Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 4 · Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX. Verſe 1. Knoweſt thou the time when the wild Goats of the Rock bring forth?]
THe Hiſtory of the living Creatures is of ſingular uſe we ſee to ſet forth the Goodneſs, Power, Wiſdom, and other of Gods Attributes clearly ſhining in them. And therefore they have very well deſerved of all ſorts who have put forth ſuch Hiſtories and diſcourſes; as Ariſtotle, Elian, Pliny, G…ſner, Aldobrandinus, &c. of whom I may ſay, as once E…tus Sylvius (afterwards Pope Pius 2) did of Learning in general, That Popular men ſhould eſteem them as ſilver, Noblemen as Gold, Princes as Pearles; and not ſo ſlenderly reward them,Joh. Manl. loc. com. 572. as Pope Sixtus did Theodorus Gaza (who tranſlated, and dedicated unto him, Ariſtotle, De Natura Animalium) paying him only for the rich Binding and Boſſing forty Crowns: but bountifully encourage them, as Great Alexander did his Maſter Ariſtotle for that ſame Work; he gave him ſaith the Hiſtory, eight hundred Talents, which is foure hundred and foure ſcore thouſand Crownes. The pleaſure of reading ſuch Authors, is not ſo great as the profit; for thereby we may attain to the knowledg of God and of our ſelves; of his Will, and our Duties. Hence we are ſent to School to the unreaſonable Creatures, even the moſt contemptible, as the Piſmire, Prov. 6.6. And Baſil writing to one, that was proud of his knowledge, propoundeth unto him diverſe queſtions concerning this ſame Piſmire, as namely, how many feet he hath? whether he hath entrailes, as kidneyes, liver, heart, veines, nerves, as other living Creatures, &c? Semblably, God here to humble Job, and to convince him of his meanneſs, asketh him, whether he knoweth the wild Goats and Hinds, with the time of their bringing forth young, the means and the manner, &c? And whether theſe things were done by his ordination and vigilancy? Many admirable things are written of theſe wild Goats; as what cold places they live in, what inacceſſible Rocks,Pendemem ſumma capream de rupe videbis caſuram ſp…res, decipit illa canes Mart. how ſtrangely there they hang, what huge leaps they fetch; but eſpecially about their bringing forth, how by a natural ſagacity they help themſelves, both before and after, by biting upon certain herbs that are helpful to them in that caſe. Theſe things, and many more ſuch may be read of in Pliny's Natural Hiſtory; of which Book Eraſmus well ſaith, That it is a ſtore-houſe, or rather a world full of things moſt worthy to be read. So are not the Jewiſh Expoſitors, who tell us many ſtrange things here concerning theſe Creatures, quae commentitia eſſe put…, which I take to be meer Fictions, ſaith Learned Mercer. And I, to be trifles, and old wives Fables, ſaith Lavater. To the belief whereof they are juſtly given up by God for their rejecting of Chriſt the Light of the world. We grant that the whole world is full of miracles, though for the commonneſs of them they are little noted, or noticed. But ſhould theſemen think to help the truth by their lyes? Should they ſpeak wickedly for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
Or canſt thou mark when the Hinds do calve?] Which they do not, without a great deal of pain, (as the Hebrew word importeth) no creature the like, unleſſe it be woman. God ſometimes frighteth them by his thunder, and ſo furthereth their delivery, Pſal. 29.9. whileſt they ſtruggle with many griefs, and to give life to their calves, are in danger of loſing their own. Now, if God help the Hinds in this caſe, will he be wanting to his labouring daughters? Let them ſend for Lady Faith to be their Midwife; and all ſhall go well. She hath delivered Graves of their dead, Heb. 11.35 How much more then will ſhe, them of their quick births, yea, though they carry death in their bowels?
Verſe 2. Canſt thou number the months they fulfil?] Eight months Ariſtotle ſaith (the Elephant is ſaid to go above eight yeares) but who can tell the inſtant when? or why not ſooner, or later? Doeſt thou exactly obſerve and count thoſe months as I do, to a moment? Sola hic Dei providentia elucet.
Verſe 3. They bow themſelves] ſc. By an inſtinct of nature, whether it be the pain they ſuffer which compelleth them to it, or the fear of hurting their calves, which obligeth them to it.
They bring forth their young] Diffindunt: fiſſa ſc: et aperta tandem matrice; they bring forth with a great deal of difficulty, to the cruſhing of their young, which yet eſcape and grow up. Let good women learn, ſperare à Deo faciles & ſalices partus, to truſt in God for a happy delivery, though it go hard with them, ſometimes to the making of ſome Medae… ſay,Eurip. Millies in acie mori mallem quam ſemel parere. I had rather, a thouſand times, die in battel, than bring forth one childe.
They caſt out their ſorrows] Tormina, their throws, and therewith their young, by the benefit of the herbs Arus and Seſelis, Ariſt. hiſt. anim. lib. 9 cap. 5. Plin. lib. 8. c. 31.which they feed upon, for the better bringing away of their gleanings as they call the involucrum, that wrappeth the young in the matrix. The vulgar hath it, They utter roarings; they caſt forth cryes which are as terrible as the roarings of Lioneſſes. Stato partus tempore valve deh… ſount que à partu mox occluduntur: id quòd fieri vidensus, inquit Galenus, fed quomodo fiat, admirari tantum poſſumus. Avicenna vocat opus ſupra mirabilia omnia, mirabile. Sed miracula aſſiduitate vileſcunt. If a man ſhould be born but once in an hundred years, all the world would ſtand amazed at ſuch a Miracle.
Verſe 4. Their young ones are in good liking] Or, They recover; revaleſcunt as Iſai. foreign Sept.58.16. notwithſtanding the hardneſſe of their birth, by reaſon of their dams exceeding dry temperature, Pſal. 42.1. As the Hinde brayeth after the Water-brooks, as being naturally hot, and dry when in pain eſpecially; and this the young are ſenſible of in their coming into the world, which yet they ſoon recover and grow ſlick and fat. Let God be truſted for the welfare of our children, though weak, and weariſh when new-born, and hard put to't in the birth.
They grow up with Corn.] Or, In the Field; after that they have been nouriſhed a while with their dams-milk, they forrage for themſelves, being calved about Autumne, as Ariſtotle noteth, that is in Seed-time: others ſay, about Harveſt, when corn is in the field, and Gods great…harn door open, as the proverb is. This is here brought as an Argument of the divine providence.
They go forth, and return not unto them] That is, To their dams; as finding food enough abroad. Thus other creatures, ſo ſoon as born almoſt, can ſhift for themſelves; only poor ſhift-leſſe man is long ere he can do any thing, or comes to any proof, to be able to provide for himſelf.
Verſe 5. Who hath ſent out the wild-Aſſe free?] foreign Phere, ſerum animal, (ſo Tremellius rendreth it) the wild Creature. And it is not unlikely that the Latine word Fera, Eò quòd onager feritate antecellit. Piſcat.comes from this Hebrew word for a wild-Aſſe; which is a moſt untameable, & untractable creature. Every kind of beaſts, and of birds, and of ſerpents, and of things in the ſea is tamed, & hath been tamed of mankind, Jam 3.7. We read of Auguſtus Caeſar that he had a tame Tiger, but who ever board of a wild-Aſſe tamed? Africa is ſaid to have whole heards of them: and it is reported, that when they ſee a man, they ſtand ſtock ſtill; and kick with their hinder feet, braying aloud. And when the Hunter comes ſo near them, that he could touch them almoſt, they ſnuff up the wind, kick up their heels, and run quite away: ſo nimble they are, that they can hardly be taken, much leſſe tamed? To the Colt of this wild Creature, is a natural man compared by Zophar, chap. 11.12. for his extreme rudeneſſe and unrulineſſe: The Prophet Jeremy hath the like of the Idolaters of his time, chap. 2.24. who were lawleſſe and lewd Loſels, obſtinate, and refractary; ſuch as multò faciliùs fregeris quàm flexeris; will ſooner break than bend: with theſe froward God will wreſtle, Pſal. 18.26. with theſe Antipodes God will walk contrary, Levit. 26.41. and be as croſſe as they are, for the hearts of them. His Law hath four teeth to taw and tame theſe maſterleſſe Monſters; viz. 1. Irritation, Rom. 7.7. 2. Induration, Iſai. 6.10. 3. Obſignation, Gen. 4.7. 4. Execration, Deut. 28.16, 17, &c. Obeyed he will be of them, either Actively or paſſively: and ſanctified he will be, either by them, or upon them, Levit. 10.3. Wild Aſſes are free from men: but ſo are not wild Iſmaelites from God. Who hath ever looſed the bands of the wild Aſſe? but God will hamper his rebels, and certainly ſubdue them; all his foes ſhall become his foot-ſtoole. Be inſtructed therefore, O Jeruſalem, Jer. 6.8. Be not as Horſe and Mule that have no underſtanding, &c. for many ſorrows ſhall be to ſuch wicked, Pſal. 32.9, 10. and it is too … for them to kick againſt the pricks, Acts, 9.5. to puſh back upon the goad, as …med Heifers uſe to do, but to their further ſorrow, and ſufferance.
Verſe 6. Whoſe houſe I have made the wilderneſs] That of Arabia eſpecially near unto Job. where were whole droves of theſe wild Aſſes. There are a ſort of them alſo in Plara, one of the Ilands of the Egean ſea. Hermites and Anchorites ſeem to affect the ſame liberty: but where did God ever grant it them? Man is foreign ſaith Ariſtotle, Natures good-fellow, as One engliſheth him: and no ſooner had the Philippians received the Goſpel, but they were in fellowſhip to a day, Phil. 1.5. The Communion of Saints is as well a point of Chriſtian practiſe, …an Article of Chriſtian belief: and they have much to anſwer for, who ſty up themſelves, and forſake the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is, Heb. 10. theſe are in the ready way to utter Apoſtacy, Ibid. He is not like to walk long, who affecteth to walk alone. Two are better than one; and why, ſee Eccleſ. 4.9, 11, 12. with the Notes.
And the barren land his dwelling] Heb. The ſalt place, that is, barren as if it had been ſowed with ſalt, Judg. 9.45. Pſal. 107.33, 34. Salt is taken in Scripture to be both a cauſe and ſigne of barrenneſſe, Deut. 20.23. Zeph. 2.9. though amongſt us there are ſome kind of ſoyles, they ſay, that are manured with ſalt, and thereby made fruitful: but in thoſe hot and dry Countries it was otherwiſe. In theſe barren places, God provideth for the wild-Aſſe: and although he hath there but mean food, yet he is luſty and nimble, and ſaveth himſelf both from the Hunter, and from the ravage of other fierce and ſavage creatures, by his ſtrength and ſwiftneſſe. Xenophon telleth us, That Cyrus paſſing through the wilderneſſe of Arabia, with his Horſe-men, there were many of theſe wild-Aſſes: who, being ſtirred, ran ſo ſwiftly away, that ſome horſe-men following could not come neer them; then ſtanding ſtill:Cyropad. lib. 3. but when the horſe-men approached, they fell again a running as before, thus deluding them. Haec igitur beſtia non mediocre mirabilis Dei potentiae veſtigium eſt. ſaith Brentius. In this beaſt therefore there is much of Gods great power and providence to be ſeen. And from hence alſo we may gather, ſaith another Interpreter, that a little is enough to ſuſtain men in the wilderneſſe of this world: As the Children of Iſrael alſo were here ſuſtained, having nothing to eate but what God ſent them down from heaven from day to day, forty years together. Nature is content with a little, grace with leſſe.
Verſe 7. He ſcorneth the multitude of the City] Heb. He laugheth. Inſignis Metaphora. He would ſcorn to be ſet to work, as the tame Aſſe is. Aſinum oneramus & non curat, quia aſinus eſt, ſaith Bernard, We load the Aſſe, and he taketh it well aworth; becauſe he is an Aſſe. But the wild-Aſſe will not take ſo: he is not a beaſt born to bear burdens as the other. He is not tardum & pigrum animal; as the other, a dull and ſlow creature: for which cauſe alſo, ſaith Bellarmine; God would none of him, Exod. 13.13. & 34.20. Chriſt ſo far hateth dulneſſe, that he bad Judas the traytour, what he did, do quickly. The wild-Aſſe is very ſwift, and fed by Gods providence in the wilderneſſe; ſcorning the multitude, or the hurry-noiſe of the City.
Neither regardeth he the crying of the driver] Heb. Of the Exactour, who rateth and rageth againſt the tame Aſſe with words and blowes, to haſten him to his work, and to bring him this way, and that way. Oppreſſive Princes do the like to their poor ſubjects, (the King of France is called, Rex aſinorum) which ſomtimes maketh them turn wild,Joſeph. l. 18. c. 2. and ſhake off ſubjection; as the Jewes did that to the Romans, chuſing rather to ſuffer the moſt exquiſite torments, than to be enſlaved. But what a mad conceit was that of Martin Stembach, a Dutch Sectary, Anno 1566. who would needs correct the Lords Prayer, Stultam & inefficacem aſſerens orationem in qua interjectione ô uteremur: non ſecus enim hac exclamandi formulà divinam gratiam impediri,Lonicer. ex Theatro vitae. quam aſinarii, aſinorum impetum hoc adverbio?
Verſe 8. The range of the mountains is his paſture] There he keeps, probably, for fear of Lyons, and other fierce creatures: and there he finds food and forrage, ſuch as doth not only appeaſe his hunger, but excite his appetite; as if he were in ſome fat paſture.
And he ſearcheth out every green thing] Speeding better in his ſearch than thoſe Aſſes of Hetruria, which feeding upon green Hemlock, are thereby laid for dead for three dayes, till half hileded by the Countrey men, who take them for dead, they ſtart up, and with an horrible noiſe run away in that pickle.
Verſe 9.Naricornis. Will the Ʋnicorn be willing to ſerve thee?] The Rhinoceros, ſaith the Vulgar: but that's another kind of beaſt, ſo called from the growing of his horn from his noſe. This is the Monoceros or Ʋnicorn, which cannot be taken alive (interimi poteſt, capi non poteſt) as the Rhinoceros may. A very fierce and ſtrong creature it is, and now adayes very rare, but anciently more common: He hath one horn only (and not many, as R. Levi by a miſtake would infer from Deut. 33.17.) that groweth in the middle of his fore-head; and that he lifted up on high: whence alſo he hath his name in the Hebrew. He is deſcribed in Scripture, 1. By this high lifting up of his horn,Lib. 8. cap. 21. Pſal. 92.10. 2. By his ſtrength, Numb. 23.22. 3. From his untameable fierceneſſe, here. Pliny calleth him a Lic…rn. Vertomannus ſaith he ſaw two of them. Scaliger ſaith he had ſeen the horn of an Unicorn, a ſpecial Antidote againſt Poyſon.Keckerm. But ſome deny that there is any ſuch creature: becauſe if he had an horn ſo placed, and of ſuch a length as is affirmed, he could not graze: and beſides it appeareth not certainly,Ael. lib. that ever any man ſaw ſuch a creature. Aelian ſaith that there are a ſort of wild-Aſſes in India of the bigneſſe of an horſe, that have one horn in the middeſt of their foreheads in length a cubit and an half: and ſo ſharp, that therewith he pierceth through the hardeſt things. Some conceive that by the beaſt here mentioned is meant the wild-Bull, here oppoſſed to the tame Ox, and elſwhere joyned to Oxen, Deut. 33.17. Iſai. 34.6. Whatever it is, it will not be brought to do man ſervice; though fitted by ſtature and ſtrength to do much; but lives at liberty, and is provided for by God.
Or abide by the crib] Heb. Ly all night there as Oxen do, ready for ſervice next morning? I trow not.
Verſe 10. Canſt thou bind the Ʋnicorn, &c?] To keep him in order, and to hold him hard to his work, that he may lay the furrows even? Canſt thou tether or geere him like a horſe? Or will he be brought to drive or lead a Plow or Harrow? No ſuch matter.Auguſt. Before the Fall, all Creatures would gladly have ſerved man. Sed rebellis facta eſt, quia homo numini, creatura homini.
Verſe 11. Wilt thou truſt him becauſe his ſtrength is great?] Of the Unicorns ſtrength Balaam ſpeaketh, Numb. 23.22. the Hebrew word ſignifieth ſuch luſtineſs, courage, & proweſs, as whereby one endureth labor without wearineſs or fainting. Such ſtrength is required in plowmen, whoſe work is never at an end: and hard fallow muſt have a ſtrong team. But the Unicorn will never fadge, nor frame to ſuch an employment. Free God hath made him: and rather than part with his freedom, he will par…with his life. Let men learn to ſtand faſt in the liberty wherewith Chriſt hath made them free. (Gal. 5.1.) and not he again entangled (as Oxen tyed to the yoke) with the yoke of ſpiritual bondage, worſe than the Egyptian ſervicade.
Verſe 12. wilt thou believe him that he will bring home thy ſeed?] That is, the crop that comes of thy ſeed: as in the former verſe, thy labour that is the fruit of thy labour, as Pſal. 128.2. There is no truſting to this wild and fierce creature to do any ſuch thing. Vertoman ſaith, that he ſaw two Unicorns, and that they were not of ſo fierce a nature, but that they might be brought to ſomewhat. But then they were not true Unicorns, ſay we: ſuch as God here deſcribeth.
And gather it into thy barn?] No truſting to the Unicorns gentleneſſe for any ſuch matter, unleſſe we deſire to be deceived.
Verſe 13. Gaveſt thou the goodly wings unto the Peacock?] Alam exultandam, the wings and tail to the Peacock, wherein he ſo prideth himſelf and taketh ſuch pleaſure, being all in changeable colours, ſo are ſome great promiſers; (the Peacock here hath his name from his loud and ſhrill voice) as often changed as moved. A beautiful bird it is, and pre…iouſly clothed by God. They were wont to ſay here,Plin. l. 1…. c. 2…. That Peacocks, Hops, and Hereſie, came firſt into England in one and the ſame ſhip. They ſay, he moſt of all ſpreads his fair tail, when he is moſt beheld by men, and praiſed. His feathers are good for little elſe but only to pleaſe children. But that he pulleth down his fair plumes, and ſetteth up his harſh Note, when he looketh down upon his ill-favoured feet, is an old ſaid ſaw; let them believe it that liſt.
Or wings and feathers unto the Oſtrich?] And ſo by a Synecdoche, to all other fowles of the air: in the admirable variety of whoſe colours, tunes, and taſtes, 1 Cor. 15.39. much of Gods power, and wiſdom, yea, of his goodneſſe alſo may be ſeen: and therefore the loſſe of theſe creatures (good for food, for phyſick, and for delight, as the companions of our lives) is threatned as a judgement, Jer. 4.25. & 9.10. Some for the Oſtrich render the Stork, and ſome a Night-bird of an ill note: But the following deſcription agreeth beſt with the Buſtard or Oſtrich, which is between a beaſt and a fowle; having ſo thin feathers, and ſo heavie a body, that he cannot flye; but only lifteth up his wings, and runneth very ſwiftly. Elian ſaith that he is almoſt as big as a Camel, being therefore called Struthi…-camelus. Pliny ſaith that he is higher than an horſe-man on horſe-back, and can out-run him: but is ſo fooliſh, that being purſued, if he can hide his head onelyonly in ſome hole, or thicker, and can ſee no body; he thinks himſelf ſafe, and that no body ſeeth him;Cum interim tot… corporis mo…e promineas. though his great bulk be all in ſight. Other effects of his folly, follow in the next words.
Verſe 14. Which leaveth her egges in the earth] Some ſay that ſhe layeth 80. eggs, and having a faculty of diſcerning which of them will prove Oſtriches, and which will come to nothing; ſhe leaveth ſome of them upon the ſand, and upon other ſome ſitteth, and hatcheth them. But this appeareth to be a fiction, becauſe another and a better reaſon of her leaving her eggs is here alleaged: and the power and providence of God giving them life by the heat of the Sun, evidenced, and evinced.
And warmeth them in the duſt] Julius Scaliger reporteth the like of a certain creſted bird of the bigneſſe of an hen, found in Catigan an Iland in the ſea Sur; which ſitteth not upon her eggs, but burieth them two foot deep in the ſand: whence they are hatch't by the Sun and hot ſands: and this, ſay ſome, in very hot Countries is not unuſual.
Verſe 15. And forgetteth that the foot may cruſh them, or, that the wild beaſt may break them] This brutiſh and blockiſh bird forgetteth, that is, ſhe never conſidereth what may befal her eggs, left ſo careleſly. Other fowle ſet their Neſts aloft and out of harms-way: not ſo this fooliſh and careleſſe creature, who hath neither affection to preſerve them, nor fear to loſe them.
Verſe 16. Shee is hardned againſt her young ones, as though they were not hers] Heb. Her ſons: So are thoſe peremptores potius quam parentes, as Bernard calleth them, rather Parricides than Parents, who look not to the precious ſouls of their poor children; who labour not to mend that by education, which they have marred by propagation. Theſe are worſe than thoſe daughters of Jeruſalem, who ſlain almoſt with grief and hunger, became cruel to their ſucklings, like the Oſtriches of the wilderneſſe, Lam. 4.3. What a cruel Mother was Medea? and the Mother of King Edward the Martyr, whom ſhe baſely murthered: And when his brother Egelrod; (who ſucceeded him in the Kingdome) being then but ten yeers old, mourned thereat;Mr. Clarke Martyrol. fol. 31. his mother was ſo enraged, that taking Wax candles, which were readieſt at hand, ſhe therewith ſcourged him ſo ſore, that he could never after endure Wax candles to be burnt before him? But this cruelty was nothing to that of ſoulmurder, whereof many parents by their negligence at leaſt, are deeply guilty: they bring forth children to that old Man-ſlayer,Struthionis aſtorgia declaratur e cauſis duabus, vacuitate metus & vacuitate intellectus. and ſo their labour (in bearing and breeding children) is in vain, and worſe, without fear, for they will not be better adviſed nor affected.
Verſe 17. Becauſe God hath deprived her of wiſdom.] That is of ſuch fore-caſt to provide for her young ones by a natural inſtinct, as other fowles and beaſts have. Gods mercy to men appeareth, 1. in giving us wiſdome beyond them, Job 35.11. 2. In giving us power over them, Pſal. 8. And 3. In learning us ſo much by them in thoſe many Scripture-compariſons, Prov. 7.23. and 26.2. and 27.8. Matth. 8.26 that's a ſweet place, Iſai. 31.5. As birds flying. (ſcil. to ſave their young) ſo wil the Lord defend Jeruſalem; defending alſo, he will deliver it; and paſſing over, he will preſerve it. The Fowles of the Aire are, and may be unto us examples and Monitours of many vertues to be embraced, and vices to be eſchued. In the Oſtrich, for inſtance, we may ſee that ſtrength and bigneſſe of body is not alwayes accompanyed with wiſdom and underſtanding: that it is God who either giveth or denyeth wiſdome to his Creatures; that natural affection is of him; that he gives not all things to one man, but diverſly diſtributeth his gifts: The Oſtrich hath wings, but not to flye with, &c.
foreign.
foreign.— Non omnia poſſumus omnes.
Verſe 18. What time ſhe lifteth up her ſelf on high, &c.] That is, when ſhe runneth away from the hunter (which ſhe doth with ſingular ſwiftneſs) ſhe lifteth up her ſelf on high, not from the earth, as other birds (for that ſhe cannot do) but on the earth, with wings ſtretcht out like ſailes, and her whole body bolt upright, ſcarce touching the earth at all with her feet, but quickning her own pace with ſharp ſpurs, which they ſay ſhe hath in the pinnion of each wing, ſo pricking her ſelf on, that ſhe may run the faſter; to teach us what we ſhould do in the race of Religion, and when purſued by Satan, how to haſten to Chriſt.
She ſcorneth the horſe and his rider] That is, ſhe eaſily out-runs them, being as ſwift as a bird that flyeth. They ſay, the Arabians are wont to try their horſes ſwiftneſs by trying to overtake them.
Verſe 19. Haſt thou given the horſe ſtrength?] Having mentioned the horſe, he comes next to ſhew his nature: and here we have a moſt elegant deſcription of a generous horſe, ſuch as Dubartas maketh Cain to manage, and as the Greeks call, foreign, Fremebundum.
Virg. Georg.—Quod ſiqua ſonum procul armadeàêre
Stare loco neſcit, micat auribus, & tremit artus:
Collectumque premens velvit ſub naribus ignem.
In this Creature therefore we have a clear inſtance of the wonderful Power and Wiſdome of God. If the hoaſe be ſo ſtrong and warlike, what is the Almighty, that man of war, Exod. 15.3. and Victor in Battle, as the Chaldee there calleth him? This is one way whereby we may conceive of God, ſcil. per viam eminemiae, for if there be ſuch and ſuch excellence in the Creature, what is there in the Creator, ſith all that is in us is but a ſpark of his flame, a drop of his Ocean? How then wilt thou, O Job, dare to contend with him, who art not able to ſtand before this Creature of his? Wonderful things are reported concerning Bucephalus, and the horſe of Julius Caeſar, of Nicom…des King of Bithynia, of the Sibarites War-horſes, Qui ad ſymphonia cantum ſaltatione quadam movebantur. Pauſan.The Perſians dedicated an horſe to the Sun, ſo did the Idolatrous Iſraelites, 2 Kings. 23.11. as the ſwifteſt Creature to the ſwifteſt God. Very ſerviceable he is for drawing and carrying, but eſpecially in battle, whereof only here, De equis militaribus & cataphractis; of War-horſes, the uſe whereof appeareth to be very ancient, even in Jobs dayes. The Iſraelites made little or no uſe of them in the Conqueſt of Canaan; foreign. Plut. in Numabut their enemies there did, and Pharaoh before them, Exod. 14. Let it be held that a horſe is a vaine thing for ſafety, neither ſhall he deliver any by his great ſtrength, Pſal. 33.17. The Jewes are ſharply reproved, and heavily threatned for truſting to the horſes of Egypt, Iſai. 31.1.
Haſt thou cloathed his neck with thunder?] That is, with neighing and ſnorting, anſwerable to his ſtrength, and which ſoundeth terribly from within his neck, till his very eyes ſparkle, as if he did both thunder and lighten. The Apoſtles, and other Miniſters of God are called Chriſts White horſes, Rev. 6.1, 2. upon which he rideth about the world conquering and to conquer: Horſes for their courage and conſtancy, and white for their purity of Doctrine, Diſcipline and Converſation: They thunder in their Doctrine, and lighten in their lives (as Nazianzen, ſaith Baſil, did) to the ſubduing of ſouls to the obedience of faith.
Verſe 20. Canſt thou make him afraid as a Graſhopper?] Which ſoon flincheth and flyeth with the leaſt noiſe. But the horſe is more like that formidable Army of Locuſts deſcribed, Joel 2. that bare down all before them, and ſhook all places where ever they came.
The glory of his noſtrils is terrible] Heb. Terrors: His ſnorting and ſneezing ſtrikes terror into people. The more wonderful is Gods goodneſſe in ſubduing to weak man ſo luſty a creature, to be ridden and ruled at his pleaſure. He trains him to the great ſaddle, and teacheth him to obey his hand and ſpur, to bound in the aire, to obſerve his meaſures, to ſhew that docility, dexterity and vigour which none but God hath given him, and be every way ſo ſerviceable and uſeful both in War and Peace. Joannes Bodin hath obſerved, That whereas Lions, Wolves,Theas. Nat. 405 and other ravenous creatures have a gall and choler, whereby they are eaſily ſtirred up to anger and revenge: not ſo horſes, aſſes, camels, elephants, and other creatures made for mans help; theſe have neither gall nor hornes, wherein appeareth ſumma Opificis ſapientia, the great wiſdome and goodneſſe of the Creator.
Verſe 21. He paweth in the valley]
—Cavatque
Tellurem, & ſolido graviter ſonat ungula cornu.Virg. Georg. l. 3
Such is the impatiency of his ſpirit, that he champs his bit, and ſtamps with his feet;Quadrupedante putrem ſonitu quatit ungula Campum. Virg. he pricks up his eares, and growes white with foame, and can hardly be held in till the enemy come, but would fain be in the battle; whither when he comes, he runs upon the Pikes, and undauntedly caſts himſelf and his rider among the enemies ſquadrons: Quod ſummè mirum eſt, ſaith Mercer. which is a wonderful thing indeed: and it is no leſs wonderfully ſet forth by a moſt lively and lightſome hypotypoſis, giving us to ſee, as it were, the horſes ruſhing into the battle, and to hear him ſnoaring, and ſnorting with diſdain and deſpight, bringing every where horror and diſorder.
Verſe 22. He mocketh at fear &c.] Heb. He laugheth, by an elegant Proſopopaeia, ſuch as this Book is full of. Non vanos horret ſtrepitus. He feareth no colours when once ingaged in fight, but counts that a ſport and play whereof others are afraid.
Neither turneth he back from the ſword] Or any other offenſive weapons, theſe cannot make him turn taile or recoil, he is never more furious, then when he ſees himſelfe covered with his blood. —Vires animoſque à vulnere ſumit: Being wounded, he biteth and kicketh, and fighteth no leſſe ſtoutly then the Rider himſelf doth.
Verſe 23 The Quiver rattleth againſt him] The Arrow: thoſe meſſengers of death come whisking and ſinging about his ears (ſo the bullets now in ſo much uſe) but he is unappaled thereat.
The glittering Spear] Heb. The flaming Spear, as Gen. 3.24. that is, bright and clear, ſhining like a flame of fire, which muſt needs be terrible: but not at all to the War-horſe.
And the Shield] Or rather Javelin, Launce, or the like he feareth not a wood of Pikemen ſet in array againſt him.
Verſe 24. He ſwalloweth the ground with fierceneſſe] He runs over it as faſt as if he did ſwallow it up at a draught.Terram pra cur. ſus celeritate, ebibere, & epotare videtur. Merc. In fremitu & commotione. An hyperbolical Metaphor.
With fierceneſs and rage] Or, With commotion or unquietneſs; there is an elegancy in the Original that cannot be engliſhed.
Neither believeth he that it is the ſound of the trumpet] He is ſo over-joyed, when that ſign is given to begin the battle. Others, he cannot ſtand ſtill when he hath once heard the ſound of the Trumpet.
Verſe 25. He ſaith among the Trumpets, Ha, ha] Or, Euge. A Note of rejoycing, which he ſeemeth to utter in his language: theſe are Poetical termes.
He ſmelleth out the battle afar off] He knowes that the onſet is about to be given. Pliny writeth, That horſes will perceive aforehand the very time of the fight if it be but
By the thunder of the Captaines, and the ſhouting] The Captains adhortation, and the Souldiers acclamations, &c. The Hebrew word ſignifieth the noiſe either of joy or ſorrow; both are commonly heard in battles. For every battle of the Warriour is with confuſed noiſe, and garments rolled in blood, Iſai. 9.5. The glory of all this that is ſaid of the horſe,Bodin. theat. Nat. p. 407. the Lord aſſumeth to himſelf; and yet the horſe is not ſo couragious, but that he is as much afraid of, and troubled at the ſight of the Stone Taraxippe (which therehence alſo hath its name) as the Elephant is at the ſight of an Hog, and a Lion of a Cock, wherewith they have a natural antipathy, as Naturaliſts tell us.
Verſe 26.Pennabi… Doth the Hawk flye by thy wiſdom?] Or, Doth the hawk plumeſcere get her feathers by thy wiſdome? The word cometh from a root which ſignifieth, ſtrong, becauſe the ſtrength of fowles is in their wings, their delight in high flying. Hath the Hawk her wings from thee? and doth ſhe recruit and uſe them, artificio & auſpicio tuo, by thy Art or Induſtry? Tame them indeed men may, and bring them to hand, as Falconers do, for pleaſure more then for profit; but neither can they give them their wings, nor repair them when broken.
And ſtretch her wings toward the South] Thereby to furniſh her ſelf with a ſecond plumage, whilſt ſhe flyeth into thoſe hotter Countries, where (as they ſay) her old feathers by the Sunnes heat fall off, and new tome in their room.
Verſe 27 Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command?] Mount plum up (which no bird elſe can do) to an infinite height, even out of ſight; not without an eye ſtill to her prey, which by this means ſhe ſpyes ſooner, and ſeizeth upon better. A fit embleme of an hypocrite, who ſeemes to ſoar aloft, but it is for ſome ſelf and ſiniſter reſpect;Mat. 24. he ſeeketh not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (as the ſincere hearted do) but his own belly, Rom. 16.18.
And make her neſt on high] Not in plaines, but on lofty tops, and inacceſſible Rocks, for the ſafety of her young ones. Of the nature of Eagles, read Ariſtotle, De Nat, Animal. lib. 9. cap. 32. and Pliny, lib. 3. cap. 10. They tell us, That there is an enmity between the Eagle and the Serpent; and becauſe the Serpent ſeeketh to deſtroy the young Eagles, ſhe ſetteth her neſt on high to ſafeguard them. And if any man ſeek to rob her neſt, ſhe doubteth not to aſſault him with her wings and talons. Formidable ſhe is to all birds ſave only the Hawk, who is able to deal with her if he can but avoid the firſt ſhock.
Verſe 28. She dwelleth and abideth upon the rock &c.] Which are counterſcarfed and encompaſſed with Precipices; there ſhe makes her neſt in the clefts and crags. The reaſon whereof ſee in the Note on the Verſe afore-going.
Ʋpon the crags of the Rocks] She neſteth not upon the ſand as the Oſtrich doth, ver. 14. And in this ſo great difference of birds and other creatures, is ſeen the wonderful Power and Providence of God.
Verſe 29. From thence ſhe ſeeketh the prey] Beſides fowles, (whereof ſhee is called the Queene) ſhe preyeth upon Hares, Hinds, Foxes, and ſuch other beaſts, as ſhe can maſter. Hence that complaint of the Hare, In me omnis terraeque mariſque aviumque ruina eſt.Martial.
And her eyes behold afar off]. To a very great diſtance. She is ſharp-ſighted, and firſt ſees her prey, and then ſeeks it. She is alſo ſo ſtrong ſighted, that ſhe can look intently into the body of the Sun, without being dazeled; and by that property makes proof of her young ones whether they be right or not. Thoſe that cannot ſo behold the Sun, ſhe drives out of the neſt as ſpurious. Thoſe that can, ſhe owneth,Schol, in Deu… 32.11. and beareth abroad with her upon her wings (as Munſter noteth out of R. Solomon) that none can ſhoot them, but through her body: and thereto Moſes alludeth Exod. 19.4.
Verſe 30. Her young ones alſo ſuck up blood] Heb. They glut-glut blood; the Hebrew word, jegnalegna dam, ſeemes to be made from the ſound in ſucking. The young Eagles, not yet able to tear the prey brought unto them by the old one with their talons, ſuck the blood with their Beak, and ſo are fleſht in blood betimes.
And where the ſlain are, there is ſhe] This is true of all the kinds of Eagles, but eſpecially of the Vulturine Eagle, which is of a very ſharp ſmell as well as ſight, and by a ſtrange ſagacity of nature, reſorteth with her young to places of ſlaughter and bloodſhed; ſhe followeth Armies, and feedeth on carcaſſes, which they can ſmell, ſay ſome Naturaliſts, before the battle be fought. And can this be of any one but the Lord. Our Saviour alludeth to this Text, Mat, 24.28. Where the carcaſſe is, there will the Eagles be alſo. See my Note on that place.