Therefore this figure of the serpent and circle in their doctrine, aptly means the divine creator, or the creator descended from the supreme. For tho’ the deity was author of all things, yet more immediately this SON or WORD of the supreme was the architect of the universe. And this we find exactly consonant to the scripture doctrine. So that it seems very evident to me, the most important of divine truths admitted in the christian church, were imparted to the first race of mankind, the patriarchal church, which two are in reality but the same. We learn repeatedly from _Sanchoniathon_, _Porphyry_, and other ancient authors quoted by _Eusebius_ in the _præparatio evangelica_, that the first sages of the world had just and true notions of the nature of the deity, conformable to those of the Christians: That, in their hieroglyphic way of writing, they design’d the deity and the mysterious nature thereof, by the sacred figure of the circle, snake, and wings. Of these, the circle meant the fountain of all being, the invisible supreme, who had no name. The serpent symboliz’d the son, or first divine emanation from the supreme. This they called by the name of _Ptha_, which is deriv’d from the _hebrew_, meaning the WORD. The wings symboliz’d that divine person or emanation from the former, commonly called _anima mundi_, but the _Egyptians_ called him KNEPH, which in _hebrew_ signifies _winged_. Thus the old authors that speak of these things are to be understood, though they are confus’d, not rightly apprehending the bottom of the matter. And this hieroglyphic figure, in the whole, was call’d _Knephtha_. But this knowledge of the nature of the deity, the most valuable _depositum_ which could be communicated to mortals, was first perverted into idolatry; therefore God almighty forbore revealing himself further on that head, in an explicit manner, ’till the fulness of time arriv’d, the Christian dispensation. But those people who preserv’d themselves from idolatry, among which I reckon our Druids, retain’d that knowledge thereof which had already been imparted, of which this sacred figure of the alate and serpentiferous circle was, as it were, a seal; which they stamp’d upon these most lasting monuments, their temples. And I doubt not but they somewhat improv’d the notions they had thereof, by reasoning, in the manner I shall speak of chap. XV. _Abury_ is not the only temple in _Britain_ form’d on this design of the circle and serpent. I saw another at _Shap_ in _Westmorland_, when I travell’d thro’ the place, _anno_ 1725, with Mr. _Roger Gale_. But I had no opportunity of examining into it.