The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-04-05
Nature in The Bible
By Rev. Thomas Il. Gregory
Copyright. 1921, By the Press Publishing %.
true Nv Yorh Evening World.
No. 8.-AninldLs.

The Vital and intimate connection
between man and the lower animals
is one of the outstanding facts OF
both science and plain human expeTd-
ence, and 1t should add immensely
to the attractiveness Of the Bible to
hnd that 1t Is concerned not only with
Gods noblest creation but also with
the inferior members Of the great
family of living creatures. ~
Being pre-eminently the Book 81
Books. dealing with God and man
and righteousness, and Immortality,
il should detract nothing from its
dignity, but rather should add TO its
dignity, to find it dealing az we'll with
the whole round OF Nature, animate
and inani1nate. from the lichen ON
the rock to the soul OF man. -
Being Gods book--and God being
the creator Of all things-we would
naturally expect to find in the Bible
along with saints, angels, prophets
and saviors-oXen and sheep, goats
and swine, asses and hareS, dogs and
horses, lions and hippopotami, wolves
aud camels, with a great many other
animals too numerous to mention.
tOr the benefit of those who are I'M
fortunate enough not TO be acquainted
with the grand old Book. l ann going
TO give a few references to the va
rious animals.
The horse, JOB, xxx, 1925, In
elusive. For sublimity Jobs war horse
beats anything in AeSchylus, Shake
speare or Milton. "a
A close second to the war horse IL
behemoth (the hippopotamus), job
Xl. 1874, inclusive. Any one who hy
travel or reading is familiar with the
great rivers of tropical Africa will
not need to be told that the picture rs
inimttablc. W.
The king of beasts Is often men,
toned in the Bible. For a picture Of
the lion at home see Nahum, XII, ~
Unless you are pretty strong 1t Will
make you feel creepy. ESQ
From the king of beasts to the
humble ass is a descent indeed, but
upon the back Of the ass rode the
King Of Kings, bhe great Son of God.
For beautiful reference to this AMI
NAL see job xiv, SIS, inclusive.
Swine were unclean in the eyes OF
the Bible men, but they are frequent
told not 70 put jewels in their SHOUTS.
and the Good Master cautioned
against casting our pearls before
them.
The patient OK is mentioned many
times in the Bible. No man was to
steal his neighbours OK, or fail to re
turn him to his owner If he found
him going astray The OK was not to
be muzzled while treading out the
corn. He was entitled to his mouthful
now and then.
Sheep are referred 10 all through
| the Bible The human family Is Ii
kened to a flock of sheep-and the
Lord Is our Shepherd. Who that haa
| ever read it can forget Luke, xv..
81? ,"
| Along with the sheep the goat comes
! IN for his full share OF recognition
| ut the hands of the Bible writer's. The
treatment that the guat receives,
however, is not like that given to TIN.
sheep. For reasons that have never
been able to understand the goat was
grossly wronged- Soc Matthew. XIV,
1888. o.
The dog is mentioned in the Bible
times without number, but always IN
terms of reproach. II is evident that
the Bible men did not like the animal
that is so close to US Of to-day.
All Of us are sorry that this is So,
and the dear "Old maids" among us
together with most Of the little chh-
dren, are very sorry over the fact
that not once is Pussy Cat" men,
toned in the Bible.