Here, then, we have a river flowing forth from before the glorious _Orion_. It runs in a serpentine course towards the lower regions, down, down, out of sight. In vain the sea monster, _Cetus_, strives to stop its flow. It is “the river of the Judge,” and speaks of that final judgment in which the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire. It was evidently originally associated with _fire_; for the Greek myths, though gross perversions, still so connect it. According to their fables, something went wrong with the chariot of the sun, and a universal conflagration was threatened. In the trouble, _Phaeton_ (probably a reference to the star _Pheat_) was killed and hurled into this river, in which he was consumed with its fire. The whole earth suffered from such a burning heat that great disasters ensued. We see from this myth two great facts preserved in the perverted tradition, _viz._, _judgment_ and _fire_. ARATUS also preserves the connection,— “For yonder, trod by heavenly feet, Wind the scorched waters of Eridanus’ tear‐swollen flood, Welling beneath Orion’s uplifted foot.” Is not this the testimony afterwards written in _the Book_? Daniel sees this very river in his vision of that coming day, when the true Orion shall come forth in His glory. He says, “I beheld till the thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit:... His throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A FIERY STREAM ISSUED AND CAME FORTH FROM BEFORE HIM.” This is _the River of the Judge_; for he goes on to say, “the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Dan. vii. 9‐11, R.V.). We have the same in Ps. xcvii. 3‐5 (R.V.), which describes the scene when the Lord shall reign: “A FIRE GOETH BEFORE HIM, And burneth up His adversaries round about. His lightnings lightened the world: The earth saw and trembled, The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” So again in Ps. l. 3, we read: “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence, A FIRE SHALL DEVOUR BEFORE HIM, And it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.” By Habakkuk the coming of the Lord is described; and it is written: “His brightness was as the light, ... Before Him went the pestilence, And burning coals went forth at His feet.” (Hab. iii. 5.) What is this but _Orion_ and _Eridanus_! Again, it is written in Isaiah xxx. 27‐33 (R.V.): “Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, Burning with His anger, and in thick rising smoke: His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue is as a DEVOURING FIRE: And His breath is as AN OVERFLOWING STREAM [_of fire_].... For a Topheth is prepared of old; Yea, for the king [_Moloch_] it is made ready; He hath made it deep and large; The pile thereof is FIRE and much wood; The breath of the LORD, LIKE A STREAM OF BRIMSTONE, doth kindle it.”