"SEVEN."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 262, 2 November 1918, Page 15

"SEVEN."

TPTF. MOST FAMFTD Or TIIK NUMERALS. Why does Walter Scott. In "Roll Hoy," use the expression: "Scared out of his seven wnaea?" And why dex-s Cervantes, in "Don Quliotr," say: "I am almost frisht enod out of my seven senses?" Every one knows that mat. bas but five srnsrs. The only explanation I cun offer, writes nn American correspondent is. that bmh of these writers were imbued with 11 sort of reverential feeling toward the number •seven." and felt that if man did not have that number of senses, he oupht to have. Shakespeare jrivos him "seven apes." Why should he not be allotted as m:iny sen ses ? It Is Impossible |n study the Bible without belnc impressed by the tremen dnonsly important part the number "seven" plays.. As ill persons do not reiid tho Klhle. nor would be apt to notice the ctr rnmßtance If they aid, the following partial summary of the prominence of th:it number may prove of interestIn six days creation wjis perfected, .in<l the seventh wns consecrated tn rest. Noth had seven days' warning of the Hood, and was commanded to take the fowls of the air into the ark by sevens, nnd. the clean beasts by sevens. The ark touched the cround on the seventh mouth; and In seven days a dove was sent, and apain seven days after. The seven years of plenty and sewn years of famine were foretold In rharnoh's dreams by the seven fat and seven lean boasts, and the seven ears of fill corn and the seven ears of blasted corn. Ry the old law man was commanded to forgive his offending brother seven times: hut the meekness of the last revealed relicrion extended his humility nnd forbearance to seventy times seven. In the detraction of Jericho, seven I' nnd on the seventh day stirronnded the l ! walls seven times, and after the seventh j time the walls fell. Palaam prepared seven bullocks and j seven rams for n sn.Tifioo: T.aban pursued ; ' Jacob A seven days' journey: Job's friends | with him seven dnys and seven niirhts nd offered spvpn hnllocks nnd seven rams i Klljah sent his Ferrant wrpn times to ; ' look for a cloud; Kinpr Ahasimms hnd seven | rliamnei iiiaidsi Qnwn P7Pther h;!il Reven mntds to nttpnd her: Solomon was seven I ! rears bnildins the temple, at the dedicaHon of which he fenstpd seven days. ' The children of Israel ate nnleavenod J ' hrpad sotpo days: Abrnhnm pive spvpn j' Intnbs to Abimelech as memorial for j l wpH; Tacob mourned spvpji dnys for '' Foseph. j « In Script urc firo pmirriprii tod spTpn rcsnr- . •ectJons from the dead. viz.: Tbe widow's | [ vm by Klins; the Shunamite's son by | PTllsha: the soHler who touched the bones I' )f the prophet: the dnnjrhter of the ruler ! x >f the synesroirnir the widow's son of Nain: ] ivaranis. nnd tho rinen Thrlst. Ont of Mary \fnjrdalene cast seven •Inoch. who was translated, wns the seventh eventh in a direct line. ' In the Tx>nTe Prayer are seven petitions, c Tprcwwd in seven times seven words, J imlttlng those of regular frrammaticul conifction. I The fiery fomnce was made seven tiraeß ! letter foT Bhadrach, Meshach and Abed- fl icpo: Nebtichadnezßßr ate t?ie gTass of tho « ield seven years, nnd the ITouse of Wls- A lorn. In T"*rv}vrfrs, Tuifl sovpn pillars. PouhMess It would tnko the proverbially rifted seventh son of a seventh son to be Mc to remember all the above interesting ! tatiettas lor a period at earren mi]rate& j