It is written indeed, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy
people; but if he be a wicked ruler, that oppresses the people,
especially the poor people, robbing them of the little they have and
making a prey of them, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls
him a roaring lion and a ranging bear. 1. In respect of his character.
He is brutish, barbarous, and blood-thirsty; he is rather to be put
among the beasts of prey, the wildest and most savage, than to be
reckoned of that noble rank of beings whose glory is reason and
humanity. 2. In respect of the mischief he does to his subjects. He is
dreadful as the roaring lion, who makes the forest tremble; he is
devouring as a hungry bear, and the more necessitous he is the more
mischief he does and the more greedy of gain he is.