An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Thirdly, The Lion is the emblem of oppressors and tyrants. ⟨p. 284⟩They in evil qualities resemble Lions. Thus the Apostle Paul called Nero (as it is generally conceived) a Lion. I was (saith he) delivered out of the mouth of the Lion (2 Tim. 4.15.) which though it may be taken in a general sense, for deliverance out of any great danger, yet 'tis specially and particularly applied to the person of Nero, who was cruel as a Lion, and had the Apostle Paul in his paws at that time. David speaking of the multitude of his cruel oppressors, tells us, his soul was among Lions (Psal. 57.4.) that is, among those that were cruel, as the next words explain it; I lie among them that are set on fire (with rage and malice) even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. The Lion is (though in some cases a clement, yet) mostly a cruel, a devouring creature. Naturalists say,¹ he will swallow down whole gobbets of flesh without chewing; yea, that he will swallow down such a quantity at once, as will serve him two or three days without eating more. And as oppressors are shadowed out by the Lion with respect to their cruelty, so likewise with respect to their subtlety and treachery (Psal. 10.8, 9, 10.) He (that is, the wicked enemy) sitteth in the lurking places of the Villages; in the secret places doth he murder the innocent; his eyes are privily set against the poor; He lieth in wait secretly as a Lion in his den; he lieth in wait to catch the poor, &c. Evil men have as much of the Lions craft, as of his cruelty, and both from him.

Thirdly, The Lion is the emblem of oppressors and tyrants. ⟨p. 284⟩They in evil qualities resemble Lions. Thus the Apostle Paul called Nero (as it is generally conceived) a Lion. I was (saith he) delivered out of the mouth of the Lion (2 Tim. 4.15