ARATUS says that “some few stars of the _Claws_ are in the (Celestial) Equator.” And PTOLEMY describes the stars, now reckoned in LIBRA, as being in what he calls “The Constellation of the Claws.” We have reproduced them so that his description of them may be readily traced. He speaks of— “The bright one of those at the end of the southern _Claw_.” (It is named _Zuben el Genubi_ and now marked α). “The one more northerly than it, and dimmer” (now marked μ). “The bright one of those at the end of the northern _Claw_” (named _Zuben el Chemali_, and now marked β). “The one in front of it and dim” (δ). “The one in the middle of the southern _Claw_” (1 i). “The one in the middle of the northern _Claw_” (now marked γ). “The one behind it in the same _Claw_” (η). “The foremost of the three more northerly than the northern _Claws_” (1 f). “The southern one of the two hindmost” (ε). “The hindmost of the three between the _Claws_” (one of the stars now marked κ or λ). “The northern of the two remaining and preceding ones” (ζ). “The southern one of them” (n). This is how the stars formerly in the Sign of the (Circular) ALTAR, came to be reckoned in _the Claws_ of the Scorpion; and this is how the circular scales of LIBRA came to be substituted for the ancient _Circular_ ALTAR. This corruption of the primitive teaching of the ALTAR, shows how the enemy attempted to _seize_ on the Atonement, bring in “the way of Cain,” and substitute _human merit_ for the atoning sacrifice of Christ; thus perverting the truth at its fountain head. Just as in Gen. iii. we have the woman’s promised Seed in conflict with the Enemy, so in Gen. iv. we see the Scorpion’s claws—“the way of Cain” in conflict with “the way of God.” There can be but little doubt, therefore, that the first Sign of the Zodiac was VIRGO, the second was the ALTAR, and the third was the SCORPION. The lesson which they teach is clear: The Seed of the woman (VIRGO), who was to come as a child, should be a sacrifice (the ALTAR) for the sins of His people; endure a great conflict with the enemy (SCORPIO), in which He should be wounded in the heel; but should in the end crush and tread the enemy under foot. FOOTNOTES 1 For what is meant by “Structure,” see _A Key to the Psalms_, by the late Rev. Thos. Boys, edited by the present author, 7, St. Paul’s Churchyard. Price Five shillings. 2 _Viz._, in _A_ (verses 7, 8),— “Converting,” from שׁוּב, _to return_, as the sun in the heavens. “Testimony,” from עוּד, _to repeat_, hence, _a witness_, spoken of the sun in Ps. lxxxix. 37. “Sure,” אָמַן, _faithful_, as the sun. (Ps. lxxxix. 37.) “Enlightening,” from אוֹר, _to give light_, as the sun. (Gen. i. 15, 17, 18; Isa. lx. 19; Ezek. xxxii. 7.) In _B_ (verses 11, 12, 13),— “Warned,” from זָהַר, _to make light_, hence, _to teach_, _admonish_.