Book II. CHRIST L I 0 N. 339 M E T A P H 0 R. P A R A L L E L. himfelf in his Mouth, and delivered it unto him, and then led him into his own Cave, where the young Whelps lay all imbrued in their own Blood ; and from thence ro ~he Place where the Lionefs did watch the Bear. They making Signs, and looking up into the Tree where the Bear was, the Man conjectured that that Bear had done thrs .grievous Injury unto them; he thereupon took his Ax, and hewed down the Tree near rhe Root, which being done, the Bear tumbled down headlong, and the furious Beafls rore her all to Pieces. After this, the Lion conducted the Man to the Place anct Work where he firfl found him, without doing him the Ieafl violence or harm. The Trmh of this, and of the following Story, is not impofed upon the Reader; ycr finding it recorded by fuch credible and eminent Authors, (and in itfelf probable) we tlwught fit to tranfcribe it, as ferving to divert the Reader, and illuflrate rhe in– finite Wifdom of God in his Works. XI. As a Lion will revenge the Hurt and Injury done to him, and to his young Ones, fo he is ready to require Kindnelfes done to him; as appears by another Palfage, rhus recorded by Hiflorians : XI. The Lord Jefus, as he avenges the Wrongs and Injuries done to his People, fo he will requite Kindnelfes Jhewed to them. Sucl1 as f eed the Hungry, cloath the Naked, vijit the Sick, and thofe that are in Prifon, for Cbrifl's f ake, jhall be rewarded, Matt. xxv. 38, 39· Their Work of Faith, and Labor of Love jhafl not be forgotten ; yea, He that gives but a Cup of cold Water in the Name of a Difciple, .fha/1 not left his Reward, Matt. x. 41, 42. which is a Reward oi Grace, not Merit; for there is no Proportion between eternal Life, and rhe beft of our Per– formances, yet God accepts of rhem. One Andradus, having fled from his Mafl:er by reafon of fome hard Ufage received at his Hands, by chance happened to take up his Lodging in a Cave, which (un– known to him) was a Lion's Den ; where when he had been a while, not long before Night, rhe Lion came from Hunting, and having gotten a Hurt upon his Foot, he no fooner efpied the trembling Man in this fearful Place, but he cometh gently unto him, fl:retching forth his Foot, and making Moan, as though he defired Help. The Man took the Lion by the Paw, fearehed the Wound, pulled out a Thorn, bound up his Foor, anct ga·1e him eafe; which kind Office being performed, was fir£1: of all required with a daily Portion of Provifion, \\hich the poor Slave roafl:ed in the Sun. Afrer this the Ma11 efcaped, and got away; and the Lion milling him made great Lamentation. Bur fo ir happened, he was no fooner gone, but he was taken by fome whom his Mafl:er had fent out to fearch for him ; and then, alas! there was no other way but Death, and no other Death but to be torn in Pieces by wild Beafl:s ; for the Romans kepr Beafl:s on purpofe upon that account. But it fo fell out, that rh is Lion was took up before the Time came, and pm into the Theatre, who greedily rent in Pieces fuch as were thrown unto him; yet when this poor Slave, his old Friend, was ca£1: in, he forgot his Fury, and turned it into Fawning; by which the poor Soul perceived what Lion it was, and thereupon renewed his Acquaintance with him, to the Admiration of all. The Marrer being known, and related to them rhat were concerned, he had not only his Life, but the Lion alto to wair upon him, who became a faithful Servant ro him. Hie ejt L eo Ho.JPes Hominis, hie eft Homo Medictts Leonis, * was that which the People would fay, when they faw him lead along his Lion through the Streets : Here goes the Lion which was the Man's Hojl, and there is the Man who was the Lion's Phyfician. XI!. No Creatures love their XII. The Lord Jefus loverh his People with Young (as you may perceive by fuch a ftrong and endeared Love, rhat he did not the foregoing Story in part) more only fight wirh cruel Enemies in their behalf, bur than the Lions, which they further fredy alfo received many Lathes and fore Wounds demonfl:rate in their Defence; for in his Body, and fl:ood invincible, never yielding they will receive many terrible till Death : Ele made his Soul an Offering for Sin, Blows, S!afhes, and Wounds, the Ifa. liii. Yea, Death irfelfwas nothing to him, fo one opening the bleeding Body, that he might h1Ve his poor Church from Wrath, and the other prelling the Blood out and eternal Mifery. of the Wounds; ftanding invineible, never yielding till Death, as if Death irfclf were nothing to them, (faith the Hifl:orian t) fo thar their young Ones might be fafe. t* 'Topfall, P· 366. £1iamu/ 4ulus Gelhu, in his Attics. t Topfail's Hijlory of fourfioted Beajls, p. 363. 3 XIII. The
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