the 4th magnitude; most of them are of the 5th or 6th.True, He was“by wicked hands crucified and slain,”but He is slain here by the Centaur,i.e.by Himself! To make it perfectly clear that it was His own act (without which His death would lose all merit), He uttered those solemn words:“I lay down my life for the sheep.... No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again”(John x. 15-18). He“offered Himself without spot to God.”“He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself”(Heb. ix. 11, 26).In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah He is pictured as a little child with its finger on its lips, and He is calledSura,a lamb! In other pictures He has, besides, the horn of a goat on one side of His head. All this pointed to one and the same great fact,viz., the development and explanation of what was meant bythe bruising of His heel! It meant that this Promised[pg 052]Seed of the woman should come as a child, that He should suffer, and die upon the Cross, for“He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter;And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb;SO HE opened not his mouth.”(Isa. liii. 7.)Hence, the constellation prefigures a silent, willing sacrifice—Christ Jesus, who,“being found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross”(Phil. ii. 5-8).

The Victim Slain.

Its modern name isLupus(a wolf), because it looks like one. It may be any animal. The great point[pg 051]of this ancient constellation is that the animal has beenslain, and is in the act of falling down dead.

Plate 7: Lupus or Victima the VICTIM Slain

Its Greek name isThera,a beast, andLycos,a wolf. Its Latin name isVictima, orBestia(Vulg. Gen. viii. 17), which sufficiently indicates the great lesson. This is confirmed by its ancient Hebrew name,Asedah, and ArabicAsedaton, which both meanto be slain.

More than 22 of its stars have been catalogued. None of them are higher than the 4th magnitude; most of them are of the 5th or 6th.

True, He was“by wicked hands crucified and slain,”but He is slain here by the Centaur,i.e.by Himself! To make it perfectly clear that it was His own act (without which His death would lose all merit), He uttered those solemn words:“I lay down my life for the sheep.... No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again”(John x. 15-18). He“offered Himself without spot to God.”“He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself”(Heb. ix. 11, 26).

In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah He is pictured as a little child with its finger on its lips, and He is calledSura,a lamb! In other pictures He has, besides, the horn of a goat on one side of His head. All this pointed to one and the same great fact,viz., the development and explanation of what was meant bythe bruising of His heel! It meant that this Promised[pg 052]Seed of the woman should come as a child, that He should suffer, and die upon the Cross, for

“He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter;And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb;SO HE opened not his mouth.”(Isa. liii. 7.)

“He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter;And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb;SO HE opened not his mouth.”

“He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter;

And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb;

SO HE opened not his mouth.”

(Isa. liii. 7.)

Hence, the constellation prefigures a silent, willing sacrifice—Christ Jesus, who,“being found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross”(Phil. ii. 5-8).

3. CORONA (The Crown).The Crown Bestowed.“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”This is what is foreshown by this concluding section of the second chapter. Each chapter ends with glory. As in the written Word of God, we frequently have the glory of the Second Coming mentioned without any allusions to the sufferings of the First Coming, but we never have the First Coming in humiliation mentioned without an immediate reference to the glory of the Second Coming.So here, theCrossis closely followed by theCrown! True,“we see not yet all things put under Him, but we see Jesus ... for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour”(Heb. ii. 9).Yes,“the crowning day is coming,”and all heaven shall soon resound with the triumphant song,“Thou[pg 053]art worthy, ... for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood”(Rev. v. 9).The shameful Cross will be followed by a glorious crown, and“every tongue shall confess that Jesus. Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”“Mighty Victor, reign for ever,Wear the crown so dearly won;Never shall Thy people, neverCease to sing what Thou hast done.Thou hast fought Thy people's foes;Thou wilt heal Thy people's woes!”The Hebrew name for the constellation isAtarah,a royal crown, and its stars are known to-day in the East by the plural,Ataroth!Its Arabic name isAl Iclil,an ornament, orjewel.Plate 8: CORONA (the Crown)It has 21 stars: one of the 2nd magnitude and six of the 4th. It is easily known by the stars θ, β, α, γ, δ, and ε, which form a crescent.Its brightest star, α, has the Arabic name ofAl Phecca,the shining.Thus ends this solemn chapter ofLibra, which describes the great work of Redemption, beginning with the Cross and ending with the Crown. The Redeemer's work of Atonement is most blessedly set forth, and He alone is seen as the substitute for lost sinners.“What wondrous love, what mysteriesIn this appointment shine!My breaches of the law are His,And His obedience mine.”

The Crown Bestowed.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”

This is what is foreshown by this concluding section of the second chapter. Each chapter ends with glory. As in the written Word of God, we frequently have the glory of the Second Coming mentioned without any allusions to the sufferings of the First Coming, but we never have the First Coming in humiliation mentioned without an immediate reference to the glory of the Second Coming.

So here, theCrossis closely followed by theCrown! True,“we see not yet all things put under Him, but we see Jesus ... for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour”(Heb. ii. 9).

Yes,“the crowning day is coming,”and all heaven shall soon resound with the triumphant song,“Thou[pg 053]art worthy, ... for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood”(Rev. v. 9).

The shameful Cross will be followed by a glorious crown, and“every tongue shall confess that Jesus. Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

“Mighty Victor, reign for ever,Wear the crown so dearly won;Never shall Thy people, neverCease to sing what Thou hast done.Thou hast fought Thy people's foes;Thou wilt heal Thy people's woes!”

“Mighty Victor, reign for ever,

Wear the crown so dearly won;

Never shall Thy people, never

Cease to sing what Thou hast done.

Thou hast fought Thy people's foes;

Thou wilt heal Thy people's woes!”

The Hebrew name for the constellation isAtarah,a royal crown, and its stars are known to-day in the East by the plural,Ataroth!

Its Arabic name isAl Iclil,an ornament, orjewel.

Plate 8: CORONA (the Crown)

It has 21 stars: one of the 2nd magnitude and six of the 4th. It is easily known by the stars θ, β, α, γ, δ, and ε, which form a crescent.

Its brightest star, α, has the Arabic name ofAl Phecca,the shining.

Thus ends this solemn chapter ofLibra, which describes the great work of Redemption, beginning with the Cross and ending with the Crown. The Redeemer's work of Atonement is most blessedly set forth, and He alone is seen as the substitute for lost sinners.

“What wondrous love, what mysteriesIn this appointment shine!My breaches of the law are His,And His obedience mine.”

“What wondrous love, what mysteries

In this appointment shine!

My breaches of the law are His,

And His obedience mine.”

Chapter III. The Sign SCORPIO.The Redeemer's Conflict.We come now right into the heart of the conflict. The star-picture brings before us a gigantic scorpion endeavouring to sting in the heel a mighty man who is struggling with a serpent, but is crushed by the man, who has his foot placed right on the scorpion's heart.The Hebrew name isAkrab, which is the name of a scorpion, but also meansthe conflict, orwar. It is this that is referred to in Ps. xci. 13:“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder.The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”David uses the very word in Ps. cxliv. 1, where he blesses God for teaching his handsto war.The Coptic name isIsidis, which meansthe attack of the enemy, oroppression; referring to“the wicked that oppress me, my deadly enemies who compass me about”(Ps. xvii. 9).The Arabic name isAl Akrab, which meanswounding him that cometh.Plate 9: SCORPIO (the Scorpion)There are 44 stars altogether in this sign. One is of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, eleven of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.[pg 055]The brightest star, α (in the heart), bears the ancient Arabic name ofAntares, which meansthe wounding. It is called by the LatinsCor Scorpii, because it marks the scorpion's heart. It shines ominously with a deep red light. The sting is called in HebrewLesath(Chaldee,Lesha), which meansthe perverse. The stars in the tail are also known asLeshaa, orLeshat.40The scorpion is a deadly enemy (as we learn from Rev. ix), with poison in its sting, and all the names associated with the sign combine to set forth the malignant enmity which is“set”between the serpent and the woman's Seed.That enmity is shown more fully in the written Word, where we see the attempt of the enemy (in Exod. i.) to destroy every male of the seed of Abraham, and how it was defeated.We see his effort repeated when he used Athaliah to destroy“all the seed royal”(2 Kings xi.), and how“the king's son”was rescued“from among”the slain.We see his hand again instigating Haman,“the Jews' enemy,”to compass the destruction of the whole nation, but defeated in his designs.When the woman's Seed, the virgin's Son, was born, we are shown the same great enemy inciting Herod to slay all the babes in Bethlehem (Matt. ii.), but again he is defeated.[pg 056]In the wilderness of Judæa, and in the Garden of Gethsemane the great conflict is renewed.“This is your hour and the power of darkness,”41He said to His enemies.The real wounding in the heel was received at the Cross. It was there the scorpion struck the woman's seed. He died, but was raised again from the dead“to destroy the works of the devil.”To show us this; to prevent any mistake; to set forth the fact that this conflict onlyapparentlyended in defeat, and that it did not really so end, we have the first two constellations belonging to this sign presentedin one picture! Indeed, the picture is threefold, for it includes the sign itself (as shown on the cover)!If these pictures had been separated, then the conflict would have been separated from the victory; the deadly wound of the serpent's head from the temporary wound in the Victor's heel. Hence,threepictures are required, in which thescorpion, theserpent, and theman, are all involved, in order to present at the same time the triumphant issue of the conflict.Hence, we must present, and consider together, the first two sections of this mysterious chapter.1 and 2. SERPENS and OPHIUCHUS.The Struggle with the Enemy.Here,Serpens, the serpent, is seen struggling vainly in the powerful grasp of the man who is namedO-phi-u-chus. In Latin he is called Serpentarius.[pg 057]He is at one and the same moment shown to be seizing the serpent with his two hands, and treading on the very heart of the scorpion, marked by the deep red starAntares(wounding).Just as we read the first constellation of the woman and childComa, as expounding the first signVirgo, so we have to read this first constellation as expounding the second signLibra. Hence, we have here a further picture, showing the object of this conflict on the part of the scorpion.In Scorpio we see merely the effort to woundOphiuchusin the heel; but here we see the effort of the serpent to seizethe Crown, which is situated immediately over the serpent's head, and to which he is looking up and reaching forth.The contest is for Dominion! It was the Devil, in the form of a serpent, that robbed the first man of his crown; but in vain he struggled to wrest it from the sure possession of the Second Man. Not only does he fail in the attempt, but is himself utterly defeated and trodden under foot.Plate 10: SERPENS (the Serpent) and OPHIUCHUS (the Serpent Holder)There are no less than 134 stars in these two constellations. Two are of the 2nd magnitude, fourteen of the 3rd, thirteen of the 4th, etc.The brightest star in the Serpent, α (in the neck), is namedUnuk, which meansencompassing. Another Hebrew name isAlyah,the accursed. From this isAl Hay(Arabic),the reptile. The next brightest star is β (in the jaw), named, in Arabic,Cheleb, orChelbalrai, the serpent enfolding. The Greek name,[pg 058]Ophiuchus, is itself from the Hebrew and Arabic nameAfeichus, which meansthe serpent held. The brightest star inOphiuchus, α (in the head), is calledRas al Hagus(Arabic),the head of him who holds.Other Hebrew names of stars, not identified, areTriophas,treading under foot;Saiph(in the foot42of Ophiuchus),bruised;Carnebus,the wounding;Megeros,contending.43In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a throned human figure, calledApi-bau,the chief who cometh. He has a hawk's head to show that he is the enemy of the serpent, which is calledKhu, and meansruledorenemy.All these combine to set before us in detail the nature of the conflict and its final issue. That final issue is, however, exhibited by the last of the three constellations of this chapter. The Victor Himself requires a whole picture to fully set forth the glorious victory. This brings us to—3. HERCULES (The Mighty Man).The Mighty Vanquisher.Here the mighty one, who occupies a large portion of the heavens, is seen bending on one knee, with his right heel lifted up as if it had been wounded,[pg 059]while his left foot is set directly over the head of the great dragon. In his right hand he wields a great club, and in his left hand he grasps a triple-headed monster (Cerberus). And he has the skin of a lion, which he has slain, thrown around him.44In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a human figure, likewise with a club. His name isBau, which meanswho cometh, and is evidently intended for Him who cometh to crush the serpent's head, and“destroy the works of the devil.”In Arabic he is calledAl Giscale, the strong one.Plate 11: HERCULES (the Mighty One)There are 113 stars in this constellation. Seven are of the 3rd magnitude, seventeen of the 4th, etc.The brightest star, α (in his head), is namedRas al Gethi, and meansthe head of him who bruises.The next, β (in the right arm-pit), is namedKornephorus, and meansthe branch, kneeling.The star κ (in the right elbow) is calledMarsic,the wounding.The star λ (in the upper part of the left arm) is namedMa'asyn,the sin-offering.While ω (in the lower part of the right arm) isCaiam, orGuiam,punishing; and in Arabic,treading under foot.[pg 060]Thus does everything in the picture combine to set forth the mighty works of this stronger than the strong man armed!We can easily see how the perversion of the truth by the Greeks came about, and how, when the true foreshadowings of this Mighty One had been lost, the many fables were invented to supply their place. The wiser sort of Greeks knew this perfectly well.Aristotle(in hisMetaphysics, x. 8) admits, with regard to Greek mythology, that religion and philosophy had been lost, and that much had been“added after the mythical style,”while much had come down, and“may have been preserved to our times as the remains of ancient wisdom.”Religion, such as it was (Polybiusconfesses), was recognised as a“necessary means to political ends.”Neandersays that it was“the fragments of a tradition, which transmitted the knowledge of divine things possessed in the earliest times.”Aratusshews the same uncertainty as to the meaning of this Constellation ofHercules. He says:“Near this, and like a toiling man, revolvesA form. Of it can no one clearly speak,Nor what he labours at. They call him simply‘The man upon his knees’: In desperate struggleLike one who sinks, he seems. From both his shouldersHis arms are high-uplifted and out-stretchedAs far as he can reach; and his right footIs planted on the coiléd Dragon's head.”Ancient authorities differ as to the personality of Hercules, and they disagree as to the number, nature, and order of what are sometimes called“the twelve[pg 061]labours of Hercules.”But there is no doubt as to the mighty foretold works which the woman's Seed should perform.From first to last Hercules is seen engaged in destroying some malignant foe: now it is the Nemean lion; then it is the slaying of the boar of Erymanthus; again, it is the conquest of the bull of Crete; then the killing of the three-headed hydra, by whose venom Hercules afterwards died. In the belly of the sea monster he is said to have remained“three days and three nights.”This was, doubtless, a perversion of the type of Jonah, introduced byLycophron, who (living at the court ofPtolemy Philadelphus, under whose auspices the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek) would have known of that Divine miracle, and of its application to the Coming One. Bishop Horsley believed that the fables of the Greek mythology could be traced back to the prophecies of the Messiah, of which they were a perversion from ignorance or design. This is specially true of Hercules. In his apparently impossible tasks of overthrowing gigantic enemies and delivering captives, we can see through the shadow, and discern the pure light of the truth. We can understand how the original star-picture must have been a prophetic representation of Him who shall destroy the Old Serpent and open the way again, not to fabled“apples of gold,”but to the“tree of life”itself. He it is who though suffering in the mighty conflict, and brought to His knee, going down even to“the dust of death,”shall yet, in resurrection and advent glory, wield His[pg 062]victorious club, subdue all His enemies, and plant His foot on the Dragon's head. For of Him it is written:—“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder;The young lion and the dragon shalt Thou trample under foot.”(Ps. xci. 13.)“Come, Lord, and burst the captives' chains,And set the prisoners free;Come, cleanse this earth from all its stains,And make it meet for Thee!Oh, come and end Creation's groans—Its sighs, its tears, its blood,And make this blighted world againThe dwelling-place of God.”

The Redeemer's Conflict.

We come now right into the heart of the conflict. The star-picture brings before us a gigantic scorpion endeavouring to sting in the heel a mighty man who is struggling with a serpent, but is crushed by the man, who has his foot placed right on the scorpion's heart.

The Hebrew name isAkrab, which is the name of a scorpion, but also meansthe conflict, orwar. It is this that is referred to in Ps. xci. 13:

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder.The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder.

The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”

David uses the very word in Ps. cxliv. 1, where he blesses God for teaching his handsto war.

The Coptic name isIsidis, which meansthe attack of the enemy, oroppression; referring to“the wicked that oppress me, my deadly enemies who compass me about”(Ps. xvii. 9).

The Arabic name isAl Akrab, which meanswounding him that cometh.

Plate 9: SCORPIO (the Scorpion)

There are 44 stars altogether in this sign. One is of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, eleven of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star, α (in the heart), bears the ancient Arabic name ofAntares, which meansthe wounding. It is called by the LatinsCor Scorpii, because it marks the scorpion's heart. It shines ominously with a deep red light. The sting is called in HebrewLesath(Chaldee,Lesha), which meansthe perverse. The stars in the tail are also known asLeshaa, orLeshat.40

The scorpion is a deadly enemy (as we learn from Rev. ix), with poison in its sting, and all the names associated with the sign combine to set forth the malignant enmity which is“set”between the serpent and the woman's Seed.

That enmity is shown more fully in the written Word, where we see the attempt of the enemy (in Exod. i.) to destroy every male of the seed of Abraham, and how it was defeated.

We see his effort repeated when he used Athaliah to destroy“all the seed royal”(2 Kings xi.), and how“the king's son”was rescued“from among”the slain.

We see his hand again instigating Haman,“the Jews' enemy,”to compass the destruction of the whole nation, but defeated in his designs.

When the woman's Seed, the virgin's Son, was born, we are shown the same great enemy inciting Herod to slay all the babes in Bethlehem (Matt. ii.), but again he is defeated.

In the wilderness of Judæa, and in the Garden of Gethsemane the great conflict is renewed.“This is your hour and the power of darkness,”41He said to His enemies.

The real wounding in the heel was received at the Cross. It was there the scorpion struck the woman's seed. He died, but was raised again from the dead“to destroy the works of the devil.”

To show us this; to prevent any mistake; to set forth the fact that this conflict onlyapparentlyended in defeat, and that it did not really so end, we have the first two constellations belonging to this sign presentedin one picture! Indeed, the picture is threefold, for it includes the sign itself (as shown on the cover)!

If these pictures had been separated, then the conflict would have been separated from the victory; the deadly wound of the serpent's head from the temporary wound in the Victor's heel. Hence,threepictures are required, in which thescorpion, theserpent, and theman, are all involved, in order to present at the same time the triumphant issue of the conflict.

Hence, we must present, and consider together, the first two sections of this mysterious chapter.

1 and 2. SERPENS and OPHIUCHUS.The Struggle with the Enemy.Here,Serpens, the serpent, is seen struggling vainly in the powerful grasp of the man who is namedO-phi-u-chus. In Latin he is called Serpentarius.[pg 057]He is at one and the same moment shown to be seizing the serpent with his two hands, and treading on the very heart of the scorpion, marked by the deep red starAntares(wounding).Just as we read the first constellation of the woman and childComa, as expounding the first signVirgo, so we have to read this first constellation as expounding the second signLibra. Hence, we have here a further picture, showing the object of this conflict on the part of the scorpion.In Scorpio we see merely the effort to woundOphiuchusin the heel; but here we see the effort of the serpent to seizethe Crown, which is situated immediately over the serpent's head, and to which he is looking up and reaching forth.The contest is for Dominion! It was the Devil, in the form of a serpent, that robbed the first man of his crown; but in vain he struggled to wrest it from the sure possession of the Second Man. Not only does he fail in the attempt, but is himself utterly defeated and trodden under foot.Plate 10: SERPENS (the Serpent) and OPHIUCHUS (the Serpent Holder)There are no less than 134 stars in these two constellations. Two are of the 2nd magnitude, fourteen of the 3rd, thirteen of the 4th, etc.The brightest star in the Serpent, α (in the neck), is namedUnuk, which meansencompassing. Another Hebrew name isAlyah,the accursed. From this isAl Hay(Arabic),the reptile. The next brightest star is β (in the jaw), named, in Arabic,Cheleb, orChelbalrai, the serpent enfolding. The Greek name,[pg 058]Ophiuchus, is itself from the Hebrew and Arabic nameAfeichus, which meansthe serpent held. The brightest star inOphiuchus, α (in the head), is calledRas al Hagus(Arabic),the head of him who holds.Other Hebrew names of stars, not identified, areTriophas,treading under foot;Saiph(in the foot42of Ophiuchus),bruised;Carnebus,the wounding;Megeros,contending.43In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a throned human figure, calledApi-bau,the chief who cometh. He has a hawk's head to show that he is the enemy of the serpent, which is calledKhu, and meansruledorenemy.All these combine to set before us in detail the nature of the conflict and its final issue. That final issue is, however, exhibited by the last of the three constellations of this chapter. The Victor Himself requires a whole picture to fully set forth the glorious victory. This brings us to—

The Struggle with the Enemy.

Here,Serpens, the serpent, is seen struggling vainly in the powerful grasp of the man who is namedO-phi-u-chus. In Latin he is called Serpentarius.[pg 057]He is at one and the same moment shown to be seizing the serpent with his two hands, and treading on the very heart of the scorpion, marked by the deep red starAntares(wounding).

Just as we read the first constellation of the woman and childComa, as expounding the first signVirgo, so we have to read this first constellation as expounding the second signLibra. Hence, we have here a further picture, showing the object of this conflict on the part of the scorpion.

In Scorpio we see merely the effort to woundOphiuchusin the heel; but here we see the effort of the serpent to seizethe Crown, which is situated immediately over the serpent's head, and to which he is looking up and reaching forth.

The contest is for Dominion! It was the Devil, in the form of a serpent, that robbed the first man of his crown; but in vain he struggled to wrest it from the sure possession of the Second Man. Not only does he fail in the attempt, but is himself utterly defeated and trodden under foot.

Plate 10: SERPENS (the Serpent) and OPHIUCHUS (the Serpent Holder)

There are no less than 134 stars in these two constellations. Two are of the 2nd magnitude, fourteen of the 3rd, thirteen of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star in the Serpent, α (in the neck), is namedUnuk, which meansencompassing. Another Hebrew name isAlyah,the accursed. From this isAl Hay(Arabic),the reptile. The next brightest star is β (in the jaw), named, in Arabic,Cheleb, orChelbalrai, the serpent enfolding. The Greek name,[pg 058]Ophiuchus, is itself from the Hebrew and Arabic nameAfeichus, which meansthe serpent held. The brightest star inOphiuchus, α (in the head), is calledRas al Hagus(Arabic),the head of him who holds.

Other Hebrew names of stars, not identified, areTriophas,treading under foot;Saiph(in the foot42of Ophiuchus),bruised;Carnebus,the wounding;Megeros,contending.43In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a throned human figure, calledApi-bau,the chief who cometh. He has a hawk's head to show that he is the enemy of the serpent, which is calledKhu, and meansruledorenemy.

All these combine to set before us in detail the nature of the conflict and its final issue. That final issue is, however, exhibited by the last of the three constellations of this chapter. The Victor Himself requires a whole picture to fully set forth the glorious victory. This brings us to—

3. HERCULES (The Mighty Man).The Mighty Vanquisher.Here the mighty one, who occupies a large portion of the heavens, is seen bending on one knee, with his right heel lifted up as if it had been wounded,[pg 059]while his left foot is set directly over the head of the great dragon. In his right hand he wields a great club, and in his left hand he grasps a triple-headed monster (Cerberus). And he has the skin of a lion, which he has slain, thrown around him.44In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a human figure, likewise with a club. His name isBau, which meanswho cometh, and is evidently intended for Him who cometh to crush the serpent's head, and“destroy the works of the devil.”In Arabic he is calledAl Giscale, the strong one.Plate 11: HERCULES (the Mighty One)There are 113 stars in this constellation. Seven are of the 3rd magnitude, seventeen of the 4th, etc.The brightest star, α (in his head), is namedRas al Gethi, and meansthe head of him who bruises.The next, β (in the right arm-pit), is namedKornephorus, and meansthe branch, kneeling.The star κ (in the right elbow) is calledMarsic,the wounding.The star λ (in the upper part of the left arm) is namedMa'asyn,the sin-offering.While ω (in the lower part of the right arm) isCaiam, orGuiam,punishing; and in Arabic,treading under foot.[pg 060]Thus does everything in the picture combine to set forth the mighty works of this stronger than the strong man armed!We can easily see how the perversion of the truth by the Greeks came about, and how, when the true foreshadowings of this Mighty One had been lost, the many fables were invented to supply their place. The wiser sort of Greeks knew this perfectly well.Aristotle(in hisMetaphysics, x. 8) admits, with regard to Greek mythology, that religion and philosophy had been lost, and that much had been“added after the mythical style,”while much had come down, and“may have been preserved to our times as the remains of ancient wisdom.”Religion, such as it was (Polybiusconfesses), was recognised as a“necessary means to political ends.”Neandersays that it was“the fragments of a tradition, which transmitted the knowledge of divine things possessed in the earliest times.”Aratusshews the same uncertainty as to the meaning of this Constellation ofHercules. He says:“Near this, and like a toiling man, revolvesA form. Of it can no one clearly speak,Nor what he labours at. They call him simply‘The man upon his knees’: In desperate struggleLike one who sinks, he seems. From both his shouldersHis arms are high-uplifted and out-stretchedAs far as he can reach; and his right footIs planted on the coiléd Dragon's head.”Ancient authorities differ as to the personality of Hercules, and they disagree as to the number, nature, and order of what are sometimes called“the twelve[pg 061]labours of Hercules.”But there is no doubt as to the mighty foretold works which the woman's Seed should perform.From first to last Hercules is seen engaged in destroying some malignant foe: now it is the Nemean lion; then it is the slaying of the boar of Erymanthus; again, it is the conquest of the bull of Crete; then the killing of the three-headed hydra, by whose venom Hercules afterwards died. In the belly of the sea monster he is said to have remained“three days and three nights.”This was, doubtless, a perversion of the type of Jonah, introduced byLycophron, who (living at the court ofPtolemy Philadelphus, under whose auspices the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek) would have known of that Divine miracle, and of its application to the Coming One. Bishop Horsley believed that the fables of the Greek mythology could be traced back to the prophecies of the Messiah, of which they were a perversion from ignorance or design. This is specially true of Hercules. In his apparently impossible tasks of overthrowing gigantic enemies and delivering captives, we can see through the shadow, and discern the pure light of the truth. We can understand how the original star-picture must have been a prophetic representation of Him who shall destroy the Old Serpent and open the way again, not to fabled“apples of gold,”but to the“tree of life”itself. He it is who though suffering in the mighty conflict, and brought to His knee, going down even to“the dust of death,”shall yet, in resurrection and advent glory, wield His[pg 062]victorious club, subdue all His enemies, and plant His foot on the Dragon's head. For of Him it is written:—“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder;The young lion and the dragon shalt Thou trample under foot.”(Ps. xci. 13.)“Come, Lord, and burst the captives' chains,And set the prisoners free;Come, cleanse this earth from all its stains,And make it meet for Thee!Oh, come and end Creation's groans—Its sighs, its tears, its blood,And make this blighted world againThe dwelling-place of God.”

The Mighty Vanquisher.

Here the mighty one, who occupies a large portion of the heavens, is seen bending on one knee, with his right heel lifted up as if it had been wounded,[pg 059]while his left foot is set directly over the head of the great dragon. In his right hand he wields a great club, and in his left hand he grasps a triple-headed monster (Cerberus). And he has the skin of a lion, which he has slain, thrown around him.44

In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a human figure, likewise with a club. His name isBau, which meanswho cometh, and is evidently intended for Him who cometh to crush the serpent's head, and“destroy the works of the devil.”

In Arabic he is calledAl Giscale, the strong one.

Plate 11: HERCULES (the Mighty One)

There are 113 stars in this constellation. Seven are of the 3rd magnitude, seventeen of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star, α (in his head), is namedRas al Gethi, and meansthe head of him who bruises.

The next, β (in the right arm-pit), is namedKornephorus, and meansthe branch, kneeling.

The star κ (in the right elbow) is calledMarsic,the wounding.

The star λ (in the upper part of the left arm) is namedMa'asyn,the sin-offering.

While ω (in the lower part of the right arm) isCaiam, orGuiam,punishing; and in Arabic,treading under foot.

Thus does everything in the picture combine to set forth the mighty works of this stronger than the strong man armed!

We can easily see how the perversion of the truth by the Greeks came about, and how, when the true foreshadowings of this Mighty One had been lost, the many fables were invented to supply their place. The wiser sort of Greeks knew this perfectly well.Aristotle(in hisMetaphysics, x. 8) admits, with regard to Greek mythology, that religion and philosophy had been lost, and that much had been“added after the mythical style,”while much had come down, and“may have been preserved to our times as the remains of ancient wisdom.”Religion, such as it was (Polybiusconfesses), was recognised as a“necessary means to political ends.”Neandersays that it was“the fragments of a tradition, which transmitted the knowledge of divine things possessed in the earliest times.”

Aratusshews the same uncertainty as to the meaning of this Constellation ofHercules. He says:

“Near this, and like a toiling man, revolvesA form. Of it can no one clearly speak,Nor what he labours at. They call him simply‘The man upon his knees’: In desperate struggleLike one who sinks, he seems. From both his shouldersHis arms are high-uplifted and out-stretchedAs far as he can reach; and his right footIs planted on the coiléd Dragon's head.”

“Near this, and like a toiling man, revolves

A form. Of it can no one clearly speak,

Nor what he labours at. They call him simply

‘The man upon his knees’: In desperate struggle

Like one who sinks, he seems. From both his shoulders

His arms are high-uplifted and out-stretched

As far as he can reach; and his right foot

Is planted on the coiléd Dragon's head.”

Ancient authorities differ as to the personality of Hercules, and they disagree as to the number, nature, and order of what are sometimes called“the twelve[pg 061]labours of Hercules.”But there is no doubt as to the mighty foretold works which the woman's Seed should perform.

From first to last Hercules is seen engaged in destroying some malignant foe: now it is the Nemean lion; then it is the slaying of the boar of Erymanthus; again, it is the conquest of the bull of Crete; then the killing of the three-headed hydra, by whose venom Hercules afterwards died. In the belly of the sea monster he is said to have remained“three days and three nights.”This was, doubtless, a perversion of the type of Jonah, introduced byLycophron, who (living at the court ofPtolemy Philadelphus, under whose auspices the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek) would have known of that Divine miracle, and of its application to the Coming One. Bishop Horsley believed that the fables of the Greek mythology could be traced back to the prophecies of the Messiah, of which they were a perversion from ignorance or design. This is specially true of Hercules. In his apparently impossible tasks of overthrowing gigantic enemies and delivering captives, we can see through the shadow, and discern the pure light of the truth. We can understand how the original star-picture must have been a prophetic representation of Him who shall destroy the Old Serpent and open the way again, not to fabled“apples of gold,”but to the“tree of life”itself. He it is who though suffering in the mighty conflict, and brought to His knee, going down even to“the dust of death,”shall yet, in resurrection and advent glory, wield His[pg 062]victorious club, subdue all His enemies, and plant His foot on the Dragon's head. For of Him it is written:—

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder;The young lion and the dragon shalt Thou trample under foot.”(Ps. xci. 13.)“Come, Lord, and burst the captives' chains,And set the prisoners free;Come, cleanse this earth from all its stains,And make it meet for Thee!Oh, come and end Creation's groans—Its sighs, its tears, its blood,And make this blighted world againThe dwelling-place of God.”

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder;The young lion and the dragon shalt Thou trample under foot.”

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder;

The young lion and the dragon shalt Thou trample under foot.”

(Ps. xci. 13.)

“Come, Lord, and burst the captives' chains,And set the prisoners free;Come, cleanse this earth from all its stains,And make it meet for Thee!

“Come, Lord, and burst the captives' chains,

And set the prisoners free;

Come, cleanse this earth from all its stains,

And make it meet for Thee!

Oh, come and end Creation's groans—Its sighs, its tears, its blood,And make this blighted world againThe dwelling-place of God.”

Oh, come and end Creation's groans—

Its sighs, its tears, its blood,

And make this blighted world again

The dwelling-place of God.”

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