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

First, Some Naturalists say, the Raven is a forgetful creature, ⟨p. 300⟩and leaves her young ones altogether unprovided of food, and therefore (as the last resort of all helpless ones) they are supposed to cry unto God.

¹Secondly, Say others, the Raven is not only a forgetful, but an unnatural creature. Ravens have not those bowels of natural compassion to their young ones, which other creatures have, who will presently bestir themselves to get food for their young ones; therefore some say, that their young ones, as it were, cry to God of the impiety and unnaturalness of the old ones, in not providing for them, and in a manner accuse them for it. The Apostle saith, He that provides not for those of his own house, hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. A beast will provide for his own, and most birds provide for their young, but the Raven provides not for his own young ones; and therefore his young ones are brought in, as crying or complaining to the Lord of their pa•ents unnatural astorgy, or want of pity: And indeed parents, who do not provide for their own house, may justly be put among the Ravens. Remember (by the way) the power of God, who could make Ravens feed Elijah, and be kind to him (1 King. 17.16.) though naturally they are cruel to their own kind, and refuse to feed their young ones.

¹Secondly, Say others, the Raven is not only a forgetful, but an unnatu•al creatu•e. Ravens have not those bowels of natural compassion to their young ones, which other creatures have, who will presently bestir themselves to get food for their young ones; therefore some say, that their young ones, as it were, cry to God of the impiety and unnaturalness of the old ones, in not providing for them, and in a manner accuse them for it. The Apostle saith, He that provides not for those of his own house, hath denyed the faith, and is worse than an infidel. A beast will provide for his own, and most birds provide for their young, but the Raven provides not for his own young ones; and therefore his young ones are brought in, as crying or complaining to the Lord of their paents unnatural astorgy, or want of pity: And indeed parens, who do not provide for their own house, may justly be put among the Ravens. Remember (by the way) the power of God, who could make Ravens feed Elias, and be kind to him (