THE COCK AND HEN. 157 



THE COCK AND HEN. 



THESE well-known domestic birds do not appear to have been 

 much known to the Israelites, at any period of their history ; since 

 the Hebrew Bible does not so much as furnish a name for them, 

 and they are only once mentioned in the writings of the New Tes- 

 tament. 



The strong affection and tender care which the hen displays for 

 her young, are so well known as to have become proverbial. 



It is to these qualities in the character of the domestic hen, that 

 our Lord alludes, in his pathetic address to the once * holy city :' 

 * O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and ston- 

 est them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gath- 

 ered thy children together, even as a hen gatheretji her chickens 

 under her wings, and ye would not ! Behold, your house is left 

 unto you desolate,' a very beautiful image, denoting affection and 

 protection. When the hen sees a bird of prey coming, she makes 

 a noise to assemble her chickens, that she may cover them with 

 her wings from the danger. The Roman eagle is about to fall upon 

 the Jewish state ; nothing can prevent this but their conversion to 

 God through Christ ; Jesus cries throughout the land, publishing 

 the gospel of reconciliation ; they would not assemble, and the Ro- 

 man eagle came and destroyed them. How long had these thank- 

 less and unholy people been the objects of his tenderest cares ! For 

 more than two thousand years, they engrossed the most peculiar 

 regards of the most beneficent Providence; and during the three 

 years of our Lord's public ministry, his preaching and miracles had 

 but one object and aim, the instruction and salvation of this thought- 

 less people. For their sakes, he who was rich became poor, that 

 they through his poverty, might be rich ; for their sakes he made 

 himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, 

 and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross ! He 

 died that THEY might not perish, but have everlasting life. Thus, to 

 save their life, he, freely abandoned his own. 



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