CALVES. There is very frequent mention in the Scriptures of Calves, because they were made use of commonly for Sacrifices. But Vitulus on several occasions is put for an Heifer, which, according to our way of speaking, would not be termed meerly a Calf. Vitulus de armento, a Calf of the Herd, is in all probability set in opposition to a sucking Calf, still under the care of its Dam. Vitulus is sometimes taken for a grown Bull, Circumdederunt me vituli multi. The fatted Calf, vitulus saginatus, was a Calf fatted particularly Luke xv. 23.for a Wedding, or some religious Feast.
To CALL. This word is taken frequently for to be. He shall be called Wonderful, the Mighty God, Counsellor, and Everlasting Father, &c. He shall possess all these Qualities, he shall be truly wonderful, the mighty God, &c. And in S. Luke, He shall be called the Son of the most High. He shall in reality be so. And again, speaking of John the Baptist, Thou shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest.
To be called by name to the Assemblies, Numb. xvi. 2.was a particular mark of distinction: The People were called thither by a general cry, but the Heads of the Tribes, and Princes of the People were called by name. The Hebrew ¹ imports Men of name, celebrated, noted Men. God called Bezeliel by name: He designed to imploy him in making the Tabernacle. He called Abraham by name; he appointed him for his Service. God called Cyrus by name, &c.
To call in the Sense of a vocation to an Imployment, to the Christian Religion. S. Paul says, that he was called to the Apostleship. Jesus Christ, that many are called, but few are chosen. We are exhorted to live in a manner worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. And, let every man abide in the calling wherewith he is called; and that he give diligence to make his calling sure, by doing good works. 1 Pet. i. 10.
To call any thing by its name. To give it a name, to fix a name upon it, is an exercise of Authority: The Father names his Son, the Master his Servant. God giveth the Stars a name, and calleth them by their names, Psal. cxlvii. 4.
To call the Name of any one upon ourselves Isai. iv. 1.or another; Let thy name be called upon us. Let us only be in the Quality ¹ 70 .אנשי שםἌνδρες ὀνομαστοί. of thy Wives. Thy name, O Lord, is invoked or called upon us. We are known under the Name of the People of God. Let the name of Jacob be named on them, they Gen. xlviii. 16.shall be esteemed as Sons of Jacob. And the Psalmist, The rich have called their name upon their lands; they have denominated them by their own Names. And in Gen. xxi. Psal. xlix. 11.Genesis, In Isaac shall thy seed be called; the Sons of Isaac shall pass for thy true Posterity.
To call, shews Authority; as a Master calls his Servants. God calleth a Famine upon the Earth, 2 Kings viii. 1. and Psalm 1. God calleth the Earth to judge it. And in Haggai i. 11. The Lord called for a drought upon the Land. And in Amos v. 8. He calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth. And Jerem. xxv. 29. He calls for a Sword or War upon the Land, &c. He calleth the stars, and they say, here we be. Baruch iii. 34.
To Call, taken in the sense of an Invitation to a Feast, is commonly met with in the Scripture. And vocati, the called, denotes sometimes the Guests.
To call upon the name of God, to call him to our Assistance, to sue to him in our Necessities. Enos began to call upon the name of the Lord. Others translate the Hebrew, Then the name of God was profaned, by giving it to Idols. See the Article Enos.
Let thy name be called upon us. Let us have the honour to belong to thee, to be Gen. xlviii. 16.called thy People, thy Servants. Let my name be called on them; let them be called the Sons of Israel; let them be reputed to be my Children. Isaiah speaking of a particular time when the Land would be very much deserted, and Men very rare, says in a sort of proverbial manner, Seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel, only let us be called by thy name; take us for your Wives, and let the World own us in this Quality; free us from the reproach of Celibacy. Come and stand before me in this house, whereupon thy name is called. This Temple known by the name of the Temple of the Lord. O my Dan. ix. 18.God, open thine eyes and behold the city whereupon thy name is called; Jerusalem known by the name of the holy City, the City of the Lord.
To call upon God, is an expression sometimes used to signify all the acts of Religion, for the publick Worship of God. Rom. x. 13.Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Whosoever shall believe, hope, love and pray, as he ought to do, shall be saved. God in some sort takes it for an Honour, that we should call upon him; he is in some sort jealous of our Adorations; he requires that we should call upon no other God besides himself. Ps. l. 15.Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee; and thou shalt glorify me. Thy deliverance, and the confidence which thou hast reposed in me, shall redound to my Glory.