'654 Chap. 40. an Expofition upon the Book, of J o B. Verf. 'Y ç. to the Crocodile,in his defcription of Leviathan, leaving Rea- der at liberty to pitch his judgement, as he finds light and rea- fon leading him. For, though to hic the right meaning of every word inScrip- ture, is not only moli defirable and aimable, but that which we fhould make confcience of (in which regard we arc much ee- debted to their labours whocontribute any further help towards that attainment) yet in this matter an unwilling miftake isnot ve- rydangerous, there being fo great a likenefs between forne crea- tures, in their nature, ftarure, qualities and parts, that where the Spirit of God inScripture intends one by fuch a name, another may eafily be takenas intended by it. Further, take which youwill of chele Animals, whether the Elephant or Hippopotame for Behemoth, or the whale or Crocodile for Leviathan, there are fon}e things in the textual defcription of them by God himfelf, which cannot without difficult obje- éiions be applied, either to the one or to the other. All which a- rife,not from the darknefs oftheScriptures,bur,from the darknefs of our underhanding, both as to the Scriptures themfelves, and the creatures treated of in them. All that I (hall fay in this controverteabout the two creatures here, and in the next Chapter fpoken of, is, Firli, That the mo(i common and received opinion, among very learned men, is, that by Behemoth is meant the Elephant; not the Egyptian Elephant, as the Hippopotame hach been called, but the proper Elephant. As alto, that by Leviathan weare to under- hand the whale, or fome mighty filh of the Cetacean breed.Now as 'cis never good to follow the praetice or example of the rude and ignorant multitude, fo we fhould not eafily recede from the opinionand judgement of a grave and knowingmultitude. Secondly, I fuppofeit will nor be denyed, that the Elepbtt is an Animal much more known, and of a more honourablere- port than the Hippopotame; and that the whale for greatnefs much exceeds, and is In that refpeet, at leaft, more famous than the Crocodile. Therefore the Lord fpeaking of the chief works of his hands, among vifible irrational creatures, in this latter part of his fpeech to lob, may be conceived to intend the former under both titles, rather than the latter. Thirdly, Imutt confefs, I have a little prejudice againfi ex- pounding
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