CROWN, in the figurative Sense signifies Honour, Joy; Much experience is the Crown of old men, Ecclus. xxv. 6. ye are my Joy and my Crown, says S. Paul to the Philippians iv. 1. This word is used likewise for reward, because Conquerors in the publick Games were crowned.
To CRY. The Blood of Abel crieth Gen. iv. 10. Gen. xviii. 20. Ex. iii. 9.from the Ground where it was spilt. The cry of the irregularities of Sodom, ascended up to Heaven. The cries of the Israelites oppressed by the Egyptians, went up to the Throne of God. I expected that my Vineyard should produce Fruits of Righteousness, and behold a cry. If my land cry Job xxxi. 38.against me, and the furrows thereof complain, says Job. The Emphasis of all these Expressions is such, that the explanation which may be given them, would only weaken them.
Luke xix. 39, 40.Jesus Christ in the Gospel, speaking to the Pharisees, who complained that he permitted his Disciples to cry, Blessed is the King who cometh in the name of the Lord, said to them, If these should hold their peace, the stones of the street would cry out against them. In Psalm cxlvi. 9. it is said, that the young ravens cry towards God. Pullis corvorum invocantibus eum. In the Hebrew, clamantibus ad eum. The holy Spirit crieth in our hearts Abba, Father. In all which examples the verb to cry is understood in a metaphorical Sense. God would permit rather that the Stones should cry out, and eccho forth voices, than close the mouths of my Apostles upon this occasion. The work of God must be accomplished; it is time that the Son of God was manifested. The young ravens cry and speak their wants to God after their manner. The holy Spirit crieth in our Hearts, when he inspires us to cry to God, thou art my Father.
There is mention in the Scripture of Cries from the Heart as well as from the mouth. My heart crieth unto the Lord. And in Exodus he says to Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me, tho’ as yet he had said nothing. The Prophets whose stile is generally very bold and figurative animate Beasts, Trees, Mountains, Lands and Cities, and by the help of Prosopopœias, make them speak, whereof we have examples, but not so frequent, in profane Authors.
Lastly, to Cry, especially in the Psalms, signifies to desire earnestly, and with repeated Cries.