Numbers.

law was directed to be read to the people . If they were obedient , their enemies should flee before them seven ways ; if disobedient , their enemies should chase them seven ways . Hannah , the mother of Samuel , in her thanks , says , that the

barren hath brought forth seven , as some Jewish writers say that his name answers to the value iu the Hebrew word , Avhich signify seven .

Seven of Saul s sons were hanged to stay a famine . Jesse hacl seven sons , the youngest of whom , David , ascended the throne of Israel . The number of animals in sundry of their obligations were limited to seven . Seven days Avere appointed

for atonement on the altar , and the priest's son was appointed to wear his father ' s garment seven days . Among the heathen , the number seven was equally sacred . Cicero , in his Dream of Scipio , calls it " Qui numerus rerum omnium fere nodus

est" ( the binding knot of all things ) : and Plato in his Timceus , taught that the soul of the world ( ammo , mundana ) was generated out of the number seven . There were the seven ancient Planets , seven Pleiades , and seven Hyades . Seven altars burnt continually before the god Mithras . The

Arabians had seven holy temples . There xvere seven heavens . The Hindoos supposed the world to be enclosed within the compass of seven Peninsulas . The Goths had seven deities , viz ., the Sun , the Moon , Tuisco , Woden ,

Thor , Friga , ancl Seatur , from whose names are derived our days of the week . In the Persian mysteries were seven spacious caverns , through which the aspirant had to pass . In the Gothic mysteries , the candidate met with seven

obstructions , which were called the " road of the seven stages ; " and finally , sacrifices were always considered as more efficacious Avhen the victims were seven iu number . Man changes every seven years . Shakespeare , that godlike genius , Avhom nothing escaped , has the " Seven Ages . ' '

" All tho world's a stago , And all the men and women inoi-oly players . Thoy have their exits and thoir entrances ; And one man in his timo plays many parts : His acts hoing sovon ages . At first tho infant , Mewling and puking in the nurso's arms :

And then tho whining schoolboy , with his satchel And shining morning-face , creeping like snail Unwillingly to school . And than , tho lovor ; Sighing like furnace , with a wooful ballad JUado to his mistress' eyebrow . Thon , a soldier ; Full of strange oaths , and boarded like a pard , Jealous of honour , sudden and quick in quarrel ; Seeking ( ho huhble reputation

Even in tho cannon ' s mouth . Aud [ lion , tho justice , Iu fair round belly , with good capon lin'd AA'ith oyes sovovo , and board of formal cut , Full of wiso saws aud modem instances , And so ho plays his part . Tho sixth ago shifts Into tho loan aud slippered pantaloon , AA ith spectacles on nose , and pouch on sido ;

His youthful hoso well savod , . 1 world too wido Vox his shrunk shank . ; and his big manly voice Turning- again towards childish troblo , pipes And whistles in his sound . Last scono of all , That ends this strange eventful history , Is second childishness , and moro oblivion , Sans tooth , sans oyos , sans tasto , sans every thing . "

In Freemasonry , seven is an essential and important number , and throughout the v . hole system the septenary influence extends itself in a thousand different Avays . A brother is taught by it to forgive his erring brother not seven times , b ut

seventy times seven . In Rosicrucianism , the seven horns denote unbounded plenty , unlimited power , the seven eyes , perfect knowledge , seven lamps , revealed light , the raising of the curtain of ignorance , the seven

pipes , harmony , the music of the spheres ; the seven pillars , strength and stability . The great light is represented by seven lamps of fire , seven thunders , seven lightnings , seven stars , & c . & c . _ are each symbols of trouble , destruction , ministers

& c . & c . This number is variously represented by a triangle placed upon a square , a seven pointed star , and by clots placed iu peculiar positions . Letters are sometimes placed for it . Eight was esteemed as the first cube ( 2 x 2 * 2 ) ,

and signified friendship , prudence , counsel , and justice . It designated the primitive law of nature , which supposes all men to be equal .

Nine ivas called teleios , or perfect , finished , because nine months is the period required for the perfection of a human being in the womb before birth . This is a peculiarly sacred number Avith Freemasons . It has the peculiarity of always

reproducing itself by multiplication , asAvill be seen by the following table : 2 x 9 = 18 , and 1 and 8 = 9 " 3 x 9 = 27 , and 2 and 7 = 9

4 x 9 = 36 , and 3 and G = 9 5 x 9 = 40 , and 4 and 0 = 9 G x 9 = 54 , and 5 ancl 4 = 9 7 x 9 = 63 , and 6 and 3 = 9 8 x 9 = 72 , and 7 and 2 = 9

9 x 9 = 81 , andS and 1 = 9 Whence they viewed it as an emblem of matter ,, which , though continually changing its form , is