Secondly, The horse is also the emblem of a bold Saint, or of a faithful servant of God. Such, specially, were all the holy Martyrs;1 A chief among the Ancients saith expressly, that in the Horse the Martyr may be seen; whom none account valiant but God himself, and they who are born of God. I may Parallel a holy Martyr and the Horse, in every particular mentioned in this context. First, As the horse is said to receive his strength from God (hast thou given strength to the horse?) so it was God who gave strength to the Martyrs, to stand it out in the day of battle. Secondly, As God gives courage to the horse, so it was God that gave courage to the Martyrs; and such courage he hath sometimes given, as hath made poor weak women as strong and courageous, as the horse in the Text: Persecutors could not make the old martyrs run like Grasshoppers; they have even mocked at fear, and would not turn back from the face of the sword drawn out against them; no rattling of the quiver, nor clashing of weapons could terrify them; they have not been affrighted with Lions, Bears, Tigers ready to devour them; they have not been affrighted with the fiery furnace, nor with the most exquisite torments that the wit or malice of man could invent. Jesus Christ having instructed the Church his Spouse (Cant. 1.8.) what to do, he at the 9th verse commends the Church in two things. First, For her courage. Secondly, For her beauty. For her courage first, at the 9th ver. and in that respect he compares her to a Company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. But why doth he compare the Church to a Company of horses in Pharaohs Chariots? I answer, it is well known, that the Kings of Egypt were called Pharaoh, and Egypt was very famous for horses of war: therefore Christ makes this comparison, to show, that the Church b•ing directed to keep close to the shepherds tents, must expect that the world or the false Church, would vex and persecute her; but faith Christ, my spouse is like a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots, that is, she will be as valiant in this war, in standing for the truth against all false doctrine & idolatrous worship, as the most valiant horses that ever were in Egypt, or in any part of the world have been in any day of battle. Experience (we know) hath made this good;
Secondly, The horse is also the embleme of a bold Saint, or of a faithful servant of God. Such, specially, were all the holy Martyrs;1 A chief among the Ancients saith expressly, that in the Horse the Martyr may be seen; whom none account valiant but God himself, and they who are born of God. I may Parallel a holy Martyr and the Horse, in every particular mentioned in this context. First, As the horse is said to receive his strength from God (hast thou given strength to the horse?) so it was God who gave strength to the Martyrs, to stand it out in the day of battle. Secondly, As God gives courage to the horse, so it was God that gave courage to the Martyrs; and such courage he hath sometimes given, as hath made poor weak women as strong and couragious, as the horse in the Text: Persecuters could not make the old martyrs run like Grashoppers; they have even mocked at fear, and would not turn back from the face of the sword drawn out against them; no ratling of the quiver, nor clashing of weapons could terrifie them; they have not been affrighted with Lions, Bears, Tygers ready to devour them; they have not been affrighted with the fiery furnace, nor with the most exquisite torments that the wit or malice of man could invent. Jesus Christ having instructed the Church his Spouse (Cant. 1.8.) what to do, he at the 9th verse commends the Church in two things. First, For her courage. Secondly, For her beauty. For her courage first, at the 9th ver. and in that respect he compares her to a Company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. But why doth he compare the Church to a Company of horses in Pharaohs Chariots? I answer, it is well known, that the Kings of Egypt were called Pharaoh, and Egypt was very famous for horses of war: therefore Christ makes this comparison, to shew, that the Church b•ing directed to keep close to the shepheards tents, must expect that the world or the false Church, would vex and persecute her; but faith Christ, my spouse is like a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots, that is, she will be as valiant in this war, in standing for the truth against all false doctrine & idolatrous worship, as the most valiant horses that ever were in Egypt, or in any part of the world have been in any day of battle. Experience (we know) hath made this good;
- 1St. Austine.
