THE RAVEN. 139 



Hebrew name, as already observed, includes the whole of this genus 

 of birds, among which we find some less impure than the raven ; 

 as the rook, which species Mr. Taylor inclines to believe was the 

 one employed. As to God's 'commanding' the ravens, it will be 

 found a mode of speech adopted where vocal commands could not 

 be employed. See Job xxxviii, 11 ; Psalm Ixxviii. 23 ; Isniah xlv. 

 12. To command the ravens, then, may only denote that God made 

 use of them in providing for the necessities of his servant. 



It is said by naturalists, that the ravens drive out their young one& 

 early from the nest, and oblige them to seek food for their own sus- 

 tenance. It is to this fact, probably, that the Psalmist alludes, when 

 he says, * The Lord giveth to the beast his food, and to the young 

 ravens which cry,' (Psalm cxlvii. 9) ; and Job : ' Who provideth for 

 the raven his food ? when his young ones cry unto God, wandering 

 for want of meat,' ch. xxxviii. 41. But the care of Providence, says 

 professor Paxton, is not confined to the young ; it extends alsa to 

 the parents, that, like their brood, ' neither sow nor reap, have nei- 

 ther storehouse nor barn,' (Luke xii. 24) ; and supplies them with 

 food from his inexhaustible stores. Whatever may be their charac- 

 ter and habits, they are the work of infinite wisdom and pwer ; 

 and if it be not unbecoming the Almighty Creator to make such 

 creatures, it cannot be unbecoming to provide", for [their support. 

 They, too, have their sphere of action ; and their qualities and in- 

 stincts are usefully employed, both for themselves and the other 

 parts of the terrestrial creation ; even the meanness of their charac- 

 ter is of no small advantage to the considerate mind, in allaying his 

 fears, and in exciting and establishing his confidence in the wise 

 and bountiful arrangement of Providence. The argument of our 

 Lord is exceedingly strong and pointed. If the Almighty hear not 

 in vain the croaking of a young raven, he surely will not turn a 

 deaf ear to the supplications of his own people. 



