How was this miraculous Cure in the Wilderness obtained? It was by an ocular View, that is, by looking at the artificial Serpent. None else were entitled to a Relief. Thus Salvation comes by Faith, which in the prophetick Dialect is represented by looking. Es. xlv. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved all the Ends of the Earth. The first Sin enter’d at the Eye; the Woman saw the Fruit was good. Thus our Restoration to the Divine Favour is by an Eye to Christ, the Tree of Life, but I must not strain the Metaphor too far.
SECT. IV.
Why was the Cure by a Serpent of Brass? I answer, not for any healing Virtue inherent in that Mineral, more than others, but to demonstrate his Almighty Power, who can save by improbable Means, or without the Application of any Means. Thus the blind Man was cured by a Piece of Clay temper’d with Spittle; John ix. 6.
Perhaps, this also may refer to our Lord, as he is compar’d to Brass, which, when polish’d, is of a most beautiful Colour, exceeding that of Gold. Revel. i. 15. His Feet like unto fine Brass. An Emblem of the high Qualities that glitter in him, whose Nature is divinely fair and glorious.
Those fiery Serpents, as they flew in the Air, might in Colour resemble that of burnish’d Brass, because the Serpent of Moses was form’d of Brass, a Metal that in itself is no Friend to Health; and some have said, that the Sight of the brazen Serpent ought naturally to increase the Distemper of the Wounded, instead of healing it; and that the Almighty, shew’d a double Efficacy of his Power, by healing with those Means, which ought to have a quite contrary Effect[[362]].
[362]. Buxtorf, Hist. de Serpente æneo.
Tho’ Brass in its natural State, may not be propitious to Health, yet when duly prepar’d it is beneficial: The Preparation of Copper has been accounted an universal Remedy, and an excellent Emetick, having this singular Virtue, that it exerts its Force, as soon as ever it is taken: Whereas other Emeticks lie a long time dormant in the Stomach, creating nauseous Anxieties, &c. but a single Grain of Verdegrease immediately vomits[[363]].
[363]. Boerhaave’s Method.
A Certain learned Gentleman of this Island, imagines that the brazen Serpent was a kind of Talisman; that is to say, one of those Pieces of Metal, which are cast and engraven under certain Constellations, from whence they derive an extraordinary Virtue to cure Distempers, &c. Some impute their Effects to the old Serpent, others to the Nature of the Metal, and to the Influence of the Constellation. This Author therefore would make us believe, that the brazen Serpent cured just as the Talismans cure certain Distempers, by the Sympathy there is between the Metals of which they are made, or the Influence of the Stars under which they are formed, and the Disease they are to cure. Every one may believe as he pleases[[364]].
[364]. Marsham Canon. Chronic. quoted by Calmet.