Men of Letters may give their Conjectures, but it seems to be one of those secret Things which belongs to him who is unsearchable, and whose ways are past finding out; therefore we should rather think, how to get Sin out of the World, than how it came in at first: The one would only prove what our Understandings could do, but the other would declare our Hearts, what they ought to be.
What this Serpent was, that triumph’d in Paradise, has been a Subject of long Debate, and the Learned are not yet agreed in their Verdict about it. I shall first lay down their various Opinions, and then give my own Conjectures.
Among the Jews, some took it for a real, natural Serpent, and did believe, it was endued with the Gift of Speaking; but because it deceived the Woman, was condemn’d to lose its vocal Tongue, to go upon its Belly, and feed upon Dust[[336]].
[336]. Joseph. Antiq. cap. i.
Others, who, not allowing the Privilege of Speech to a Brute, have turn’d the Mosaic History of Paradise into an Allegory, an Assemblage of Metaphors, or figurative Documents. Thus a certain learned Jew says, the Serpent, that seduced the Woman, was Pleasure; and forbidden Pleasure, when tasted, brought forth Death[[337]].
[337]. Philo Jud. de Mundi Opif.
But if this was the Case, could she be so properly said to be tempted by another, as to tempt herself? He adds, the Curse of the Serpent is not only to go upon its Breast, but, and thou shalt go upon thy Belly. q. d. “Since Pleasure was thy Desire, let the Pleasure of the Earth enter into it. The Belly, says the Allegorizer, is the Receptacle of most Pleasures of the Animal Kind.” Creatures that go upon four Feet, or more, are deem’d impure; and such is he, who is a Lover of terrene Pleasures; such a Person may be said, always to go upon his Belly, because he studies nothing more than its Gratification. Pleasure indeed, is attended with a Train of Allurements and Charms. Tarquin’s violent Pursuit of forbidden Pleasure, terminated, not only in the Ruin of his House, but Extirpation of Monarchy: Crœsus King of Lydia being conquer’d by Cyrus King of Persia, gave the Conqueror this Advice, If you would have the Lydians be your obedient Slaves, make them Slaves to Pleasure.
Nor is Philo alone in making the Serpent a Symbol of Pleasure, for Maimonides and others expound those historical Passages in the same manner; asking, Why should that Serpent be call’d a subtle Beast, if it were not in a figurative Sense? In favour of this Exposition, he quotes several Passages out of the Prophets, that are allow’d to be intirely allegorical[[338]]; and then adds, that in Moses’s Journal of the Creation, all things therein are not to be understood literally[[339]]. One of the most learned Fathers seems inclined to this Philonick Interpretation of Moses[[340]]. It is observable, that in reality, ’twas not the Pleasure of Eating which tempted the Woman, but an anxious Desire of greater Wisdom; which shews a more refined Taste in Eve, and overthrows the Hypothesis of Philo and Clemens.
[338]. More Nevochim, cap. xxix.
[339]. Ibid. p. 265, & 273.