(Jer. xxiii. 4.) [Illustration] Plate 31: AURIGA (the Shepherd) AURIGA is from a Hebrew root which means _a shepherd_. It is a beautiful constellation of 66 stars; one of the 1st magnitude, two of the 2nd, nine of the 4th, etc. The brightest star, α (in the body of the goat), points her out as the prominent feature of the constellation, for its name _Alioth_ (Hebrew) means _a she goat_. It is known by the modern Latin name _Capella_, which has the same meaning. The next star, β (in the shepherd’s right arm), is called _Menkilinon_, and means the _band_, or _chain of the goats_, and points out the truth that they are never more to be lost again, but to be bound, with the bands of love, to the Shepherd for evermore. The name of another star is _Maaz_, which means _a flock of goats_. Can there be any mistake as to who this Shepherd is? for the bright star in his right foot is called _El Nath_(64) (like another in ARIES), which means _wounded_ or _slain_. This is He, then, who was once bruised or wounded in the heel. He is “the GOOD Shepherd,” who gave His life for the sheep (John x. 11), but He was “the GREAT Shepherd” brought again from the dead (Heb. xiii. 20); and is now the CHIEF Shepherd (1 Pet. v. 4) seen in the day of His coming glory. Another star emphasises this truth, for it is named _Aiyuk_, which also means _wounded_ in the foot.(65) The star marking the kids is called _Gedi_ (Hebrew), _kids_. In Latin, the word _Auriga_ means a _coachman_ or _charioteer_, the band in his right hand being taken as his _reins_. But the incongruity of a _charioteer_ carrying a she‐goat, and nursing two little kids, never struck them; nor did the fact that he has no chariot and no horses! When man blunders in the things of God, he does it thoroughly! In the Zodiac of Denderah the same truth was revealed more than 4,000 years ago; but the Man, instead of carrying the sheep, is carrying a sceptre, and is called _Trun_, which means _sceptre_ or _power_. But this is a strange sceptre, for at the top it has the head of a goat, and at the bottom, below the hand that holds it, it ends in a cross! With the Egyptians the cross was a sign of _life_. They knew nothing of “the death of the cross.” Here, then, we see _life_ and _salvation_ for the sheep of His flock when He comes to reign and rule in judgment. The truth is precisely the same, though the presentation of it is somewhat varied. The connected teaching of the two constellations, _Eridanus_ and _Auriga_, is solemnly set forth in Mal. iv. 1‐3 (R.V.):