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

Fourthly, In that the Lion coucheth in his den, and retireth sometimes to his covert; we may take notice of the good providence of God towards man. God hath ordered it, that the Lion coucheth all day in his den, and is quiet, that men may go out quietly to their labour. The Psalmist commends the providence of God in this (Psal. 104.20, 21, 22.) Thou makest darkness, and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the Forrest do creep forth: the young Lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. Thus they are roaring and raging for their prey all night; but how is it with them, or what do they in the day? The next words tell us, The Sun riseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. (Then it follows) Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening. Such ⟨p. 294⟩is the care of God, that he clears fields and Countries of these ravenous beasts, that man may go safely to his work, and not be troubled. When the Lion comes forth in the day, 'tis usually to execute some judgement of God; witness that of the Prophet, who going out of Gods way, God told him by another Prophet, a Lion shall meet thee and tear thee; and so it came to pass, a Lion met him, and executed the judgement of God upon him, because he went beyond the command he had received from God (1 King. 13.24.) We read also, that God sent Lions to vex the people continually, when they fell to idolatry and false worship (2 King. 17.26.) It was of the Lord that Lions which used to keep their covert in the day time, were so bold as to come by day to their houses and destroy them. And such is the mighty power of God, that though hungry Lions are altogether for prey, yet God can stop their mouths, and check their appetite (Dan. 6.8.) When Daniel was cast into the Lions den, amongst a company of hungry Lions, yet not one touched him, but were as meek to him as so many lambs; whereas no sooner were his enemies and accusers let down into that den, but they brake their bones before they came to the ground. Thus much of the Lion, a King among the beasts of the earth. The Lords next question concerns the Raven, none of the best, if not one of the worst among the birds of the Air.