Hinds, and wild goats on rocks, Christian Teachers, 389
rivers, they rest the weight of their heads on the backs of Book
those in front, and tliat, succeeding in turn to each other, -
they do not feel at all the labour of the weight. Why is it
then that blessed Job is questioned concerning the bringing
forth of the wild goats, and the hinds, except that by wild
goats, and hinds, is signified the character of spiritual
masters ? For they in truth bring forth as wild goats in the
rocks ; because by the leaching of the fathers, who are
called rocks for their solidity, they bring forth souls to con-
version. They, like wild goats, feel not the losses of any
fall, when they are caught on their own horns ; because
whatever temporal ruin befals them, they support themselves
on the testaments pf Holy Scripture, and are saved, as it
were, by being caught on their horns. For of these testa-
ments it is said. Horns are in His hands. They fly therefore Hab. 3,
to the consolation of Scripture, when they are struck with '
the loss of any temporal fall. Did not Paul, when sinking
through the adversities of this world, catch himself, like the
wild goats, on his horns ; when he was saying, Whatsoever Rom.
things were written were writtenfor our learning, that we ' *
through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have
hope. They are also called hinds, as is said by Jeremiah of
teachers carelessly deserting the children who were born to
them ; The hind calved in the field, andforsook it. They, Jer. i4,
like hinds, live on destroyed sins, as on dead serpents ; and
'
from this very destruction of their sins are they more eagerly
ardent for the fountain of life. Whence the Psalmist says.
As the hart longeth for the fountains ofwater, so lo7igeth Ps.42»i.
my sold after Thee, God, They also, while they pass
over the gliding moments of this temporal state, as if they
were streams, place their burdens each on the other, being
compassionate from love; because they keep with careful ob-
servation thatwhich is written ; Bearye one anothefs burdens. Gal. 6
andso ye willfulfil the law of Christ. But because after the ^*
coming of the Lord, spiritual teachers were scattered through
the world, who were able by their preaching to travail with
souls in conversion ; and because this very season of the
Lord's Licarnation was not known, before the voices of the
Prophets, though His coming Incarnation was foreknown
to all the Elect, blessed Job is well questioned concerning