Both Cures were performed by the most unlikely Means. The Serpent that healed their Wounds, was made of Brass; a Prescription in which there was no Probability of producing that happy Effect: And where was the promising Aspect arising from the Manner of our Saviour’s Appearance on Earth? What great Things could be expected from a Root of a dry Ground? How improbable was it that a Person so mean in external Form should overthrow the Kingdom of Darkness, a Kingdom that had been strengthening its Barriers for about four thousand Years? Who could think that he had such powerful Interest in Heaven, who was of no Reputation on the Earth? Behold here a Scene of Paradoxes! Patients recovered by the Death of the Physician. Upon Mount _Golgotha_ we see Paradise, lost by the first _Adam_, regained by the Death of the second _Adam_; Principalities and Powers led captives by a dying Man; there we see Life restored by Death, a Crown of Glory purchased by an ignominious Cross. Were the _Israelites_ healed by a Creature made in the Likeness of the Serpent that hurt? So Men are restor’d by one made like themselves. 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]. Footnote 362: _Buxtorf_, Hist. de Serpente æneo.