ON SIMILE AND METAPHOR IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL, 



117 



Apostles Peter, Paul and James, you come to the south tower, where 

 there is St. Luke with an ox, and lastly the Apostle John with an 

 eagle. 



I suppose these figures correspond to the man, lion, calf and eagle 

 of Rev. iv. 7, 8, and Ezek. i. 10. I cannot resist adding that St. 

 Peter has by his side the cock that crowed twice, perhaps also 

 pointing to the impetuous, always to the front, somewhat boasting, 

 crowing character of the genuine Apostle. 



If parents and teachers would show these details to the children, 

 some interest in Divine realities might be assured, but millions, year 

 in and out, pass St. Paul's Cathedral and do not observe its 

 fascinating imagery. 



We know that St. John's Gospel has been called the Evangel of 

 the Glory because the early chapters begin with telling us of heavenly 

 things, and the line of the Shekinah runs on, steadily expanding wider 

 at the closing chapters promising us the eternal dwelling places of the 

 Father's house. 



I do not read of any mention of the eagle in St. John's Gospel. 

 His loving disposition might have qualified him more for the symbol 

 of a dove, though naturally as Boanerges he was associated with the 

 eagle's home among the thunder clouds. 



In the Old Testament we are told of the eagle's way in the air, 

 its mounting up, its high nest, its great wings, its strength and 

 swiftness. I should like to learn more than the above if possible 

 why the eagle is associated with the writer of the fourth Gospel. 



Perhaps it is as writer of the Apocalypse, in which we are told 

 that he saw heavenly visions, which no one else ever knew, like the 

 eagle who sees regions and distances which no other created person 

 or animal can attain unto. 



Professor H. Langhorne Orchard felt sure that the audience 

 would not wish to part from the author before according him a 

 very hearty vote of thanks for his able and interesting paper. It had 

 exemplified Bacon's saying that illustrations are " windows which 

 let in the light," so enabling us to see more clearly. It had brought 

 light and warmth to the consideration of an important subject. 



They would, he thought, quite agree with the author (see p. 103, 

 the latter paragraph) that the metaphors brought forward in the 

 fourth Gospel are borrowed from human thought and experience to 



