responding events whatsoever. It is only when "the prophet hath one uniform connected design "before him, that we are authorized to use this lati"tude of interpretation. For then the prophetic

spirit naturally runs along the several parts of “such design, and unites the remotest events with "the nearest: the style of the prophet, in the mean

time, so adapting itself to this double prospect, as "to paint the near and subordinate event in terms "that emphatically represent the distant and more "considerable. So that, with this explanation, no

thing can be more just or philosophical, than the “ idea which Lord Bacon suggests of divine prophecy.

"The great scheme of redemption, we are now "considering, being the only scheme in the plan of "Providence, which, as far as we know, hath been prepared and dignified by a continued system of

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prophecy, at least this being the only scheme to " which we have seen a prophetic system applied,

men do not so readily apprehend the doctrine of "double senses in prophecy, as they would do if they "saw it exemplified in other cases. But what the

history of mankind does not supply, we may represent to ourselves by many obvious suppositions; which cannot justify, indeed, such a scheme "of things, but may facilitate the conception of it."

# Bishop HURD's excellent Introduction to the Study of the Prophecies. Serm. iii.

VOL. I.

In allegories framed by man, the ground-work is generally fiction*,*because of the difficulty of finding one true series of facts, which shall exactly represent another. But the great Disposer of events, "known unto whom are all his works," from the beginning to the end of time, was able to effect this; and the Scripture allegories are therefore equally true in the letter and in the spirit of them. The events signifying, no less than those signified, really happened as they are said to have done +.

Why the allegories of this most perfect form, with which the book of God abounds, and which are all pregnant with truths of the highest import, should be treated with neglect and contempt, while the imperfect allegories of man's devising are universally sought after and admired, as the most pleasing and efficacious method

* I say, "generally," since, as the above cited Mr. MERRICK justly observes, "It is possible (for example) in a complimental * address to a modern statesman, or general, to relate the actions "of some ancient patriot of the same character, in such a manner, that the parallel intended to be drawn between them, *shall be readily known, and the praises expressly bestowed on "the one, be transferred, by the reader's own application, to "the other."

+ Neque propterea ab historico, sive literali atque immediato, ut aiunt, sensu aberrare nos oportet; quin eo erit clarior et fundatior secretioris illius intelligentiæ sensus, quo typum ipsum, hoc est, historiam ac literam figemus certius. BOSSUET. Dissertat. in Psal. ad finem.

of conveying instruction, it is not easy to say. Why should it not afford a believer as much delight, to contemplate the lineaments of his Saviour, portrayed in one of the patriarchs, as to be informed, that the character of lapis was designed by Virgil to adumbrate that of Antonius Musa, physician to Augustus ? Or why should not a discourse upon the redemption of the church, as foreshadowed by the exodus of Israel, having as many admirers among Christians, as a dissertation, however ingenuously composed, on the descent of Æneas to the infernal regions, considered as typical of an initiation into the Eleusinian mysteries?

A learned, judicious, and most elegant writer of the present age hath stated and illustrated the subject we are now upon, with a felicity of thought and expression peculiar to himself. I shall endeavour to gratify the English reader with a view of his sentiments. The beauties of his language are not to be translated?

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"It would be an arduous and adventurous undertaking to attempt to lay down the rules observed "in the conduct of the Mystic Allegory; so diverse

are the modes in which the Holy Spirit has thought proper to communicate his counsels to different persons, upon different occasions; inspiring and directing the minds of the prophets according to "his good pleasure; at one time vouchsafing more

"full and free discoveries of future events; while, at ❝ another, he is more obscure and sparing in his inti"mations. From hence, of course, ariseth a great "variety in the Scripture usage of this kind of alle

gory, as to the manner in which the spiritual sense "is couched under the other. Sometimes it can hardly "break forth and shew itself at intervals through the "literal, which meets the eye as the ruling sense, "and seems to have taken entire possession of the "words and phrases. On the contrary, it is much "oftener the capital figure in the piece, and stands "confessed at once by such splendour of language, "that the letter, in its turn, is thrown into shade, and "almost totally disappears. Sometimes it shines "with a constant equable light; and sometimes it "darts upon us on a sudden, like a flash of lightning "from the clouds. But a composition is never

more truly elegant and beautiful, than when the "two senses, alike conspicuous, run parallel together through the whole poem, mutually corresponding

with, and illustrating each other. I will produce "an undoubted instance or two of this kind, which "will show my meaning, and confirm what has "hitherto been advanced on this subject of the mystic allegory.

"The establishment of David upon his throne, notwithstanding the opposition made to it by his enemies, is the subject of the second Psalm.

"David sustains in it a twofold character, literal and "allegorical. If we read over the Psalm, first with

an eye to the literal David, the meaning is obvious, "and put out of all dispute by the sacred history. "There is indeed an uncommon glow in the expres"sion, and sublimity in the figures, and the diction " is now and then exaggerated, as it were on purpose "to intimate, and lead us to, the contemplation of

higher and more important matters concealed "within. In compliance with this admonition, if we "take another survey of the Psalm, as relative to "the person and concerns of the spiritual David, a "nobler series of events instantly rises to view, and "the meaning becomes more evident, as well as "exalted. The colouring, which may perhaps seem "too bold and glaring for the king of Israel, will "no longer appear so, when laid upon his great antitype. After we have thus attentively con"sidered the subjects apart, let us look at them together, and we shall behold the full beauty and majesty of this most charming poem. We shall perceive the two senses, very distinct from each other, yet conspiring in perfect harmony, and bear"ing a wonderful resemblance in every feature and lineament, while the analogy between them is so exactly preserved, that either may pass for the original from whence the other was copied. New light is continually cast upon the phraseology,