802. As regards persuasions being the subject in this verse and evil desires in verse 27, this may be recognized from the consideration that in the present verse birds are mentioned first and beasts next - for 'birds' means things of the understanding or of the rational, while 'beasts' means those of the will - whereas in verse 23, when things to do with evil desires are being described, beasts are mentioned first and birds next. The reason, as has been stated, is that the two flow reciprocally one into the other, and in this way the description of them is made complete.