SECTION XVIII.

Many of the scripture prophecies so constructed, by the infinite foreknowledge of God, that they receive a first and second fulfilment, at very distant times.-Types of scripture, a species of prophecy-inimitable by heathen or diabolical mimicry, or papal forgery.PHAROAH and ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES, - types of ANTICHRIST.

THAT prophecy, as the strongest evidence (to the latter ages) of the truth of divine revelation, may be placed far beyond the power of counterfeit imitation, it is distinguished by one circumstance, which is particularly worthy of admiration, in this wonderful hand writing of God: and this is the double sense*

* Plainly distinguishable from the double meaning of the heathen oracles, (which were delusive fallacies,) whereas these

of

many

of the most important prophecies, by which they are adapted to a twofold accomplishment, the former being a type of the

latter, and a pledge in hand for the certainty of its accomplishment, Prophecies of this nature were delivered as occasions arose, and apparently relating only to the circumstances of the time present (as that of Isaiah to king Ahaz). They had in reality a farther scope, and involved the fates of the church and people of God in far distant times, and more important events; and very often the former were typically representative of the latter.t

give a double confirmation of God's foreknowledge and truth; the second more powerful than the first.

* Isai. vii. 7, 11.

The prophecy here sent to Ahaz, a weak and idolatrous prince, was not merely for his sake, but served as a vehicle to convey one of the most illustrious prophecies of THE MESSIAS, and the redemption of the church of God by him, of any that the scripture contains. The child Shear-ja-shub in the prophet's hand, was the type and pledge given to Ahaz, that the land of his two enemies should be, in a few years, destroyed and desolated by a superior force; and that they should have no power to hurt him. And the fulfilment of this first sense of the prophecy, was the pledge given to the faithful for the truth of

Of this kind, as I have shewn in several preceding sections, were those prophecies of the fall of Babylon the great destroyer of Jerusalem, and the re-edification of the city of David, and re-settlement of the dispersed people of Israel; which have been as yet only partially fulfilled, and in such a manner as was merely typical of a more complete accomplishment to take place in the latter days.

Instances of such a double sense and twofold accomplishment intended, are easy to be pointed out in many of the prophecies; and a remarkable instance of this occurs in the very first prophecy in the scripture, which was uttered by the divine Creator in person. The condemnation of the serpent, and the enmity which then first commenced, between man and the serpent species; the declaration

the second, that the house of David should be preserved against all its enemies; and that from it should proceed IMMANUEL, the incarnate God, the Redeemer of the world, by a miraculous birth of a virgin mother, which took place five hundred years after this prophecy of a temporary salvation to the house of David.

that, as mankind should occasionally receive some injury and danger from that perpetual hostility, so in the main he should prevail over the malice of the serpent, and be the cause of his destruction. This, in the literal sense of the words, is a fact of notorious and daily observation: but in a second, a spiritual, and a more important sense, this prophecy was fulfilled by Christ defeating the machinations of the Devil, (the real serpent meant in the ultimate scope of the prophecy,*) by that death and ignominious and cruel passion, which he underwent for man's redemption.† And the prophecy will yet again receive a

* Gen. iii. 15; 2 Cor. xi. 3; Numb. xxi. 9; Isai. lxv 25; John iii, 14; Rev. xii. 9, As a matter of fact, the history of the serpent, from first to last, is considered as one of the most remarkable things in scripture.-It was evidently a prophecy of Christ, crucified, and rising again for our rescue from the power of THE OLD SERPENT. The brazen serpent was expressly ordained of God as a type of Christ, and commemorative of the fall and recovery of man, notwithstanding the abuse to which (as an image) it was liable. (2 Kings, xviii. 4—) And Christ himself acknowledged it as a typical prophecy. (John iii. 14.) That the great original murderer of mankind is meant under the emblem of the serpent, we are expressly told by St John, Rev. xii. 9, + Col. ii. 15.

more full and complete accomplishment at the end of the world; when through the mercy and wisdom of God in the man Christ Jesus, the serpent shall be utterly crushed in the head, or the whole power of his malice; and the greater part of mankind shall obtain their deliverance and revenge, in the most signal manner." The devil that deceived them, shall be cast into the lake of fire, with death and Hades, by him introduced into the world, and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes for ever more." (Rev. xx. 10, 14.)

That strong prophetic expression of his resentment, to which David gave way in his abhorrence of the treason of Abithophel, was soon afterwards fulfilled in the calamitous end. of that traitor; but the same being by our Lord himself and by St Peter applied to a still. more important occasion, (the treachery of Judas,)* shews that a second accomplishment of that prophecy was intended, and thus took place.

Acts i. 16; Ps. xli. 9; lxix. 25; cix. 8; John xiii. 18.