Else we should all sin on or sleep
With Christ in sight, turning our gain to loss."
Christian Year (4th Sunday after Easter.)
Triangle, Trefoils, &c.
The Triangle (equilateral), trefoil, three circles, or triple triangle, are the emblems of the Holy Trinity.
Of the trefoil, which is in fact the shamrock, it is said that St. Patrick, when endeavouring to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity in Unity to the heathen in Ireland, suddenly cast his eye on the green leaves at his feet, and plucking one of them, conveyed an idea of his meaning in this simple form.
Circle.
The Plain Circle, without beginning and without end, was the early symbol of eternity; united with the cross, it typifies eternal life: enclosing a triangle, Three in One.
Serpents.
The serpent, with its tail in its mouth, has been justly considered an emblem of eternal punishment. The serpent, or dragon, being always the emblem of all wickedness, is to me quite unaccountably a favourite subject for illumination. It has, however, an obvious meaning, represented as flying from the sacred words.