though it is true in general, that the Brutes have neither the Shape nor the Reason of Men, yet it is likewife true, that fome Brutes approach fo near to the human fhape, and fome Men feem to be fo defective as to reason, that upon Comparison

But Comparisons are odious. We will fuppofe MAN in all refpects, and at all times, so perfect and fo diftinguifhed, that no Comparison can, or ought to be made. Yet thus much I prefume will be granted, that a Brute is a creature fuperior to a Stone, and that fome of them poffefs properties and qualities which are not unworthy of the notice and attention of men, inafmuch as they

tend

tend to display the power and wisdom of their great Creator.

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, faid Elihu to Job, (Chap. xxxvi. 3-5.) and will afcribe righteousness to my Maker.—Behold GOD is Mighty, and defpifeth not any; He is mighty in Strength and Wifdom. Chap. xxxvii. 14. Hearken unto this, O Job; ftand fill and confider the wondrous Works of GOD.-ver. 28. The Almighty is Excellent in Power. But how shall Job confider this? Or from whom fhall he learn inftruction? For in the extremity of his grief, he had faid to Corruption, Thou art my Father; and to the Worm, Thou art my Mother and my Sifter*; and to the like pur

* Ch. xvii. 14.

pofe

pofe had Bildad faid,—Man is a Worm, and the Son of Man is a Worm *. To evince therefore

the Excellence of the divine Power, the fublime Writer of this noble and incomparable Poem, as if he thought it beyond human defcription, introduces the Almighty as in a whirlwind condefcending to expoftulate with JOB upon the fubject; First, by an Appeal to the ‡ Ordinances of Heaven directed and controuled

* Ch. xxv, 6,

+ The whole Speech for Sublimity of Stile and Matter is worthy of the divine Majefty, and fo far above being equalled by any buman Compofition, that I am fatisfied no one can have the Vanity to attempt it. WORTHINGTON's Differtation on the Book of JOB, at the End of The Effay on Redemption, page 525.

‡ Ch. xxxviii. 33.

by

by the over-ruling power and appointment of GOD; and Then, by referring him to the Living Tokens and Effects of more than human power and greatness, manifefted in the prodigious Strength, or amazing Swiftnefs, or graceful Beauty, or enormous Stature, or tremendous Fiercenefs of the most eminent of the Brute Creaturės; and particularly exemplified in the LION, the RAVEN, the Wild GOAT, the HIND, the Wild ASS, the UNICORN, the PEACOCK, the OSTRICH, the HORSE, the HAWK, the EAGLE, the BEHEMOTH or Elephant, and the * LEVIA

THAN

The Defcription of the Leviathan in ch. xli. induces me to think that this Creature is the Crocodile, and not the Whale, as fome have fup

pofed.

THAN or Crocodile. Ch. xxxviii. xxxix. xl. xli.

These noble Brutes in a most remarkable manner, and indeed Every Living Creature in fome respect or other, do fo evidently declare the Wisdom and Power of GOD, that the Royal Pfalmist calls upon them ALL, from the Greatest to the Smalleft, to join in the grand Chorus to the Praise of the great Creator: Praise the LORD from the Earth ye DRAGONS, and all Ye CREATURES in the depths of the Sea;Ye BEASTS and all CATTLE,

pofed. It was the great Dragon of the rivers, and more known in Egypt, where Mofes was educated, than the Whale. See Pfal. lxxiv. 13. 14. Ifa. xxvii. 1. Ezech. xxix.

3.

and xxxii. 2.

CREEP