Leaves from the Tree of Life [Sermons]. - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1878. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... VII. 'ffioi ttststttfj tTjr pronto, but gibetfj grate to the frumblt.'--. Jas. iv. 6. In certain parts of India they have a very poisonous serpent, called the cobra-de-capello. It is also called the 'hooded serpent,' because when angry it has the power of raising the skin round its head, so that it looks like a hood. Animals and men when bitten by this serpent generally die, unless something can be found to undo the effect of the poison and heal the bite. In those parts of the country where these serpents are most numerous, there is said to be a little animal which is their mortal enemy. I cannot be sure of the truth of this statement; but whether true or not, it answers for an illustration here. In size this animal is between a weasel and a fox, and seems to share the nature of both. It hates the cobra, flies at it, and fights it whenever it has a chance. It often gets bitten in the fight; and the bite would be sure to kill it if it were not for one thing. In the places where these serpents live, it is said that there grows a particular plant, the leaves of which are a certain cure for the bite of the cobra. And so, when this brave little enemy of the cobra gets bitten in the fight, he runs directly to this plant, and eats some of its leaves. The effect of this is to check the poison, and to cure the bite. As soon as this is done, the persevering enemy of the serpent attacks him again, and never rests till he has killed him. Now, sin is the serpent with which we have to fight . Its bite is worse than that of the cobra, because it affects the soul, and will cause its death, unless the poison be corrected. The bite of a poisonous serpent will sometimes cause the body to swell, and become larger than it ought to be. And the bite of the serpent sin has just such an...