Chap 4 an Expofition upon the Book of ] o B. Verf.i. 659 Fourthly, Reza of the fornfer age, and in this, Bochartos, con- fidently *flirt, that Leviathan is the Crocodile. The general reafon given for it by them, is, becaufe what is here fpoken ofLe- viathan, is not everyway futable nor agreeable to the Whale; and they who expound Leviathan by the Whale, are as confident that feveral things here affirmedof Leviathan, arc not agreeable CO the Crocodile. What my own apprehenfions are in this matter of ,difference, whether the Whale or the Crocodile be intended by Leviathan, I have already declared, at the fifteenth verf. of the fortieth Chapter , where the Lord begins to prefent Behemoth, purpofing alto in the fame continued fpeech to prefent Leviathan to the con- fideration of fob, in the livelieft colours, and highefi expreffions of divine eloquence, for his yet fuller coevi&ion and humiliati- on. There (I fay) the Reader may find my thoughts about this matter ; yet in opening the Text, I (hall touch at moll of thofe particulars which the learned Boehartue takes notice of, either as more clearly, or as only applicable to the Crocodile leaving the Reader (aswas therePaid ) at his liberty to deter- mine his own thoughts, wherehe fees moli reafon and fairell pro- bability. For it mull be confeffed, that therelare no fmall diffi- culties in making out the common and hitherto moll received opinion, that Leviathan is the Whale, as will appear in our paf- Page through this Chapter; and therefore I dare not be verypofi- tive, much lefs tenacious in ir. For though it be an unquefliona- ble truth, and to be received, and to be as the matter of an hi- llorical faith, becaufeGod path Paid it, that there is a living crea- cure in the compafs of nature, exa&ly anfweringevery particular in the followingdefcription of the Leviathan, yet it is queflion- able what that creature is ; and co fay, the Crocodile is meant by Leviathan, or the Whale is meant by Leviathan, is only matter_o+f opinion, and the judgment of man. Verf. i. Canfl thou draw out Leviathana Our Tranílatorsfay in the Margin, a Whale, or a Whirle-pool;. ?o dxeo.+e The Septuagint_ render, Canfi room draw out the'Dragon ? As if Sept, byway of eminence, Leviathan were the chiefeft andgreateli a- mong all that are or may becalled Dragons. And fay fome, the word Leviathan is the fame withTbanntn, which in the Hebrew liignifies.
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