tand around the
throne. Others bore other devices.

"What is this?" said Marcellus, pointing to a picture of a ship.

"It shows that the redeemed spirit has sailed from earth to the haven of
rest."

"And what is the meaning of this fish that I see represented so often?"

"The fish is used because the letters that form its name in Greek are
the initials of words that express the glory and hope of the Christian.
'iota' stands for 'Jesus,' 'chi' for 'Christ,' 'theta' and 'gamma' for
'the Son of God,' and 'sigma' for 'Saviour,' so that the fish symbolizes
under its name 'iota chi theta gamma sigma,' 'Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, the Saviour.'"

"What means this picture that I see so often--a ship and a huge sea
monster?"

"That is Jonah, a prophet of God, of whom as yet you are ignorant."
Honorius then related the story of Jonah, and showed him how the escape
from the bowels of the fish reminded the Christian of his deliverance
from the darkness of the tomb. "This glorious hope of the resurrection
is an unspeakable comfort," said he, "and we love to bring it to our
thoughts by different symbols. There, too, is another symbol of the same
blessed truth--the dove carrying an olive branch to Noah." He related to
his companion the story of the flood, so that Marcellus might see the
meaning of the representation. "But of all the symbols which are used,"
said he, "none is so clear as this," and he pointed to a picture of the
resurrection of Lazarus.

"There too," said Honorius, "is an anchor, the sign of hope, by which
the Christian, while tossing amid the stormy billows of life, holds on
to his heavenly home.

"There you see the cock, the symbol for watchfulness; for our Lord has
said, 'Watch and pray.' There also is the lamb, the type of innocence
and gentleness, which also brings to our mind the Lamb of God, who bore
our sins, and by whose sacrifice we receive pardon. There again is the
dove, which, like the lamb, represents innocence; and yet again you see
it bearing the olive branch of peace.

"There are the letters Alpha and Omega, which represent our Lord; for
you know that he said, 'I am Alpha and Omega.' And there is the crown,
which reminds of that crown of immortality which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give us. Thus we love to surround ourselves with all that
can remind us of the joy that lies before us. Taught by these, we look
up from the surrounding gloom and see above us the light of immortal lif