Exposition of Job 38-42, Commentary on Job · Chapter 39 · Verse 26-29

Exposition of Job 38-42 · Commentary on Job · Chapter 39 · Verse 26-29

p. 466JOB, Chap. 39. Verſ. 26, 27, 28, 29.

26. Doth the Hawk flie by the wiſdom, and ſtretch out her wings towards the South?

27. Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command, and make her neſt on high?

28. She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the ſtrong place.

29. From thence ſhe ſeeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

30. Her young ones alſo ſuck up blood: and where the ſlain are, there is ſhe.

IN this context the Lord paſſeth from the beaſts of the earth, to give a further demonſtration of his power and wiſdom, appering in the fowls of air; and here we have two inſtances, both in birds of p…ey, The Hawk and the Eagle.

Job is firſt queſtioned about the Hawk in the 26th verſe; In which the Hawk is ſet forth two ways. Firſt, In general, by her flying, Doth the Hawk flie by thy wiſdom? Secondly, in ſpecial, by the courſe of her flight, and ſtretch forth her wings toward the South?

Secondly, Job is queſtioned about the Eagle, concerning which (Queen among birds) fix things are here expreſsly ſet forth, or diſtinctly expreſſed.

Firſt, Her high flying or mounting upwards, in the former part of the 27th verſe, Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command?

Secondly, Her high neſting or making her neſt on high, in the latter part of the ſame verſe; doth ſhe, at thy command, make her neſt on high?

Thirdly, She is here diſcribed by the choiſe of her abode, dwelling or habitation (ver. 28.) ſhe dwelleth and abideth on the rock, on the crag of the rock, and in the ſtrong place.

Fourthly, We have here the ſharpneſs of the Eagles appetite, and her quick endeavour to get food for the ſatisfying of it, p. 467in the former part of the 29th verſe. When ſhe is abiding upon the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and in her ſtrong place, from thence ſhe ſeeks her prey; ſhe is not idle there.

Fifthly, She is deſcribed by the ſharpneſs of her ſight, in the latter part of the 29th verſe, her eyes behold afar off. As if the Lord had ſaid, though ſhe dwells thus high upon the rock, and the crag of the rock, yet this doth not hinder her in the purſuit of her prey, for her eyes behold afar off.

Sixthly and Laſtly, We have here the matter, or nature of her own food and diet, together with the food of her young ones. We have here (as I may ſay) a Bill of the Eagles fare (ver. 30.) it is blood, and the fleſh of the ſlain, Her young ones ſuck up blood; and where the ſlain are, there is ſhe: That's her chief food and diet, the fleſh and blood of the ſlain. Theſe are the particulars which the ſpirit of God layeth down in the deſcriptions, bo…h of the Hawk and Eagle.

From the whole I ſhall give only this general note, as to the Lords purpoſe in ſpeaking of theſe birds of prey, the Hawk and the Eagle, rather than of the Dove, or of any other fowl of a more harmleſs nature. I ſay, the Lord doth this to ſhew, that ſeeing his providence diſpoſeth of, and watcheth over theſe fowls of the air, which are ſo able to ſhift for themſelves, and are in their kind ſo little uſeful to man; then ſurely, he will not neglect man, nor any creature that is of neceſſary uſe to man.

Verſ. 26. Doth the Hawk flie by thy wiſdom?

The word rendred Hawk comes from a root which ſignifies a feather or plume of feathers; becauſe, feathers are the inſtruments by which the Hawk flyeth. The ſame word ſignifies alſo to fly; the Hawk being a fowl of ſuch an excellent flight, may well be expreſt by a word which properly ſignifies flying.

The Hawk is numbred among the unclean birds in the Law of Moſes, which the Jews might not eat of (Levit. 11.16.foreign accipiter à radicè foreign quod plumam vel pennam ſignificat, quaſi nomen habeat in Hebr. à volando. Deut. 14.15.) The Hawk in its kind, or all kinds of the Hawk, are excepted out of their food, or not admitted at their table. Thoſe creatures which were uſeful to get man ſome kind of food, might not then be at all the food of man, in the Jewiſh Nation.

Nor will it be unprofitable, upon this occaſion, to take notice how the Lord then ſet bounds and limits to the appetite of man, p. 468which is ſo apt to exceed: He forbids ſeveral creatures to the Jews, for ſome of which, poſſibly, we can give no reaſon but his Soveraignity, he would have it ſo; and others were forbidden, becauſe poſſibly, feeding upon them was not ſo wholeſome for the body of man; and others God did except from the table of the Iſraelites, becauſe of ſome quallities which he did not like in them; and for that reaſon it is conceived the Hawk was excepted. The Jews might not feed upon the Hawk, becauſe ſhe is a bird of prey, and lives by ravening and killing other birds; ſuch was the law among the Jews: and though that law be now taken away,Dicitur Latinè accipiter ab accipiendo, propter inſitam et inſatiabilem rapacitatem. Accipiter avis regia, quae plus animo qu…m angulis eſtarmata, & quod in quantitate corporis natura denegat, hoc ei invirtute, & a…dacia animi rependit. Iſidor. l. 12. Noctuae à caeteru avibus infeſtatae auxiliatur accipiter, & bellum partitur. Plin. l. 10. c. 17. Falco ſacer di…iſſimè volat, nec deſerit ad duarum triumvè, aut quatuor horarum ſpatium, ac ſi in aere immotus conſiſteret. Albert. as the viſion ſhewed Peter (Act. 10.15.) yet there are few that make Hawks their meat, or eat of them.

The word by which the Hawk is expreſt in the Latine, ſignifies to take or catch, whereby her ravening nature is denoted, becauſe ſhe catches and ſnatches all ſhe can for her living. Some of the Ancients tell us, that the Hawk is a very princely bird, who though ſhe h…th not much in bulk of body, yet hath much in the generoſity of her mind, and is therefore joyned here with the Eagle, as if this were the Princeſs, and the Q…een of birds. And ſome report, that there is no other among all the fowls of the air, that dares contend with the Eagle, but the Hawk. Ariſtotle reckons up ten ſorts of Hawks, and Pliny ſixteen: But I ſhall leave that diſcourſe to Faulconers. It is enough for the opening of this Scripture, to intimate ſomewhat in generat of the Hawk.

Doth the Hawk fly.

The Hawk is deſcribed as flying. Some creatures are for going, ſome for running, but the excellency of the Hawk is in flying: And flying here is not to be taken in a general ſenſe, as oppoſed to running or going, for ſo it is common to all the birds of the aire; there's not the leaſt, not any of the winged kind, but can fly little or much: But when he ſaith, Doth the Hawk fly? flying is to be underſtood ſpecially, of ſwift flying, and of long continued flying. The Hawk flies with wonderful ſwiftneſs. Hence among the Egyptians, the Hawk was a Hierogliphick of the winds. And as the Hawk moves with wonde…ful ſwiftneſs, ſo with great perſeverance. Naturaliſts tell us, and it is the experience of many, that the Hawk will abide upon the wing, two, three, yea, four p. 469hours together in the purſute of, or in waiting for her prey; and hence ſome of the Ancients have made the flying of the Hawk, or the Hawk in his flying, an emblance of perſeverance. The Hawk moves in the air, as if he abode immoveably there.

Doth the Hawk fly by thy wiſdom, or underſtanding?

Thou ſeeſt how perſeveringly the Hawk flies, and how cunningly, or wiſely, to her beſt advantage: Doth the Hawk fly thus by thy wiſdom, or haſt thou taught the Hawk to fly thus? haſt thou inſtructed the Hawk to make this uſe of her wings? no, the Hawk flieth by my wiſdom, I have given her this ſtrength, and taught her this skill, for God takes it unto himſelf, it is by my wiſdom and inſtruction that the Hawk flyeth.

The Vulgar Latine reads thus, Doth the Hawk feather her ſelf, Numquid per ſapientiā tuam plumeſcit accipiter. Vulg.or get her feathers by thy wiſdom? Our Tranſlation runs to the uſe of her feathers, this to the groweth of her feathers; as if it had been ſaid, D…th the Hawk get her feathers by thy wiſdom, or haſt thou ſet her feathers ſo exactly in her wings? This reading may be taken two ways. Firſt, Doſt thou make the Hawks feathers grow at firſt, doſt thou plant thoſe feathers in her wings? ſurely, no. Secondly, Doſt thou renew the Hawks feathers? When the Hawk hath mued or leaſt her feathers (as they who are acquainted with Hawks know their natural cuſtome is) doſt thou cauſe them to grow again? ſurely, no, thou didſt neither at firſt plant her wings with feathers, nor when ſhe hath caſt her feathers, doſt thou cauſe thoſe feathers to renew; that's a good reading: But I ſhall keep to our own. Doth the Hawk fly by thy wiſdom?

Hence note, Firſt; The Lord hath given man ſome creatures more to ſerve his pleaſure, than his neceſſities.

Whatever ſervice the Hawk doth to man in catching the prey, the Partridge, or Pheſant, or other fowl, man might ſerve himſelf of them (as many do) ſome other and cheaper way, and not by hawking. The Moraliſts could ſay (ſpeaking of ſuch like creatures) Man was loved by the ſupream Maker of all things, Ʋſ que ad delicias homines à ſupremo conditore amantur. Senec.even to his delight and content. God hath given ſuch ſwift wings to the Hawk, not only to ſet forth his own power, but for mans pleaſure. p. 470Hawks are for the ſport and delight of Princes and great men; and ſeeing God hath made ſome creatures for the delight, more than for the neceſſity, for the pleaſure, more than for the need of man; O how ſhould man take heed of diſpleaſing God! Doth the great God of heaven and earth provide Hawks for mans pleaſure, and ſhall man take no care to pleaſe God! 'Tis lamentable to conſider, how moſt men diſpleaſe God by oaths and profanations of his Name, while they are taking that kind of pleaſure. And I may ſay, there is no kind of ſport which the indulgence of God hath allowed man, wherein God is more provoked and diſhonoured, than in this: What ſwearing, what curſing, is there in following this Game; If Hawks and Spannels pleaſe not men in the purſuit of their pleaſures, how is the Name of God rent and torn, to his high diſpleaſure! How vain is that man, who takes pleaſure in ſin, or who ſins in taking his pleaſure! He makes his ſhort pleaſure-time a ſeed-time (without repentance) of his everlaſting paines and ſorrows.

Secondly, Whereas the queſtion is put, Doth the Hawk flie by thy wiſdom?

Note; It is by the wiſdom and teaching of God that the Hawk flieth.

Not only hath the Lord put the general power of flying into the Hawk, as into other birds, but that ſpecial excellency to flie ſo ſwiftly and ſtrongly, ſo cunningly and artificially. 'Tis not ſo much the Faulconer, who teacheth the Hawk, as God; then let us admire the wiſdom of God in the properties of every creature. It muſt be confeſſed, that Hawks do ſtrange things; but but whence is it? it is of God. Doth the Hawk flie by thy wiſdom; canſt thou manage the Hawk, or bring her to thy Lure; canſt thou make her go off after her prey? canſt thou reclaim her at thy pleaſure? Thou canſt not; only God can. And hence we may infer, If the flying of the Hawk be from the wiſdom of God, then ſee the wiſdom of God in the goings and doings of man. The way of man (ſaith the Prophet, Jer. 10.23.) is not in himſelf; it is not in him that walketh, to direct his ſteps; the wiſdom of the Lord doth it. If the wiſdom of the Lord orders the flying of a bird in the air, ſurely then 'tis the wiſdom of the Lord p. 471which manageth the motions of men on earth; he orders both the courſe and diſcourſe of man: when he pleaſeth he can take wiſdom from the wiſeſt men, and make even Judges fools. Judges are ſuppoſed and accounted the wiſeſt among men, yet the Lord can befool them ſo, that they ſhal not be able to ſee the things that belong either to their own peace, or the peace of others. The Lord, who gives wiſdom to beaſts and birds, can take it from men. Doth the Hawk flie by thy wiſdom? That's the general; then follows a ſpecial inſtance concerning the courſe of the Hawk; And ſtretch (or ſpread) her wings towards the South.

The word rendred South, ſignifies the right hand. foreign Auſter, meridies, à radice foreign dexter, dextra, quaſi plaga dextera, quia verſis ad orientem, ad dextram partem eſt meridies. Num edoctus à te accipiter, novis plumis, abjectarum veterum loco, receptis, alas Auſtro verſus calore ſolis, vegetandas expandit. Bez. Aelian. l. 14. c. 12. Accipiter tempore mutationis pennarum expandit alas ſuas ad Auſtrum, qui eſt ventus calidus: ut apertis poris veteres pennae dicidant, & novae renaſcantur. Aquin.The South is ſo called, becauſe when a man turns his face to the Eaſt, or Sun-riſing, then the South is on his right hand.

But why is the Hawk ſaid to ſtretch forth her wings to the South? we may expound it two wayes.

Firſt, Thus: She ſtretcheth her wings to the South, when ſhe is upon the change of her feathers, of which a touch was given before. As if the Lord had ſaid, When the time cometh, that the Hawk caſts her feathers, doth ſhe by thy wiſdom (for that we are to take in) ſtretch her wings towards the South, (as Naturaliſts tell us ſhe doth) for the cheriſhing of her new feathers? The South wind being a warm wind, opens the pores of the body, and then the old feathers eaſily fall off, and the new ones come on; therefore when the Hawk loſeth her feathers, ſhe ſtretches out her wings towards the South. And as the wild unmanaged Hawks, who are at their own liberty, turn themſelves to the South at ſuch times, ſo the Places where Faulconers keep Hawks to train them for ſervice, are built towards the South, that the warmth of the Sun may help the growth of their feathers.

'Tis not unworthy our remembrance, which ſome teach allegorically from this natural inſtinct of the Hawk, helping her ſelf more eaſily, both to caſt and recover her feathers. A ſinner in his natural ſtate, is ſo feathered as he comes from the old Adam, that he had need to caſt the old and get new ones. Now if the ſinner would do thus, or when he doth thus, he is taught by the wiſdom of God (not by the wiſdom of the fleſh) to ſtretch himſelf towards the South, that is, towards the pleaſant wind, and p. 472warm Sun of the Spirit of God, by which his old feathers of ſin drop off, and thoſe new feathers of grace and holineſs, of faith and repentance, of meekneſs and humility, of patience and ſelf-denial come on. Thus man is feathered by the ſecond Adam, when he hath caſt thoſe of the firſt; He turns himſelf to the South, he applieth himſelf to Jeſus Chriſt, the Sun of righteouſneſs, whoſe bleſſed warmth fetcheth off his old black feathers, and cloaths him with new and beautiful ones. The Lord who teacheth the Hawk to ſtretch her wings to the South, muſt teach us to ſtretch our ſelves to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that our old feathers may fall away, and that we may be renewed by his Spirit.

Secondly, There is another account given about the Hawks ſtretching her wings to the South; for not only when the Hawk renews her feathers, doth ſhe return to the South; but wilde Hawks that are at liberty, living in colder climates, uſe in Winter to change their quarters, and turn to the South, that is, to thoſe coaſts which are more favoured by the Sun,In auſtralem plagam avolat hiberno tempore. Plin. lib. 10. c. 8. Geſner. de avibus. Arenis etiam ſole caleſcentibus accipitrem gaudere accepi, atque in illas ſe mergere. Codurc. Accipiter dictus foreign quaſi omnoculus. Bold. as they who write the nature of beaſts and birds make report. All kind of Hawks are tender, and cannot well abide the Winter cold, but get into the Sun, and ſometimes duſt themſelves in the ſand, when heated by the Sun, as in very hot ſeaſons they delight to bath themſelves in water. It is ſaid, that the Egyptians uſed of old to picture, or repreſent the Sun in the ſhape of a Hawk; Firſt, becauſe the Hawk is a great lover of the Sun; Secondly, becauſe of the lively heat and ſp'ritfuneſs of the Hawk, like that of the Sun; Thirdly, becauſe of the longevity of the Hawk (the Hawk is a long-lived creature.) Fourthly, becauſe of the quick-ſightedneſs of the Hawk, whence they called the Hawk All-eye. And Laſtly, becauſe of the ſwiftneſs of the Hawk. The Hawk flies with ſuch a ſpeed, as if he did emulate, or would imitate the Sun. The Hawk being thus like the Sun, and ſuch a lover of the Sun, they ſhadowed the Sun by the figure of a Hawk; all which may give us ſome intimation of the ground of what is here ſaid, That ſhe ſtretcheth her wings towards the South.

Hence note; God hath given irrational creatures a knowledge of what is moſt convenient for their own preſervation.

Why doth the Hawk ſpread forth her wings to the South? ſhe p. 473finds it beſt for her, and therefore doth (Jer. 8.7.) The Stork in the heaven, and the Crane, and the Swallow know the time of their coming; Whither? ſurely to ſome warmer climate, when the weather is cold and offenſive to them in the place where they are; and when the heat returns to the coaſts from whence they came, thither they return again; They know the time of their coming, they know when 'tis good for them to be in one Country, and when in another. And is not this a rebuke (as the Prophet there applieth it) unto a man, who many times knows not what's good for himſelf, knows not the judgement of the Lord; that is, what God would have him do, or what courſe to take in ſuch a time and ſeaſon, or under ſuch a diſpenſation of providence; knows not (as I may ſay) Winter and Summer, heat and cold, and ſo is not ſo wiſe as the fowls of the air generally are, or as the Hawk in particular is here ſaid to be, Who ſtretcheth her wings to the South. All the children of men have, and the children of God know they have a South to ſtretch their wings unto; that is, the goodneſs and power of God, as the Pſalmiſt ſpake, Ʋnder the ſhadow of thy wings ſhall be my refuge, till theſe calamities be overpaſt. I will ſtretch my ſelf to the South, to the love and favour of God; 'tis beſt for all men to ſtretch their wings toward thoſe wings of God in an evil day. All ſhould do as the Lord gives the invitation (Iſa. 26.20.) Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and ſhut the doors about thee; hide thy ſelf, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be over-paſt. Thus the Lord directs his people to ſtretch themſelves to the South, when 'tis cold and hard weather abroad in the world; and the creatures ſpoken of by the Prophet, as well as the Hawk in the Text, will riſe up in judgement againſt us, if we ſtretch not our wings to the South, when we feel the Northern cold, and Winter froſt taking hold of us.

I ſhall paſs from this part of the verſe concerning the Hawk, when I have only minded the Reader, that ſome have found a twofold reſemblance in the Hawk.

Firſt, They reſemble the Devil and evil ſpirits, to the Hawk, becauſe of their devouring nature. The old Poet ſaid,Odimus accipitrem quia ſemper vivit in armis. Ovid. We hate the Hawk, becauſe ſhe is alwayes in arms. And ſo is the Devil, he is always in arms, and at war with the Church of God, and with the ſouls of men; and we ought alwayes to be in arms againſt the p. 474Devil, yea, to take to our ſelves the whole armour of God, ſpoken of (Eph. 6.) to reſiſt him, and defend our ſelves.

Secondly, The Hawk is like wicked men, eſpecially in three things;

Firſt, For their ravenous nature, they love to deſtroy and live upon the ſpoyl of others (Iſa. 33.1.)

Secondly, They are like the Hawk, preying moſtly upon thoſe that are moſt innocent. The Pſalmiſt ſaith, The wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he. The Hawk purſues the Dove and poor Partridge, harmleſs creatures.

Thirdly, The Hawk is high-priz'd when alive, but when dead, caſt out upon the dunghil, no man regarding her. He that took great delight in his Hawk while alive, will not call for it to his Table when dead. Thus wicked men may be in great eſteem while they live, but when once dead, they are as thrown upon the dunghil, their memorial rots, and is unſavoury. So much for the 26th verſe, wherein the Spirit of God calls Job to conſider the nature of the Hawk at any time flying, and ſometimes turning her flight to the South. And now the queſtion paſſeth from the Prince of birds, to the Queen of birds.

Verſ. 27. Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command, and make her neſt on high?

The Eagle is a King or Queen, chief among the fowls of the air,foreign Cum ſex punctis, aquila; ſic dicta, vel quod recto obtutu ſolem aſpiciat; & tunc congruentiam habat cum verbo foreign vel quod volatum recta in praedam dirigat & tunc, communicat cum verbo foreign Plin. l. 10. c. 3. & l. 35. c. 6. as the Lion is among the beaſts of the earth; and therefore the great King of Babylon is ſhadowed by a great Eagle with great wings (Ezek. 17.3.) And the Romans, who Lorded it long over the world, bare the Eagle in their Enſign.

The Hebrew word rendred Eagle, hath a double derivation. According to the firſt, it ſignifies to Behold. The Eagle is ſo exp…eſt, becauſe ſhe hath (as the Hiſtorian deſcribes her) not only a quick and clear, but a ſtrong ſight, able to look full upon the Sun ſhining in its ſtrength, as if the name of the Eagle in Enggliſh, were a Looker; the Eagle can look the Sun in the face. But according to a ſecond derivation given by Grammatians, it ſignifies ſtrait, or right forth. And the Eagle is ſo called, becauſe ſhe makes a direct courſe, as it were by a ſtrait line, in purſuit of her prey. Doth the Eagle p. 475Mount up?

The word in the Hebrew, ſignifies to get high, very high,foreign Sublimis elatus fuit, eminuit per metaphoram ſuperbivit. extream high, and is therefore uſed in the Noune, to ſet forth the highneſs of God (Job 11.8. Pſal. 113.6. Iſa. 5.16. Iſa. 52.13.) It notes alſo the highneſs of heaven (Iſa. 55.9. Pſal. 103.11.) which is called the Throne of God, and the habitation of his Holineſs, and of his Glory. 'Tis uſed alſo to denote the height of a proud mans ſpirit, which would fain riſe up to the high of heaven, and be like to the moſt High, yea, higher than the moſt High (1 Sam. 2.3. Pſal. 131.1. Iſa. 2.11. Ezek. 16.15.) In all theſe places, and many more, the word is applied to the highneſs of a proud mans ſpirit, which though it be indeed the loweſt and baſeſt thing in the world, yet it puts man upon high thoughts of himſelf, and upon high deſigns for himſelf, he would be mounting like the Eagle. Doth the Eagle Mount up?

The Eagles flight, or mount, exceeds the Hawks; or any other of the winged train, in three things;

Firſt, In the ſwiftneſs of it. The Eagle hath great and long wings (Ezek. 17.3.) and ſhe can make great haſt with them; therefore Solomon calling upon us, not to ſet our eyes upon riches, gives the reaſon of his counſel (Prov. 23.5.) For riches certainly make themſelves wings, they flie away as an Eagle towards heaven; that is, they are ſuddenly gone, and will not return at thy call. The Eagle will not come to the Lure, like the Hawk. To flie away as an Eagle, notes two things concerning riches; Firſt, That they will flie away ſwiftly, ſpeedily, they are ſoon gone; ſuch is the Eagles flight. Secondly, That they (often) flie away irrecoverably, there's no recalling them. The Scripture often expreſſeth the more than ordinary ſwiftneſs of men, by the ſwiftneſs of the Eagle. David lamenting the death of Saul and Jonathan, gives them this character (2 Sam. 1.23.) They were ſtronger than Lions, and ſwifter than Eagles; that is, they were exceeding ſwift. Our adverſaries were ſwifter than the Eagles, ſaid the poor captivated Church, when the Aſſyrian came in againſt them (Lam. 4.19.) Read alſo Deut. 28.49. Hoſ. 8.1. p. 476Hab. 1.8. Cicero the Orator, in his ſecond book of Divination, tells us, that when one who was to run a race, reported to an Interpreter,Viciſti; iſta enim ave volat nulla vehementior. Cicer. l. 2. de divin. that he dreamed he was turned into an Eagle; the Interpreter preſently anſwered, Then you ſhall overcome, or get the maſtery: For the Eagle is the ſtrongeſt and ſwifteſt of all flying fowls.

Secondly, The Eagle exceeds all, as in ſwiftneſs, ſo in the uprightneſs of her flying: She flies right up; that's it which the Text takes notice of, She mounteth up; ſhe mounts up like an arrow out of a bow,Non obliquo tramite ut caeterae aves vel per gyrum ut accipiter, ſed recto ſurſum fertur. Aelian. lib. 14 c. 10. Aquila derem volatu ſuperat, & ſublimius evadit. Oppian. Aquila in nuhibus. whereas other fowls, when they flie high, they do it obliquely, or ſide-long, by gyration, or fetching a compaſs; but the Eagle aſce…ds directly, not (as I may ſay) by winding ſtairs, but in a right line.

Thirdly, As the ſwiftneſs and uprightneſs of the Eagles motion, ſo the highneſs of it is wonderful. The Eagle mounts till ſhe is quite out of ſight; no bodily creature can reach the Eagles altitude. One of the Ancients ſaith, The Eagle ſoars above the air (he means, I ſuppoſe the lower region of the air) as if ſhe would viſit the ſtarry heavens: And hence it is ſaid proverbially of any thing which we cannot eaſily reach or come at, 'Tis an Eagle in the clouds. Her common attribute or epithete is, The high-flying Eagle.

If it be queſtioned, why doth the Eagle mount up ſo high? theſe two reaſons may be given of it;

Firſt, That ſhe may come down, or ſtoop with greater force upon her prey; and that makes the Eagle ſo formidable to all the fowls of the air.Aquila foreign à …oetis dictus. And hence the Poets call her a Thunder bringer, becauſe ſhe mounts up on purpoſe to that amazing height, that ſhe may come down upon her prey more forcibly, even like a thunder-bolt. And thus proud men deſire to get on high, that they may more eaſily make a prey of, and cruſh (as the Eagle doth) thoſe that are below them.

Secondly, The Eagle mounts thus high to pleaſe her ſelf, 'tis ſutable to her ſpirit. Every one would be in action, as he is in diſpoſition. The Eagle hath a high ſpirit, and ſhe muſt flie high, and at high things. The Eagle will not catch flies; ſhe ſcorns that game. Doth the Eagle mount up At thy command?

The Hebrew is, At thy mouth; ſo the word is rendred in p. 477ſeveral other Scriptures (Numb. 13.3.) And Moſes by the commandement of the Lord ſent them from the wilderneſs of Paran; that is, he ſent the men that were to ſearch the Land; The Hebrew is, Moſes by the mouth of the Lord ſent them to ſearch the Land. Again (2 Kings 24.3.) Surely at the commandement of the Lord came this upon. Judah, to remove them out of his ſight, for the ſins of Manaſſeth. As if it had been ſaid, When the enemy made inrodes upon the children of Iſrael and Judah, how came this to paſs? ſurely at the command of the Lord, or at the mouth of the Lord, came this upon Judah. It is the word in the Text; Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command? or, at thy mouth? One would think, that it is not only the Eagles nature to mount up; there is ſomewhat in that, but that's not all, it is at the Lords mouth, at his command, and that we are ſpecially to take notice of here. What means this diſcourſe about the Hawk and Eagle, but to make us mount up our hearts to God, and acknowledge him in the motion of every creature? It is at Gods mouth that the Eagle mounts up; but what's the command that the Eagle receives from God? Doth not the Eagle mount up by a natural inſtinct, or according to the Law of nature planted in her? I anſwer, ſhe doth. Yet becauſe that natural inſtinct of the Eagle is of God, therefore we are to look upon the Eagle mounting up; as by a ſpecial order and command of God. And thus we are to underſtand the motion of all the creatures,Facit hoc aquila naturali inſtinctu. Omnis autem naturalis curſus rerum, eſt quaedam motio creaturae ad praeceptum Dei. Aquin. Dediſtinè hanc naturam aquilae ut attollat ſe in altum? Vatabl. as conſequential of a command given out by God (Pſal. 148.8.) Fire and hail, ſnow and vapour, ſtormy wind, fulfilling his word, or his command. Though there be a natural cauſe of the creatures motion, of the motion of the wind, of the vapour, of the ſnow and hail, yet we muſt not ſtop at the natural cauſes, and look no farther; neither rain nor ſnow fall, nor winds blow, but at the command of the Lord: Not doth the Eagle mount up at the bidding or teaching of man, but at the command of God, acting her natural inſtinct in doing ſo. Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command?

Hence Note; The ſpecial motions of the creature are of God.

Mans mouth or command, cannot make any creature ſtir foot or wing. Who can make the Eagle mount, the wind blow, or the rain fall beſides God?

p. 478Secondly, As to the manner of this motion, its a mounting motion.

Note; The motion of the creature upward, hath much of the command of God in it.

Some have (I know) mounting motions at the command of the Devil (the Lord hath the command of them, though they are not commanded by him) that is, the proud imaginations, the lofty thoughts of man, theſe mounting motions, are not at the command, but againſt the command of the Lord; the Lord ſuffers them, but they are from Satan, he puffs men up, he blows them up with pride. But both the natural moun…ings of the ſenſitives creatures, and the gracious mountings of the new creature on high, are by the command of God. True believers have loweſt or lowlieſt ſpirits, yet higheſt and nobleſt aimes, not grovelling on nor bowing to the earth, but like an Eagle, mounting up on high: As this high flight of the ſoul is highly pleaſing unto God, ſo 'tis made by his ſtrength, and at his command. A believer flies high;

Firſt, In the contemplation of divine things. What towering thoughts hath he concerning God, and the concernments of ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt! he is not mingling his ſoul with the duſt, nor mudding it upon the dunghils of this world: As his converſation or trade is for things above, ſo his mind and meditation is upon them.

Secondly, As he flies high in his contemplation about, ſo in his love to, and deſire of high things; he doth not nakedly contemplate things above, as a Philoſopher may do, but he hath ſtrong affections to, and longings after the enjoyment and poſſeſſion of the things that are above; he is as much on high in his deſires and affections,Non ad praeceptum hominis, aut ſuam ſolius voluntatem elevatur ſanctus ſed … gent▪ & ublevante De…. Jenſ. as he is in his ſtudies and ſpeculations. And in both reſpects he mounts on high, in the power and at the command of God; who, as he hath taught the Eagle, ſo man much more, whither, and how far to aſcend. And he therefore mightily triumphs over this lower world, becauſe his ſoul is lifted up as an Eagle, by and upon the wings of divine ſupport and acceptation. Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command?

p. 479And make her neſt on high?

The Eagle doth not only mount on high (that may be from a ſudden overture or occaſion) but ſhe makes her neſt on high. The word which we render on high, ſignifies ſeparated, becauſe high places are places ſeparated from ordinary concourſe. Eagles covet to make their neſts in places furtheſt remote from all acceſs both of men and beaſts. The beſt of high things, ſpiritual things, are ſeparated from this world, they are above the wiſdom and way of the world, and that's the reaſon why the world cannot bear them. I touch that only from the notation of the word.

The Eagle makes her neſt on high. But doth ſhe ſo, O Job, at thy command? doſt thou direct her, where to make her neſt or how? It ſeems the Lord teacheth birds to make their neſts. The leaſt bird is directed by God as well as the Eagle: It is by his counſel that ſome birds make their neſts very low, and that others (among which the Eagle eſpecially) make their neſts on high. Pliny ſaith, no man can reach or touch the Eagles neſt.Nidos ejsu nemo attigit, indificat in excelciſſimis rupibus. Plin. l. 10. c. 6. We look and find birds neſts in every buſh, but who ever found the Eagles neſt, ſuch an Eagles neſt as is here ſpoken of: There are (I grant) ſome Eagles that make neſts in high trees, but the Eagle here intended makes her neſt upon in acceſſible rocks. When the Lord would reach the hight of mans wiſdom, in ſetting himſelf aboue the reach of d…nger, it ſpeaks thus (Jerem. 49.16.) Though thou ſhouldſt make thy neſt as high as the Eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, ſaith the Lord. 'Tis a proverbial ſpeech, and 'tis joyned with ſetting our neſt among the ſtars, in the 4. v. of the Prophecy of Obadiah. The Idumeans, with and about whom the Prophet there ſpake, dwelt in mountanous places, and ſlattered themſelves in the ſtrength and ſafety of the country, as if it had all been an Eagles neſt. The Eagle makes her neſt ſo high that 'tis, as it were, next to the ſtars. But why doth the Eagle make her neſt ſo high? there are two or three rerſons given of it, by the ſearchers of nature.

Firſt, For her ſafety, high things probably are moſt out of danger, there is a hight which is very dangerous, and there is a hight that is out of the reach of danger, ſuch is the height of the Eagles neſt.

p. 480Secondly, Naturaliſts ſay, the Eagle makes her neſt ſo high, becauſe ſhe cannot, without ſome difficulty, raiſe her ſelf from the earth; if ſhe ſits low, ſhe cannot eaſily mount up, ſhe hath a heavy body though a ſtrong wing: and therefore the wiſdom of God inſtructs her to make her neſt on high, that ſhe may with that advantage riſe out of it, and mount up from it. The Eagle doth not as the Oſtrich, lay her eggs in the duſt, or in the ſand, but ſhe makes her neſt in high places, that ſo ſhe may be both ſafe in her neſt, and the ſooner take her flight out of it.

Thirdly, The Eagle makes her neſt on high, becauſe there the air is pureſt, and ſhe is greatly delighted and pleaſed, with the purity and ſweetneſs of the air.

Gaudet ex hiſce ſpeculis coelum contemplari. Oppian.Fourthly, 'Tis ſaid alſo the Eagle makes her neſt on high, becauſe ſhe loves, from thence, as from a watch-tower, to behold and feed her eyes, upon the fair and beautiful face of the heavens.

In theſe four reſpects we ſhould be like the Eagle, and make our neſt on high. The Eagle doth not only mount high, but makes her neſt on high. Some men mount high, that is, have high notions and ſpeculations, in which they ſeem to be rapt up (as the Apoſtle once truly was) to the third heavens; yet they make not their neſt on high, they do not abide there, their delights are here below, and ſo is there neſt, the reſidence and reſt of their ſouls. The neſt of the rich mans ſoul, in the Goſpel, was in his full barns. O how many ſpeak high, diſcourſe high, profeſs highly, heaven-high; yet, when all's done, their neſt is upon the earth; They talk as high as the Eagle mounts, yet their neſt is as low as that of the O…trich, in the duſt. Let us remember, as to mount high, ſo to make our neſt on high. The Apoſtle could ſay (1 Phil. 3.20.) Our converſation is in heaven; not only muſt we be ſpeaking high, but acting on high too; we muſt ſit and brood there, as the Eagle upon her neſt. Let us ſay of God, as Moſes the man of God did in his prayer (Pſal. 90.1.) Lord, thou haſt been our dwelling place in all generations; thou art ſo, and thou ſhalt be ſo for ever. Thus we are taught, not to imitate the fooliſh Oſtrich, building our neſt in the duſt, but like the noble Eagle (being lifted up by the mighty power of the holy Spirit) making our neſt or taking up our reſt in heaven, which is, as the higheſt, ſo the ſafeſt place of all.

p. 481Thus far of the Eagle in two of her properties. Firſt, Her high flight. Secondly, Her high neſt.

The third thing ſpoken of in this context concerning the Eagle, is the choiſe of her abode or habitation.

Verſ. 28. She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the ſtrong place.

As the Eagle flyeth very high, ſo ſhe abideth on high places.Sicut aquila motum habet in altum, ita etiam in altis converſatur, quod pertinet ad nobilitatem naturae ſuae. Aquin. foreign à raradicè foreign manſit per noctem unam pernoctavit. Sola ſine clangore, ſine murmuratione converſatur in montibus. Plin. l. 10. c. 3. Ariſt. l. 9. c. 32. de naturae animal. foreign Dentem vocat preminentiam, aut quod praeruptum eſt in rupe. Druſ. Her abiding ſo high, ſhews the nobility and generoſity of her nature; ſhe doth not only mount upon high ſometimes, and make her neſt on high in breeding time, but ſhe dwells on high, ſhe dwelleth and abideth there. The word which we render abideth, ſignifieth properly tarrying for a night, or taking up a nights-lodging; but we are not to confine the Eagles abode to a night, to this or that night, here the word notes conſtant, continued reſidence, ſhe dwelleth and abideth on the rock, there's her place, her palace, there this Queen of birds keeps Court, there ſhe abideth, excepting in two caſes. Firſt, When ſhe is minded to mount up and take her pleaſure. Secondly, When ſhe flies off to ſeek her prey, as will appear further in the next verſe, but take her generally there ſhe abides. Naturaliſts deſcribe a ſort of Eagles, which chuſe, and love to dwell in or inhabit woods, plains, and by the ſea ſhore; but the Eagle here deſcribed dwells on the rock, and not only ſo, but Ʋpon the crag of the rock.

The Hebrew is, upon the tooth of the rock. Maſter Broughton renders, In the edge of a rock. The crag of a rock doth much reſemble both a tooth and the edge of a thing; for 'tis ſharp like an edge, and appears in form like a tooth: Now upon that part of the rock, which is moſt craggy and ſtands out like a tooth, there the Eagle abides, there ſhe pearcheth. And Naturalliſts tell us, though ſhe pearches upon a hard rock, yet ſhe is very careful of her talons, leaſt they ſhould be blunted or receive any injury from the hardneſs of the rock, ſhe is very curious of them, knowing of what uſe they are to her. Thus ſhe abides upon the rock, and upon the crag of the rock; or upon the tooth of the rock. It doth not ſatisfie the Eagle to build or abide upon any part of the rock, but ſhe chuſeth that part of it for her habitation which is moſt p. 482inacceſſible, leſt ſhe ſhould have any diſturbance by ill neighbours, or the air be inſected with ill ſmells. Saint Hierome ſaith, the Eagle builds in this manner, leaſt Adders or Snakes ſhould ſpoil her Eaglets or young ones; and that the Amythiſt-ſtone, which is an Antidote or preſervative againſt poyſon, is found in her neſt. She abides on the crag of the rock, And the ſtrong place.

We might well enough conceive, that when it is ſaid ſhe dwells on the rock, that ſhe dwells on the ſtrong place, for the rock is a ſtrong place; yet the Holy Ghoſt is pleaſed to ſet it out diſtinctly,foreign Aux propugnaculum munit…o cognationem habet cum verbo foreign quod venari eſt Hebraeis. Moller. in Pſal. 91. v. 2.Ps 91:2 On the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the ſtrong place. Maſter Broughton tranſlates it, On a fortreſs; ſhe dwells on the rock, as on her Caſtle or Tower. The word ſignifies any place of defence, and Grammarians tell us, it comes from, or hath near cognation with, a word that ſignifies to hunt or purſue the game; and the reaſon given for it, is, becauſe when perſons are purſued in war or troubled in peace (as weaker birds by birds of prey) they have their recourſe to ſtrong places for refuge and ſafety. The Eagle needs a ſtrong place, for ſhe hath enemies, and therefore is taught to fortifie her ſelf, or to get into ſtrong places for he… ſecurity againſt them. From all theſe expreſſions, that the Eagle dwelleth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and ſtrong place,

Note; Nature teacheth the creature in general, much more man, to provide for his own ſafety.

That is, God hath put ſuch an inſtinct into the nature of all the creatures, as to provide for their own ſafety; The Eagle will dwell on the rock, ſhe will, not venture herſelf every where. And according to the ſtate and condition of creatures, ſuch is the proviſion which they make for their ſafety (Pſal. 104.18.) The high hills are a refuge for the wild Goat, and the ſtony rock for the Coney. The wild Goats have their refuge, and the Coneys have their refuge, and they are taught whither to fly from the face of danger. There is no creature but hath a refuge in time of danger, and therefore we commonly ſay, Times of danger diſcover our refuge.

p. 483Now if the Lord hath taught the fowls of the air, and the beaſts of the earth to look to their own ſafety, to get to the rock, and the ſtrong place; then doubtleſs, he hath taught his ſervants, all that are godly, to ſeek and haſten to a refuge, both for their ſpiritual and corporal ſafety. David often diſcovers his refuge in the Pſalmes (Pſal. 18.2.) When at the firſt verſe, he had in plain language called the Lord his ſtrength, I will love thee, O Lord, my ſtrength; he preſently adds a number of metaphors, to ſhadow out the ſame thing, The Lord is my fortreſs, my rock, and my deliverer, my God, my ſtrength, in whom I will truſt; my buckler, and the horn of my ſalvation, and my high tower. He calleth God his rock twice in that verſe. God is not only a rock, but the only rock in which his faithful people find ſhelter. Moſes ſaid in his prayer (Pſal. 90.1.) Lord thou haſt been our dwelling place in all generations. Where do believers dwell? in God himſelf; as the dwelling of the Eagle is in the rock, ſo the dwelling of a believer is in God, his rock. They may be ſure of ſafety who are ſo houſed, who are houſed in God (Pſal. 91.1.) He that dwells in the ſecret places of the moſt high, ſhall abide under the ſhadow of the Almighty: I will ſay of the Lord, he is my refuge, and my fortreſs, my God, in him will I truſt. Thus, as the Lord hath taught the Eagle to look out a ſtrong place for her ſelf, ſo he hath taught his people; and it will be as much their wiſdom, to learn of the Eagle to provide againſt danger, as to learn of the Ant to provide againſt hunger.

As in this 28th verſe we have had the dwelling of the Eagle deſcribed, ſo in the next, we have both the ſharpneſs of her appetite and the quickneſs of her ſight.

Verſ. 29. From thence ſhe ſeeks her prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

The fourth thing conſiderable in the Eagle, is the ſharpneſs of her appetite; ſhe hath a great heat of ſtomack, and a ſtrong digeſtion, therefore ſhe muſt be ſeeking prey.

From thence.

That is, from the rock her dwelling place, from the tooth of the rock; From thence ſhe ſeeks her prey. And 'tis conceived, that the reaſon why ſhe builds ſo high is, that ſhe may from p. 484thence with more advantage ſpy out and ſeek her prey. The Hebrew is ſhe diggeth her prey from thence. That an Eagle ſhould dig, and dig in the air, is an elegant expreſſion. Diligent ſeeking or ſearching, is ſignified by digging in the Hebrew language. They that dig for a thing ſeek it earneſtly; and therefore to ſhew how earneſtly the Eagle ſeek her prey, ſhe is ſaid to dig for it. The Lord to ſhew the open ſinfulneſs of Iſrael told them (Jer. 2.34.) In thy skirts is found the blood of the ſouls of the poor innocents. That which is in a mans skirts is eaſily ſeen; and hence the Lord adds, I have not found it by ſecret ſearch, or as the Margin hath it, by digging; that's the force of the word, it notes a diligent ſearch or ſeeking; the Eagle ſeeks, as if ſhe were a digging for Her prey

What is her prey? The Eagle hath a ſtrong ſtomack, and the word here uſed ſignifies any thing eatable. Naturaliſts ſay ſhe feeds upon fowls of the air, the Dove, &c. ſhe feeds alſo upon Sheep, Lambs, Hares; and 'tis ſaid, ſhe hath a great mind to Hares, they being not only meat, but medicine to her. Naturaliſts tell us alſo, that the Eagle feeds upon fiſh, and that in her flight ſhe can diſcern the fiſh in the Sea: and ſome tells us, that ſhe loves ſhell-fiſh, the Crab-fiſh eſpecially very much; this is her prey: from thence ſhe ſeeks her prey, whither moving in the air, or upon the land, or in the water; ſhe ſeeks her prey where-ever 'tis to be had, and ſhe will have it if it be to be had above ground, yea, if it be to be had in the water.

Hence note; Hunger makes active.

We ſay hunger breaks thorough ſtone-walls or ſtrong-holds. Whither will not the Eagle dig to ſatisfie her appetite? I need not ſtay upon the general truth; I would only adde this, it is certainly ſo in ſpirituals. Soul hunger, our hunger after righteouſneſs will make us active. Thoſe Eagles, the Saints, having a ſtrong appetite to the things of God, will dig for their ſatisfaction, they will ſeek after food for their ſouls till they are ſatisfied. Sometimes poſſibly there is a glut of food, and then they will ſcarcely look after it; but if once they are pinched with famine, then they look after food. That of the Prophet (Amos 8.11.) p. 485anſwers this of the Text, I (ſaith the Lord) will ſend a famine among you: not a famine of bread, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. And what then? Why then they ſhall wander from ſea to ſea; and from the North even to the Eaſt, they ſhall run to and fro to ſeek the Word of the Lord, and ſhall not find it. The Eagle here ſeeks her prey & gets it; but they ſhall ſeek the Word of the Lord, and not have it, becauſe they were unthankful for it, and unprofitable under it, when they had it. 'Tis a ſad hunger to be pincht. with the want of the word, which is ſpiritual food; but that's a bleſſed hunger which is not from want of, but from a true and ſtrong deſire after the Word or ſpiritual food. True believers, abiding in a right frame, have a great deſire and hunger after ſpiritual food, even when there is greateſt plenty of it; when there is (as we ſay) a glut of it, they are not glutted with it; the more they are ſatisfied with it, the more they would have of it; their appetites and ſatisfaction are interchangable; they are hungry, yet ſatisfied; they are ſatisfied, yet hungry; and therefore they are always ſeeking their ſpiritual prey. It is a ſore judgment when they that have had much of this ſpiritual food, and have not had a hunger after it, are cut ſhort and deprived of it. The Lord often lets thoſe hunger after it in want, who have not hungred after it in enjoyment.

As the Eagle hath an eager appetite, a ſharp ſtomack; ſo an excellent eye, a ſharp ſight, as it followeth.

Her eyes behold afar off.

To behold or ſee, is the work of the eye, and to behold afar off, is the excellency of the eye in that work. The Eagle ſeeks after her prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Some render which her eyes behold afar off, that's a good reading; the conjunctive particle and is not in the Original Text, and therefore we may ſupply it by the relative (which) as well as by the conjunction (and) Naturaliſts tell us, that the Eagle hath ſo ſharp a ſight, that when ſhe is mounted quite out of our ſight, out of the ſight of any man, and is as it were in the clouds, that even then ſhe doth perfectly behold her prey, and that is afar off indeed; even at that diſtance ſhe beholds the Hare in the buſh, and the fiſh in the water. There are almoſt incredible things related, as to the accuteneſs of the Eagles ſight; and the reaſon given by ſome of p. 486her quickſightedneſs, is this in nature, becauſe her eye lieth very deep in her head, and ſo hath a great advantage in ſeeing, the light being the more compaſſed by, and the rayes the more ſtrongly gathered into her eye. I ſhall not diſcuſs the validity of this reaſon, all agreeing in the thing, that the Eagle ſees very exactly and afar off: And as ſhe hath a very clear, ſo a very ſtrong ſight, ſo ſtrong that ſhe can ſteadily behold the Sun ſhining in its ſtrength (as it was toucht before) thoſe beams which blind us, and oppreſs our eyes, are pleaſing to hers. It hath been a torture which ſome Tyrants have uſed, to hold open a mans eye directly to the Sun-beams, and ſo blind him, and quite extinguiſh the ſight of his eye. Now that which blinds us, and puts out our eyes is pleaſant, delightful, and as ſome expreſs it, healing and refreſhing to the eyes of the Eagle: and hence 'tis ſaid of her, that ſhe tries her young ones, whether they be of a right breed or no, in this manner; ſhe holds them up to the Sun, and if they can bear the beams of the Sun with open eyes,Phaebaea dubios explorat lampede fatus. Silius Ital. they are right, otherwiſe ſpurious. The Eagle is ſo ſharp-ſighted, that, An Eagles eye is the proverb for a ſharp ſight. Her eyes behold afar off. Not in the ſenſe we find the phraſe uſed (Pſal. 138.6.) where it is ſaid, Though the Lord be high, yet hath he reſpect unto the lowly, but the proud he knoweth afar off, that is, he regards them not. We put a word of that ſignificancy in the Meeter, He contemning, knows them afar off, that is, as perſons that he cannot abide to have near him. The proud and lowly are alike near in place to God, yet not in reſpect. But of that only by the way. The Eagles beholding things afar off, is not (I ſay) like the Lords beholding perſons afar off; thoſe things which are afar off, in place from the Eagle, ſhe ſees them as if they were at hand: Thus ſhe beholdeth afar off.

Hence, Obſerve; God hath given more excellent ſenſes to ſome ſenſitive creatures than to others of that kind, yea, than to thoſe of a higher kind, the rational.

Not only doth the Eagle exceed other fowls of the air, but all the men on earth in eye-ſight. And as an Eagle hath a natural eye-ſight beyond man; ſo a godly man hath a ſpiritual eye-ſight beyond all other men, the eye-ſight of faith, by which he ſees not only things afar off, but things inviſible, yea, him that is inviſible, p. 487as Moſes did (Heb. 11.27.) A believer hath an Eagles eye; his eyes, as hers, behold afar off.

Verſ. 30. Her young ones alſo ſuck up blood, and where the ſlain are, there is ſhe.

This verſe holds out the ſixt property of the Eagle; what kind of food ſhe and her young ones live upon is here expreſt.

Her young ones.

Or her putters forth. By which we are to underſtand ſuch young ones as are ready to put forth feathers, but cannot yet fly abroad to ſhift for themſelves; or they are ſo called,foreign pulli avium à flore, quod efloreſcunt, & emergiant ex ove. Merc. becauſe young ones are put forth of the eggs. What do they? they ſuck up blood. The word notes a very greedy ſucking, it is a double word, & ſo implies, as it were, a double drinking, a drinking with ſuch haſt, that they are ready to choak; and ſo Maſter Broughton tranſlates it expreſly, Her young ones near choak ſwallowing blood, they ſwallow it ſo greedily that they are ready to choak themſelves with it; that's a good reading. The Septuagint, foreign conſperguntur Sept. velurantur. Auguſt.ſay her young ones are ſprinkled with blood, as they that feed upon raw fleſh, eſpecially when newly killed or torn, are ſpeckl'd or ſprinkled with blood: Her young ones are rolled or wallowed in blood, ſaith another. All readings ſhew what proviſion ſhe makes for her young ones while under her keeping, and how they keep themſelves when gone off from her hand; ſhe brings up her young ones to her own trade, feeding them with fleſh, and acquainting them with the ſweet of blood; ſhe and her young ones are all of a diet. 'Tis ſaid of the Eagle, that ſhe never drinks water, nor is at all thirſty; but both ſhe and her young ones ſuck up blood.

Hence note; What young ones are uſed to, that they will afterwards follow.

Young Eagles are uſed to blood in the neſt, and therefore delight in blood all their days afterwards (Prov. 22.6.) Train up a Child in the way he ſhould go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. If a Child be trained up in a good way, he will not depart from it when he is old; 'tis uſually ſo, or probably it will be ſo. Though the golden youth-age, of ſome hath ended in a leaden old age, yet it is moſt probable, if a Child be bred up in p. 488a good way,Progenies, …ſtimulante fame feſtinat ad illam. he will hold it, and if in an ill way, he will hardly leave or be beaten out of it: Uſually, ſuch as the inſtitution and inſtruction of youth is, ſuch will their after-converſation be. Her young ones alſo ſuck up blood, Quam primum rupte praedam guſtaverit o…o. Juven. Satyr. 14.and, as it follows, Where the ſlain are, there is ſhe.

This ſhews us yet more fully, what the Eagle lives upon. Where carcaſſes be, reſort they, ſaith Mr. Broughton. Some interpret the Text,foreign Non pro occiſis ſed mox occidendis accipio. Bold. Aelian. l. 14. c. 13. Ʋnaquae Jovis appelatur cornes non attingit, ſed ad victum ei herba ſotis eſt. Aelian. Ariſtot. not of bodies ſlain, but of bodies to be ſlain; where battels are to be fought, thither the Eagle reſorts. Natural Hiſtorians tell us, Eagles will prefage or ſmell a battel, ſome ſay, ſeven dayes before 'tis ſought, others three, at leaſt two; ſo that not only where the carcaſſes are, but are like to be, thither the Eagles gather. Yet ſome contend very much, that there is a ſort or race of Eagles ſo noble, that they will not feed upon a dead carcaſs, but live upon he…bs; but that moſt Eagles feed upon bodies ſlain, none deny. This Scripture of Job is alluded to by Chriſt himſelf (Mat. 24.28. Luke 17.37.) and both upon the ſame accounts, the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, the glorious coming of Chriſt, and the end of the world. In Matthew he ſaith, Whereſoever the carcaſs is, there will the Eagles be gathered together: And in Luke, Whereſoever the body is, thither will the Eagles be gathered together. St. Matthew ſaith, Where the carcaſs is, and St. Luke ſaith, Where the body is. There are various interpretations of theſe two Scriptures, both quoted (as is generally conceived) from the Text under hand. Some expound them only of the deſtruction of the Jews by the Romans, and give the ſenſe thus; That whereas Chriſt had foretold the deſtruction of the Jewiſh State and Temple by the Romans, and that it ſhould fall upon all places,Dr. Hammond even at once like lightning, ſo that it would be in vain for them to run from one City or Country to another, in hope to avoid the vengeance, becauſe whereſoever the Jews ſhould be, or whitherſoever they ſhould retire to hide and ſave themſelves, thither would the Romans Armies come (whoſe Enſign was the Eagle) and finding them out, ſlay and deſtroy them. As if the Lord Ch…iſt had ſaid, This threatned deſolation, will be univerſal and unavoidable; where ever any Jews are, there the Romans will be. Thus the whole body of the Jewiſh Nation is compared to a carcaſs or body, and the Romans to Eagles. That p. 489ancient Prophecy (Deut. 28.49.) may be applicable to this final deſtruction of the Jewiſh Nation; The Lord ſhall bring a Nation againſt thee from far, from the end of the earth (as ſwift) as the Eagle flyeth, a Nation whoſe tongue thou ſhalt not underſtand.

But though it be both very probable in it ſelf, and very ſutable to the words of Chriſt in St. Matthew, that the deſt…uction which the Roman Eagles broug… upon the body of the Jewiſh Nation, is there implyed; yet Chriſt ſpeaking of his own coming to judge the world (as well as of the Romans to deſtroy the Jews) there is (I conceive) more in it than that, when Chriſt ſaith, Whereſoever the carcaſs is, there will the Eagl… be gathered together. And why may we not ſay, that Chriſt compares himſelf to the carcaſs or body, and believers to the Eagles, who ſhall reſo…t and be gathered to him whereſoever he ſhall appear? Taking the words in this latter ſenſe.

Some expound them of true believers gathering to Chriſt, as the carcsſe or body, every day by faith. One of the Ancients ſaith, when Chriſt being laid in the grave,Euthymius. Theophilactus. Ambroſius. was firſt reſorted to by Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen, and Mary the Mother of our Lord, and by the Apoſtles, then were the Eagles gathered about the carcaſs: And ever ſince Chriſt aroſe from the dead, believers have gathered together about him, and fed upon him as crucified, or as that bleſſed carcaſs who procured life for them by his death; whereſoever Chriſt crucified is preached, thither true believers gather, and many who believe not are added to the Church.

Again, others expound it of the Saints gathering to Chriſt at the laſt day. Our late Annotators dealing with theſe words, as reported (Luk. 17.37.) ſay, that by the flight of the Eagle is ſignified the ſudden aſſembling of the Saints unto Chriſt coming unto judgement, anſwerable to that of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15.52. as alſo to that, 1 Theſ. 4.17.

Now though according to this allegorical interpretation of the Texts in St. Matthew and Luke, Chriſt is the carcaſs, and believers the Eagles; yet I ſhall cloſe my interpretation of th…s Text in Job, to which both the Evangeliſts allude, by ſhewing that in other Scriptures, ſuch things are ſpoken of Chriſt himſel…, as hold out a likeneſs between him and the Eagle, in many reſpe…s

Firſt, As the Eagle is the royal bird, the Princeſs or Queen p. 490of birds, ſo Jeſus Chriſt is the Prince of the Kings of the earth (Rev. 1.5.) And again (Rev. 19.16.) King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. As the Eagle among birds, ſo Chriſt among both men and Angels, hath the preheminence.

Secondly, As the Eagle mounts up, ſo alſo did Jeſus Chriſt (Pſal. 68.18.) Thou haſt aſcended on high; yea, ſo high hath Chriſt aſcended, that the Eagl… …annot follow him: The Heaven to which natural Eagles mount, is (as I may ſay) but a pavement to that which Jeſus Chriſt aſcended to Chriſt had a high ſlight, he mounted up to the heaven of heavens, far above all viſible heavens. (Eph. 4.10.) he is made higher than the Heavens (Heb. 7.26.)

Thirdly, Hath the Eagle a piercing eye? ſo hath Jeſus Chriſt; he (not only from the height of the clouds, whither the Eagle mounts, but) from the higheſt heavens, can look into the ſecret of every mans heart, even into the hell of a bad mans heart, and ſee what's doing there, what's lying there. It was ſaid of Chriſt while on earth (John 2.25.) He needed not that any ſhould teſtifie of man, for he knew what was in man; and ſtill he looks quite through man, through the wiſeſt, cloſeſt, and moſt reſerved among the ſons of men. All things are naked and open before the eyes of him (this Eagle) with whom we have to do; his eyes behold afar off.

Fourthly, Hiſtorians tell us, the Eagle fights or wars with Dragons and Serpents, and overcomes them. Jeſus Chriſt, this Eagle, hath fought with that great dragon the devil, and bruiſed the head of the Serpent (Gen. 3.15.)

Fifthly, The Eagle is very tender and careful of her young ones. Now, as an Eagle (ſaith Moſes, Deut. 32.11, 12.) ſtirreth up her neſt (that is, thoſe in her neſt) fluttereth over her young, ſpreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings; ſo the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no ſtrange God with him. God bare the Iſraelites on Eagles wings (out of Egypt) and brought them to himſelf (Exod. 19.5.) that is, he brought them ſpeedily and ſafely, and ſo he bore them all the years of their journeying in the wilderneſs. The Eagle beareth her young ones upon her wings, that they may be ſafe (ſhe muſt be hurt before her young ones can, while ſhe bears them there.) Thus Chriſt bears his people on his wings, yea, in his boſome, The eternal God is their refuge, and underneath are the everlaſting Arms (Deut. 33.27.)

p. 491Sixthly, Naturaliſts tell us, the Eagle gives her young ones of her own blood,Aelian. l. 14. cap. 14. when ſhe cannot get other blood for them to drink or ſuck. This is moſt true of Chriſt; he ſuffered himſelf to be wounded for us; his hands and feet, yea, his very heart was pierced, that we might have his blood to drink in believing. My blood (ſaith he, Joh. 6.) is drink indeed.

Seventhly, The Eagle is long lived.Aquila vocatur foreign propter longae vitatem: vivit annos centum. Epiphan. The Greek expreſſeth her by a word ſignifying longevity; and ſome give the reaſon, not only from the excellent temperament and conſtitution of her body, but alſo becauſe ſhe lives in ſuch pure air, free from ill vapours and noiſom ſmells. Jeſus Chriſt is not only long lived, but he lives for ever, he was from everlaſting, and will be to everlaſting, he is the King eternal (1 Tim. 1.17.) the eternal father, (Iſa. 9.6.)

Thus we ſee how Chriſt is like the Eagle, in theſe ſeven particulars; I ſhall ſhew ſeven more, wherein true Chriſtians alſo are like the Eagle.

Firſt, Doth the Eagle flie high? ſo do they by the wings of faith; They mount up (ſaith the Prophet, Iſa. 40.31.) with wings as the Eagle.

Secondly, Hath the Eagle a clear ſight? doth ſhe ſee far off? ſo Saints by faith can ſee far off (Iſa. 33.17.) Their eyes ſee the King in his beauty, they behold the Land that is very far off. Which Scripture, though it be properly and litterally meant of beholding King Hezekiah in his earthly glory, yet it is much more verified of a believers ſeeing his King, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in his heavenly glory, and of his beholding Heaven, which may well be called the Land of farneſs and diſtances, or (as we tranſlate) The Land very far off. Stephen the Protomartyr, had a clear intellectual ſpiritual eye, when he ſaid (Acts 7.56.) Behold, I ſee the heavens opened, and the Son of man ſtanding on the right hand of God. Believers have a clear Eagle-eye here, and they ſhall have a much clearer eye hereafter, when they ſhall ſee Chriſt as he is (1 John 3.2.) All Saints will be more than eagle-eyed in glory.

Thirdly, Doth the Eagle dwell on a rock? ſo doth every true believer (Iſa. 33.16.) His place of defence ſhall be the munitions of rocks; bread ſhall be given him, his water ſhall be ſure. The Apoſtle tells us who the rock is (1 Cor. 10.4.) The rock which followed them was Chriſt.

p. 492Fourthly, Doth the Eagle renew her ſtrength? So do believers when any oldneſs is coming upon the new creature (as it doth ſometimes) then they renew their ſtrength by looking to Jeſus Chriſt, who is at once their righteouſneſs and their ſtrength: He ſatisfieth their mouth with good things, ſo that their youth is renewed as the Eagles (Pſal. 103.5.) As the Lord often b…ings his people low by bodily ſickneſs and weakneſs, and then renews their natural health and ſtrength: So when there are decays and declinings upon their ſouls, he renews their ſpiritual health and ſtrength (Iſa. 40.31.) They that wait upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrengh, and then (as was ſaid before) they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles. The Eagles youth is renewed by the growth and ſucceſſion of new feathers (of the ſame kind) in the place of the old; but a believer reneweth his youth or ſtrength, by caſting off gradually the remainders of the old man which is corrupt, and by putting on more of the new man (who is quite of another kind) created after God in righteouſneſs and true holineſs (Eph. 4.24.)

Fifthly, Can the Eagle look fully upon the Sun? Surely helievers have not only as clear, but as ſtrong a ſight as the Eagle, they can look upon Jeſus Chriſt the Son of righteouſneſs with open face. For as this Son of righteouſneſs hath ſaid, behold me, behold me (Iſa. 65.1.) and again, Look to me and be ye ſaved, all the ends of the earth (Iſa. 45.22.) that is, all ye that dwell on earth, even to the ends of it; ſo he gives a power, or a ſpiritual eye to behold and look upon him; and that beholding or looking is a healing to them, as the beholding of the Sun is to the natural eye of the Eagle (Mal. 4.2.) To them that fear my name ſhall the Son of righteouſneſs ariſe with healing in his wings.

Sixthly, Do Eagles ſuck blood both young and old? ſo do believers. The firſt living of the new creature is upon blood; every godly man drinks the blood of Jeſus Chriſt by faith, as offered to him, both in the promiſes and in the Ordinances of the Goſpel. A believer could not live a moment, nor have any ſubſiſtence in grace, if he had not (as the Eagle) blood to ſuck in and drink. A godly man is nouriſhed, by a believing contemplation upon the ſufferings of Chriſt, and the effuſion of his blood.

Seventhly, Doth the Eagle feed upon the ſlain? ſo believers feed upon Chriſt as ſlain. Chriſt by his death is become our food p. 493to eternal life, (Joh. 6.51, 53.) Though the raiſed and glorified body of Chriſt be entred into the full poſſeſſion of a divine and eternal life, and though we by faith look to Jeſus Chriſt, not according to the fleſh, nor as dead, but as living and ſitting for ever at the right hand of the Father, there making interceſſion for us; yet we muſt look to him as entring into the holy place by the ſacrifice of himſelf, and with his own blood, not with the blood of others (Heb. 9.24, 25, 26.) The Apoſtle told the Corinthians, I determined to know nothing among you, but Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified; that is, ſo to know him as to feed upon him my ſelf, and ſo to make him known to you, that you might feed upon him alſo.

Further, It is conſiderable, that as believers in Scripture are compared to Eagles, and the Lord is ſaid to have born the old Church of the Jews upon Eagles wings; ſo under the Goſpel Eagles wings are ſaid to have been given to the Chriſtian Church, whereupon ſhe was born out of the reach of danger (Rev. 12.13, 15.) And when the Dragon ſaw that he was caſt to the earth, he perſecuted the woman that brought forth the man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle, that ſhe might flie into the Wilderneſs, (that is, convenient and ſufficient means to further her ſlight and retirement) into her place (whereſoever it is) where ſhe is nouriſhed for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the ſerpent. All the means of the Churches eſcape from danger are ſhadowed by two wings; not but that God hath more means than two, by which his providence works and procures the ſafety of the Church; but, becauſe it had been improper, ſpeaking of her flight, to expreſs more wings than two: For the Seraphims, which are deſcribed, having each one ſix wings (Iſa. 6.2.) yet two of them only were put to that uſe of flying. And theſe two wings given the Church, are ſaid to be the two wings of an Eagle, becauſe among all the winged tribes, Eagles are ſt…ongeſt and ſwifteſt of wing; they can fly faſteſt, and they can fly furtheſt, as in height, ſo in length. Nor are the wings given the Church, barely called the wings of an Eagle, but of a great Eagle, implying not only the beſt kind of wings, but the beſt wings of that kind; not only the wings of an Eagle, but of a great Eagle. By all which is meant, the wiſe and tender care of God over his Church in times of p. 494greateſt danger, when the Dragon become a Serpent, or the Serpentine Dragon ſeeks moſt to annoy her.

Thus far the Lord hath been interrogating Job, not only about the inanimate creatures, the Heavens, the Air, the Sea, the Earth, but alſo about ſeveral Animals; in the leaſt of which, becauſe they not only have a being, but life, ſenſe and motion, more of the power, wiſdom and goodneſs of God ſhines forth, than in the greateſt of the former. And all the queſtions propoſed to Job in theſe two Chapters have (as hath been hinted heretofore, and ſhould be conſtantly minded) this general ſcope to convince (as then Job, ſo now) all men, both of their own nothingneſs, and of the all-ſufficiency, wiſdom, care and power of God, who hath ſo wiſely made, and doth ſo wiſely diſpoſe of all the creatures which he hath made. And therefore, man who hath received more from God than they all, and of whom God is more tender than of them all, ſhould ſubmit to the diſpoſe of God in all things without diſputing about, much more without murmuring at, or complaining of his diſpenſations in one kind or other.

The Lord (though he had done much in the way of interrogating) hath not yet done interrogating Job concerning the works of his hands. Nevertheleſs, before he proceeded any further, to enquire of him about the creatures, he ſaw it fit to feel his pulſe a little, by a cloſe application of what he had already ſaid, mingled with high language and cutting reproofs, thereby to try what effect this forepaſſed diſcourſe had wrought upon him, or whether he were come to a more humble and ſubmitting frame than before, as will appear in opening the former part of the Chapter following.