_First_, The _Serpent_, absolutely and figuratively.—The word Serpent, in Scripture, means, First, Naturally the creature itself. _Now the Serpent was more subtil than any beast of the Field_.—Secondly, A miraculous one, as Moses’ Rod was turned into a Serpent.—Third, A delusive one, or one in shew. _The Magicians cast their Rods on the ground_, _and they became Serpents_. Fourth, An artificial one. _Moses made a Serpent of Brass_. But sometimes it signifies the Devil—hence he is called that Old Serpent. And sometimes the enemies of Jesus and his People—_Ye Serpents_! _ye generation of Vipers_! _How can ye escape the damnation of Hell_? Satan is called a Serpent, because he hid himself in the Serpent in his first stratagem against our first Patents. Because of his serpentine disposition, in his poison and malice against Christ and his Church; and in his winding, by his flattery, craftiness, and his accursed condition.—The first account we have of him is very early. Originally created in light, he envied the honors paid the adorable Trinity; or he envied the Lord Jesus Christ the glory he was to obtain as God-Man. He disbelieved the eternal power and faithfulness of God. He drew millions of angels into rebellion with him. He abode not in the truth; for which he was cast in the prison of Hell. His sin seems to be an awful complication of pride, envy, and unbelief. Cast out of bliss; held in the chains of darkness, he is permitted to wander like a vagabond and thief, to fill up the measure of his iniquity. Permitted to enter the Garden of Eden, where the image of Christ was, even Adam, who was made in that image our dear Lord intended to assume. Satan envied him his bliss; hated the image of God, and adopted a plan to overturn it. He selected out the most subtil beast God had formed, and through it he addressed our Mother, in artful and insinuating language. He temped her with the lust of the eye; she saw the tree was good. With the pride of life—_Ye shall be as gods_, _knowing good and evil_. This was done in the form of the Serpent—so that the Devil and his agents have gone by this name ever since. We will quote the passage, and make a few remarks on it, which will lead us to understand what is meant by the Serpent and his Food. _Gen._ iii. _Now the Serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field_—and having seduced our Parents, when the Lord appeared to them, they laid the blame on him. Then in the 14th verse, the Lord God said unto the Serpent, _Because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all cattle_, _and every beast of the field_. _Upon thy belly shall thou go_, _and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life_. _And I will put enmity between thee and the Woman_, _and between thy seed and her seed_—_he shall bruise thy head_, _and thou shalt bruise his heel_.—Thus runs the curse upon the Serpent.