our children, and leaves us and them nothing but the heavenly inheritance, and the promised glories of the Redeemer; and that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Hence it is, he that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure. The coming of Christ is then far more effectual to wean us from the world, and to lead us to bring up our children separated from it, and dead to it, and living only for the kingdom that cannot be moved.

A mixture in the same passage of figurative and literal expression, is not uncommon. We see this, Isa. xliv. 3-5. Where we have first the figure, and then the explanation, and then again an enlargement of the figure, and an enlarged explanation. Almost all figures difficult of comprehension are literally explained in the scriptures, and often in the same passage where the figure occurs. (See John vii. 38, 39; many instances of such explanation occur in the book of Revelation). If figurative language be interpreted not fancifully, but agreeably to the Scriptures, there will be few cases where humble and prayerful Christians will differ. Hooker's rule is here of great value, "I hold it for a most infallible rule in expositions of sacred Scripture, that where a literal construction will stand, the farthest from the letter is commonly the worst. There is nothing more dangerous than this licentious and deluding art which changes the meaning of words as Alchymes does or would do the substance of metals, makes of any thing what it lists, and brings in the end all truth to nothing."

The extracts from varied authors in the note in a former page (especially those from Bishop Hall)

will shew to what great lengths able and good men have gone in that spiritualizing system, which has been far from a harmless perversion of the words of the Holy Spirit.

Every passage of God's word should be interpreted literally where the predictions can be literally fulfilled, unless there be a necessity from the subject, or the context, to the contrary, or an absurdity by doing so, or a scriptural authority to justify another interpretation. Dr. John Smith justly remarks, “Although the prophets use words so frequently in a figurative or metaphorical sense, yet we ought not without necessity to depart from the primitive and original sense of the language." We must not forsake the proper meaning, without an evident reason and necessity. David Levi justly reproaches Christians "Can anything be more absurd than to explain the prophecies which foretell the calamity which is to befal the Jews in a literal sense, and those which speak of their future felicity in a spiritual and mystical sense!" In the literal interpretation however, there is peculiar need of exercising that waiting spirit, which is the characteristic posture of a believer's mind in the interpretation of prophecy. I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me and said, write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie : though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith.

Vitringa gives this important rule" We must never depart from the literal meaning of the subject mentioned, in its own appropriate name, if all or its principal attributes square with the subject of the prophecy." A farther rule of Vitringa's may assist us where a literal interpretation will not stand: “If the attributes by no means agree with the subject expressed by its own name, we must think of another parallel or corresponding subject, which is mystically called by this name, on account of the agreement between the type and antitype. There are instances in the case of Elias, Mal. iv. 5; David, Jer. xxx. 20; Ezekiel xxxiv. 23, 24; Solomon, Psalm lxii. 1; Edom Isaiah lxiii. 1."

Gaussenus (quoted by Vitringa) thus illustrates the subject: "The whole of the Old Testament, with the exception of a few places, has a meaning sufficiently suited for those times, and some way or other adapted to the circumstances of the Israelites; but the unalterable wisdom of God showed itself in this, that he superinduced upon it a more exalted meaning; and while the Apostles open this out by the sacred skill of the Holy Spirit, we are struck with astonishment at such great things, and praise our Heavenly Father, who has revealed to his children those things which he has hidden from the wise and prudent."

There are but few predictions of Scriptures that have received their full accomplishment. Even those relating to nations connected with the Jews have not in all their parts been fulfilled. A list might be drawn out of particulars unfulfilled, as well as of those which have been fulfilled respecting Babylon, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and other countries. When

God foretells things, he takes that large view which comprehends the whole of his dispensations, and frequently passes rapidly from a commencing to a completing accomplishment. We shall thus find the first and second coming of Christ so intermingled, that only the result can shew us the fulfilment of the whole. The name Babylon given to the Roman Church seems to intimate that there may be a farther fulfilment in it of those predictions in the Old Testament which were first pronounced against Babylon of old.

CHAPTER XV.

ON VARIED INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MORE

OBSCURE PROPHECIES.

THE subject of prophecy, in one important respect, is brought at present, in an unfavourable, not to say erroneous aspect, before the public mind. The mass of clear prophecy that has been remarkably fulfilled, is very great. This having been fully developed in former works, to the general satisfaction of men's minds, many modern authors have given comparatively little attention to the plain prophecies that have been, or even to those that are to be clearly fulfilled; but chiefly discuss, and differ upon, the more difficult predictions.

Hence a bystander may be ready to think that the whole subject of prophecy is full of nothing but difficulties; the reading of such books as Keith's first work, and Bishop Newton's Dissertations, may show that this is by no means the case, and that there is irresistible evidence of God's foreknowledge, and the inspiration of his word, to a candid mind, in prophecy, unquestionably written long before the events