The picture of the holy dove in the decorations of the church tells of the coming of the same Spirit as the fruit of the intercession of our ascended Lord and according to His most true promise, "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may {76} abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth." It reminds of that abiding presence of the Holy Ghost in the Church, making it the "habitation of God through the Spirit," and giving living power to its sacraments as channels of saving and sanctifying grace. Other symbols in frequent use are the following: The _Crown of Thorns_ and the _Nails_ of crucifixion are symbols of our Saviour's passion. [Illustration: Crown of thorns and nails] The three _Interlaced fishes_ and the _Escallop Shell_, the badge of a pilgrim, are both emblems of Holy Baptism: the one, as Baptism is in the Name {77} of the Holy Trinity; the other, as we therein confess that we are pilgrims and strangers on earth, who seek "a better country, that is, an heavenly." [Illustration: Interlaced fishes. Escallop.] The phoenix is the symbol of immortality and the resurrection. The phoenix was a fabulous bird of the ancients. It was believed that, "after living a thousand years or so, it committed itself to the flames that burst, at the fanning of its wings, from the funeral pyre of costly spices which it had itself constructed, and that from its ashes a new phoenix arose to life." [Illustration: Phoenix] The _Anchor_ is the symbol of steadfastness and hope. "A strong consolation,... which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." [Illustration: Anchor] The _Crown_ is the symbol of victory and sovereignty. The _Wreath_, commonly of laurel, is another symbol of victory. As an expression of triumph won, it is one of the commonest of symbols in the catacombs--the underground and secret burying-places of the early Christians in times of persecution. {78} In this connection we may note the symbolism attached to certain plants and flowers. In the ornamentation of God's house we reproduce, as far as the art of man can, the forms and colors with which the love of God has arrayed the earth with so much beauty. We also use the natural plant and flower to beautify the church on the great Christian days of gladness and rejoicing. They mark such days as festival days. In a special way they tell at Easter, by their fresh, pure life out of the death of winter, the story of the resurrection. [Illustration: Crown] But, besides this, an emblematic meaning is also attached to particular flowers and plants. The use by the early Christians of plants and flowers in an emblematic way was simply a matter of reverent memory and the carrying over of past associations. Their remembrance of the words of the Lord Jesus would make the _Vine_, His own similitude of Himself in relation to them,--"I am the vine, ye are the branches,"--a symbol of frequent use to represent the Saviour.