So is this great and wide sea, which teems with things innumerable, both small and great.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
33. ..."So is the great and wide sea also; wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts" (ver. 25). He speaketh of the sea as terrible. Snares creep in this world, and surprise the careless suddenly; for who numbereth the temptations that creep? They creep, but beware, lest they snatch us away. Let us keep watch on the Wood; even in the water, even on the waves, we are safe: let not Christ sleep, let not faith sleep; if He hath slept, let Him be awakened; He will command the winds; He will calm the sea; the voyage will be ended, and we shall rejoice in our country. For I see in this terrible sea unbelievers still; for they dwell in barren and bitter waters: but they are both small and great. We know this: many little men of this world are still unbelievers, many great men of this world are so: there are living creatures, both small and great, in this sea. They hate the Church: the name of Christ is a burden to them: they rage not, because they are not permitted;...
Arms. Man acts thus to denote something very extensive. (Haydock)
The sea is frequently put for the same purpose, Job xi. 9., and Lamentations ii. 13. Arms is omitted in the Septuagint and the ancient psalters.
Creeping. Fishes, (Genesis i. 20.; Calmet) and all animals without feet (Worthington) in the waters. (Haydock)
Nothing multiplies so fast as fishes. (Aristotle, Anim. ix. 17.) (Worthington)
