The worship of the serpent traced throughout the world, attesting the temptation and fall of man by the instrumentality of a serpent tempter / By the Rev. John Bathurst Deane.

  • Deane, John Bathurst, 1797-1887.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The worship of the serpent traced throughout the world, attesting the temptation and fall of man by the instrumentality of a serpent tempter / By the Rev. John Bathurst Deane. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/522 (page 11)
    civilized nation, evidences of a recollection of the events in Paradise. If these facts can be established, the conclusion is obvious—that all such traditions must have had a common origin ; and that the most ancient record, which con- tains their basis, must be the authentic history. The most ancient record containing this basis, is the Book of Genesis, composed by Moses. The Book of Genesis, therefore, contains the history upon which the fables, rites, and su- perstitions of the mythological serpent are founded. I cannot close these remarks without record- ing my obligation to a gentleman whose sound and varied learning is equalled by the kindness with which he imparts it; and from whom no writer departs without encouragement, whose object is to promote or to protect the truth. The Rev. Lancelot Sharpe will, I trust, pardon this allusion, as due to one who kindly looked over the MSS. of the first edition of this treatise; and as one to whom I am indebted for many valuable suggestions. Neither can I, in justice to my own sense of obligations, omit the mention of my esteemed friend, P. C. Delagarde, Esq. of Exeter, to