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| Figurative Senses Have Their Foundation in Literal Fact. Besides, the Allegorical Style is by No Means the Only One Found in the Prophetic Scriptures, as Alleged by the Heretics.
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Chapter
XX.—Figurative Senses Have Their Foundation in Literal Fact.
Besides, the Allegorical Style is by No Means the Only One Found in the
Prophetic Scriptures, as Alleged by the Heretics.
Now, to upset all conceits of this sort, let me
dispel at once the preliminary idea on which they rest—their
assertion that the prophets make all their announcements in figures of
speech. Now, if this were the case, the figures themselves could not
possibly have been distinguished, inasmuch as the verities would not
have been declared, out of which the figurative language is stretched.
And, indeed, if all are figures, where will be that of which they are
the figures? How can you hold up a mirror for your face, if the face
nowhere exists? But, in truth, all are not figures, but there are also
literal statements; nor are all shadows, but there are bodies too: so
that we have prophecies about the Lord Himself even, which are clearer
than the day. For it was not figuratively that the Virgin conceived in
her womb; nor in a trope did she bear Emmanuel, that is, Jesus, God
with us.7395
Even granting that
He was figuratively to take the power of Damascus and the spoils of
Samaria,7396
still it was
literally that He was to “enter into judgment with the elders and
princes of the people.”7397
For in the person
of Pilate “the heathen raged,” and in the person of Israel
“the people imagined vain things;” “the kings of the
earth” in Herod, and the rulers in Annas and Caiaphas, were
gathered together “against the Lord, and against His
anointed.”7398
He, again, was
“led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a sheep before the
shearer,” that is, Herod, “is dumb, so He opened not His
mouth.”7399
“He gave His
back to scourges, and His cheeks to blows, not turning His face even
from the shame of spitting.”7400
“He was
numbered with the transgressors;”7401
“He was pierced in His hands and His feet;”7402
“they cast lots for his
raiment;”7403
“they gave
Him gall, and made Him drink vinegar;”7404
| 7404 Ps. lxix. 22. Tertullian only briefly gives the sense
in two words: et potus amaros. |
“they shook their heads, and mocked Him;”7405
“He was appraised by the traitor in
thirty pieces of silver.”7406
What figures
of speech does Isaiah here give us? What tropes does David? What
allegories does Jeremiah? Not even of His mighty works have they used
parabolic language. Or else, were not the eyes of the blind opened? did
not the tongue of the dumb recover speech?7407
did not the relaxed hands and palsied knees become strong,7408
and the lame leap as an hart?7409
No doubt we are accustomed also to give a
spiritual significance to these statements of prophecy, according to
the analogy of the physical diseases which were healed by the Lord; but
still they were all fulfilled literally: thus showing that the prophets
foretold both senses, except that very many of their words can only be
taken in a pure and simple signification, and free from all allegorical
obscurity; as when we hear of the downfall of nations and cities, of
Tyre and Egypt, and Babylon and Edom, and the navy of Carthage; also
when they foretell Israel’s own chastisements and pardons, its
captivities, restorations, and at last its final dispersion. Who
would prefer affixing a metaphorical interpretation to all these
events, instead of accepting their literal truth? The realities are
involved in the words, just as the words are read in the
realities. Thus, then, (we find that) the allegorical style is
not used in all parts of the
prophetic record, although it occasionally occurs in certain portions
of it.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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