Ravish

RAVISH, Rapere. This Word in its common Signification imports the taking away of any thing from any one by Violence. Alii rapiunt non sua. It is also used for the taking away by Force, or for the Rape of a Woman, Prov. xi. 24. Gen. xxxiv. 2. Judg. xxi. 21. 1 Sam. xx. 30.or Virgin. Sichem rapuit Dinam, & dormivit cum eâ. And in Judges; Rapite ex iis singuli uxorem sibi. Saul in his Anger calls Jonathan his Son, Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis, the Son of a Woman that ravisheth a Man.¹

1 Kings xx. 30.To ravish the Word out of a Man’s Mouth. Rapuerunt verbum ex ore ejus. They seized on the Word that he happen’d to let slip; they took him at his Word, as we may say.

To be rapt up into Heaven, into Paradise, as St. Paul was rapt up into the third Heaven; this is said of a Man who is raised in Spirit into a supernatural State, even into Paradise, tho’ his Body be still upon Earth. The Spirit of God rapt up Philip, and carry’d him far from the Place where he had baptized the Eunuch. It carry’d Acts viii. 39.him with so great Rapidity, that no human Force could have carry’d him so fast. Jesus Christ says in the Gospel, that since the Time of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers Violence, and the Violent take it by Force. Vim patitur, & violenti rapiunt illud; which is explain’d after two different manners. To obtain the Kingdom of Heaven, and to arrive at eternal Life, we must use Violence towards ourselves, and towards our own Passions. We must mortify the Flesh, bear our Cross, exercise Penance. Otherwise, from the Time of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of Heaven, the Preaching of the Gospel, the Truth that Jesus Christ taught, suffers Violence, or is violently assaulted by the Wicked. The Kingdom of Heaven, as we may say, is exposed to the Plundering and the Violence of the Wicked. Or lastly, God refuses to none to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but lays it open to the Seizure of all. Every one enters therein that pleases.

The Son of God thought it no Robbery, no Rapine, to equal himself to God. Non rapinam arbitratus est esse se æqualem Deo. He is God, and equal to God of his own Nature; ‘tis neither Usurpation, nor Robbery, nor Injustice, if he calls himself equal to God. When Lucifer says, I will be equal to the Most High, ‘tis Blasphemy, ‘tis Usurpation, ‘tis Sacrilege, ‘tis the most heinous of all Crimes.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages