CHAPTER XIX.

TYPES.

No one can have a proper understanding of God's revelations to man, who does not enter into the method of instruction, which He so wisely provided for the earlier generations of the race. The Bible was not commenced until the time of Moses, twenty-five hundred years after the creation, and then only the five first books were written. These were added to, from time to time, by other authors for a period of one thousand years, when the Old Testament was closed by Malachi. Five hundred years after, the New Testament was written. The world, therefore, has had the benefit of this complete book of revelation only for the last eighteen hundred years, since the days of the apostles. We should, however, fall into serious error in supposing that the wants of the earlier generations were not provided for in this regard. God has never left himself without witness here. The economy of redemption dates back to the beginning. From the very start God took measures to communicate all the facts therewith connected that were essential to be known in order to the attainment of life. The facts were in the distant future; yet they were revealed beforehand. How this was accomplished, we shall now attempt to point out.

The first Bible given for the instruction of mankind was prepared, not upon a written page, but in a system of types, symbolizing the future events of the kingdom of God, even as the models of the mechanical contrivances of the country are preserved in our Patent Office. An

hour spent in that Office would impart a clearer conception of all those inventions than days of study devoted to books. Descriptions of objects by mere words are difficult of apprehension, requiring a closeness of thought and power of abstraction, which are beyond the attainment of the mass of mankind. The most ordinary mind, however, can get a distinct impression from a model, which is simply the thing itself in miniature. Instruction conveyed by this method is simple, effectual and permanent, capable of being transmitted from generation to generation, and not liable to be lost or changed, as abstract truth may be, or a didactic form of words.

God knew well how difficult, nay, impossible it would be, by any written revelation to make men comprehend the events which were to be fulfilled in the coming kingdom of God under Immanuel; and how impossible also to procure such a revelation among men. He therefore adopted a better and more effectual method, which was, to make the types or models of those truths, for the education of mankind. We therefore shall have a clear conception of the true state of the case, if we conceive of the early stages of the world as a magnificent spiritual gallery, in which were placed the models of things pertaining to the work of redemption, as our Patent Office contains the types of material inventions of the country. That this, too, is not fancy but literal truth, the Scriptures themselves distinctly teach. Speaking of the priests of the Old Dispensation, Paul says, "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished, when he was about to make the tabernacle; for see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern [type] showed to thee in the mount;" Heb. viii. 5. Here the tabernacle is stated to be a model, or pattern, of heavenly things; and Moses was enjoined to be exact in the construction, so as to preserve the type. Again

speaking of the Mosaic ordinances, he says, "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ;" Col. ii. 17. These institutions of Moses were not the realities of things, any more than the models in the Patent Office are the actual machines constructed for use. "Now these things were our examples [types], to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Now all these things happened unto them for examples [types], and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come; " 1 Cor. x. 6, 11. It will thus be seen that the Scriptures themselves give this very explanation of the matter, and teach us that the former dispensation was a typical gallery, in which were stowed the models of heavenly truths.

This method of instruction was adopted and introduced in the beginning, long prior to the time of Moses. And here we may find an explanation of that peculiar difference which exists betwen the Oriental and Western mind; the former being of a highly imaginative cast, delighting in allegory, parable, and symbol, and readily apprehending their meaning; while the latter is logical and matter-of-fact. The existence of this characteristic feature of the Eastern nations is often given as the reason why so much of the instruction of the Bible is put into the form of symbol and parable-namely to adopt it to their modes of thinking. This, however, is putting the effect for the cause. The truer solution of the matter is, that God began the religious instruction of the race through type and symbol, and so formed that cast of mind which is impressed upon the Eastern nations to this day. The whole system of Divine truth was embodied in models, and in this great spiritual gallery the nations of the world were taught for ages. Here they received their education in Divine things; and in this mould was the Oriental mind consequently cast. The Western nations have had no

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such training, and they find it more difficult to enter into the meaning of such symbolical and allegorical language. It is foreign to their modes of thinking, and often a labyrinth of mystery, from which they turn away.

The truths of redemption to be revealed to men, were facts or events to be fulfilled in the future history of the world. These Divine revelations therefore were, in reality, prophecies; and types are prophecies set in symbols instead of words. The future event to be accomplished was represented to the minds of men by a model, and thus kept before them continually for their instruction. The object selected for such model was, in many cases, something which fulfilled a present useful purpose, which the models in the Patent Office do not, they being preserved to this end alone. Many of the types of revelation were events or personages of their own day, fulfilling at the same time their own special mission, as well as representing also the future. Melchizedec was a great and good king, as well as a representative of Christ, and must have been so in order to be a type of Him. Canaan was the actual inheritance of Israel, as well as a type of the future rest. So of other things. This typical method of presenting truth was the foundation of the bloody offering required in worship, as discussed in the previous chapter; the bleeding lamb setting forth the future events of the shedding of Christ's blood as the only means of taking away sin, and so prepare the world for His atoning work.

Having thus shown what God's method of instruction was in the beginning, we proceed to particulars, calling attention, first, to the inheritance, which was promised to our redeemed humanity.

The promise of redemption having been made, and a remedial scheme introduced to effect the end, it became necessary to set before the minds of men, as distinctly as possible, the fact of that future restoration, as a reality

and an object of earnest hope and effort. The danger was imminent that the race, now degraded and blinded by sin, would be content with the little earthly good they might enjoy here under this present system of grace, without looking to any thing beyond, or hoping for any better portion than earth under the curse could offer. How, then, did God carry the minds and hopes of men forward to the restored inheritance of the future?

To obtain the true impression of this subject as revealed in the Scriptures, we must necessarily go back, and mark how God himself unfolded this subject to the first generations, listening to the elementary lessons which they received, and which were adapted to their understandings. We must commence at the beginning, and follow the Divine instructions.

The most prominent and impressive fact of those early days was the existence of Paradise-a word still precious in human ears, and that gives the promise of all that is glorious in the future. The memory of that forfeited inheritance has not faded away from this sin-cursed world, nor the hope of its restoration gone. There was such a place as Paradise-the home of our first parents in their innocence-the spot which God selected and fitted up with especial care in a creation which was all fair and beautiful. It was a garden which He planted eastward in Eden, and which He adorned as His hand alone could fashion it, and fill with all delights that were pleasant to the eye, and good for food. Human skill has made fairy spots on earth, even since the curse came; but never such an one as this-never one that made any approach thereto. It was worthy of the Divine handiwork. There God caused the tree of life to grow, from which man has never plucked, since those gates of paradise were closed upon him; and there also God walked in familiar intercourse with our first parents, revealing His visible presence, and