Keach - Houston-Packer Collection BS537 .K4 1779

148 METAPHORS FROM THE KINDS OF LIVING CREATURES. Book I. God, &t. The Chaldec well exprelfes the Senfe of Verfe 2. And I will j/raiten the City in which the Altar is, and it Jhall be defolate and empty, and it jhall be en·vironed with the Blood of the Slain, as the Altar is co·vered and encompaffed with the Blood of Sa. crifices upon the Feajl-day. A Lion is metaphorically put for fierce outrageous Enemies or Tyrants, ]ob iv. IO. Pfal. xxii. 2I. xxxiv. 10. lvii. 5· and lviii. 7· ]er. iv. 7· and and v. 6. Ezek. xix. 2 , Nab. ii. 11, 12. Zeph. iii. 3· 2 'l'im. iv. 17•• Hence ~1e D~vil is compared to a roaring Lton, I Pet. v. 8. :Oee !fa. xxxv: 8. and XI. 6,_7. ],om. VIII. 38, 39· Roaring, that is, the Clamor or Cry of the Lwn, IS taken for Vwlence or tumultuous Hofi·ility, !fa. v. 29. Zech. xi. 3· For 'l'hunder, ]ob xxxvii. 4· For the Groans and Cries of the Sorrow– ful, Pfal. xxii. 1, 2. and xxxviii. 8, 9· An UNICORN, becaufe of its Fiercene!S and Strength, is put for wicked and cruel Enemtes, Pfal. xxii. 21. lfa. xxxiv. 7· but in an exprefs Comparifon it is otherwife taken fometimes. A BOAR fignifies alfo the fierce Enemies of God's People, Pfal.lxxx. 13. ABEAR, which is a cruel Creature, denotes a cruel and mercilefs Tyrant, Prov. x"viii. '5· Alfo God when he executes heavy Vengeance, Lam. iii. 10. but in both Places it is rather an exprels Comparifon, there being an Ellipjis of the comparative Particle (n) which is to be underflood, and fo it is rendered in our Englifh Bibles. A WOLF, which is a flrong, cruel and ravenous Bealt, denotes powerful, fierce and covetous Men, Gen. xiix. 27. The Tribe of Benjamin is called a ravening Wolf, becaufe ltrong and fierce, and is fo defcribed, Judges xx, &c. Ste ]er. v. 6. Zeph. iii. 3· Ezek. xxii. 27. In the New Tcltament by Wolves are underftood Seducers, and Authors of wicked DoCtrines, Matt. vii. '5· John x. 12. Alls xx. 29. Franzius*, m his H iltory of Bealts, fays, that John xii. by Wolf, i~ meant the Devil. llecaufe, (1.) As a Wolf is apt and willing to execute M1fchief againlt Man and Bealt; fo the Devil is the common Enemy of Mankind. (2.) As the Wolf is greedy and unfatiable; fo the Cruelty and R:1pacity of the Devil is not to be fatisfied. (3·) As the Wolf is fo fharp lighted, that he can fee even in the darkelt Nighr, and when hungry, fmell his Prey at the Diltance of half a German Mile, (that is, an Englifh Mile and half;) fo the Devil by long Experience and Ufe is become !till more wicked and cruel, and well verfed in the Scent of his Prey, that is, of fuch as are apt to be tempted to Sin. (4.) As Wolves fometimes devour whole Sheep, fometimes only the Flefh; fo the Devil fometimes hurts the corporal Faculties, fometimes deltroys Life, and fomerimes (when God permits) Health; and fometimes hurries the Wicked, Soul and Body to DeftruCtion. (5.) As theWolf is malt crafty; fo the Devil wholly confilts of Deceit. The Wolf invades the Flock in a dark or cloudy Time, the better to make his Approaches undif– covered: So the Devil fets upon Men commonly in Times of Calamity and AffliCtion, that by the Advantage of their Troubles; he may the better exercife his temptoing Power. The Wolf utes Baits and Strat2gems to allure a Herd to come within the Dan· ger of his Fellows, inticing Goats with green Boughs, and playing with young Pigs, calting them with his T ail, making them run along, till he feduces them to the Ambulh; fo the Devil prefents falfe Pleafures to bewitch the Senfes of Men, till they fall headlong into his Snare. The Wolf ufes much Policy when he fets upon Bulls and horned Bealts, and all'aults them behind, where they are unprovided for Defence; fo the !Jevil has peculiar Slights and Devices to intrap the ltrongd\ and more experienced Chnf· tians,feeming to retreat when he cannot prevail, but quickly returning (when he thwks they are fecure) with a new Stratagem to undo them. (6.) It is faid of a Wolf that if he firlt fees a Man, the Man lofes his Voice and cannot cry out-So the Devil when he has fet upon an unwary Man that feared no Dan– ger, and refilted not, makes an eaty Conquelt and Triumph. • Hijlqria .dni111al. p. z I 6. Cll}· 20. C7·l But

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