Beasts — Meditation 5

THe full-mouthed cry of these Dogs, which from the morning have nunted this poor tired Deer, which is now no longer able to stand before them, but is compassed round with them, who thirst for, and will presently such her blood; brings to my thoughts the condition and state of Iesus Christ, in the dayes of his flesh, who was thus hunted from place to place by blood-thirsty enemies. Upon this very account, the 22. Psal. which treats of his death, is inscribed with the title of Aijeleth Shahar, which signifies the Hind of the morning and fully imports the same notion, which this occasion presented me with; for look, as the Hind or Deer which is intended to be run down that day, is rouzed by the Dogs early in the morning. So was Christ, in the very morning of his infancy, by bloudy Herod, and that cruel pack confederated with him. Thus was he chased from place to place, till that was fulfilled which was prophetically written of him in ver. 16. of the forecited Psalm; For Dogs have compassed me about, the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.

And canst you expect, O my soul! to fare better than he did, or escape the rage off bloudy men? Surely, if the Spirit of Christ dwell in you; if his holiness have [•]avoured you, these Dogs will wind it and give you chase too; they go upon the scent of holiness still, and would hunt to destruction every one, in whom there is aliquid Christi, any thing of Christ, if the gracious providence of the Lord did not sometimes rate them off: For it is no less a pleasure, which some wicked ones take in hunting the people of God, than what Claudian the Poet observes men use to take, in hunting wild beasts.

Venator defessa thoro quum membra reponit

Mens tamen ad Sylvas,& sua lustra redit.

While weary Huntsmen in the night do sleep,

Their fancies in the woods; still hunting keep.

Lord! should I with the hypocrite decling the profession and practise of holiness, to escape the rage of persecuting enemies, at what time they cease, my own conscience would begin to hunt me like a Blood-hound; let me rather chuse to be chased by men than God, to flee before pursuing enemies, than be dogged from day to day with a guilty conscience.