32. What, all this while, is become of the work everywhere in the Scripture assigned unto the Messiah? Whom is that cast off unto? Who shall break the serpent’s head? Who shall take away the curse that entered on sin? Who shall be a blessing unto all nations? To whom shall the Gentiles be gathered, to be saved by him? Who shall be a priest after the order of Melchizedek? Who shall have a body prepared him, to offer’instead of the sacrifices of the law? Who shall have his hands and feet pierced in his suffering, and his vesture parted by lot? Who shall make his soul an offering for sin? Who shall be bruised, grieved, and afflicted by God himself, because he shall bear the iniquities of his people? Who shall make atonement for transgressors, and bring in everlasting righteousness? Who shall for ever make intercession for transgressors? And who shall sit at the right hand of God in his rule over the whole world? All these things, and sundry others of the like kind, are openly and
260 FAITH OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE JEWS [EXERC. XI.
frequently promised concerning the true Messiah, whereof not any of them is to be accomplished in or by him whom they look for. But these men indeed take a way to destroy all religion, and to turn the whole Bible into a story of earthly things, without either life, spirit, or heavenly mystery in it.
33. It is acknowledged that there are many promises of mercy and glory unto the church in the days of the Messiah, expressed in words whose first, literal sense represents things outward and tem- poral. And there is a threefold interpretation of them contended for:—The first is that of the Jews, who would have them all under- stood according unto their literal importance, without the allowance of any figure or allegory in them. But nothing can be more vain than this imagination, nor do they make use of it but where they suppose that it will serve their present design; for whereas the wisest of them do grant, that in the days of the Messiah the nature of things shall not be changed, but only their use, many of these promises, in their first, literal sense, import a full and direct alteration in the heavens and earth, and all things contained in them. So Isa. xi. 6-8, lions, bears, leopards, cockatrices, asps, calves, and young chil- dren, are said all to live, feed, and play together: and chap. Ix.. 7, it is said that the flocks of Kedar and the rams of Nebaioth should minister unto the church; verse 16, that she should suck the breast of kings: and verse 19, that the sun should no more give light by day; and yet, verse 20, that it should no more go down: chap. lxv. 17, that new heavens and a new earth shall be created, and that the old shall be remembered no more: that trees and fields shall rejoice and clap their hands for gladness: with other things innume- rable in the same kind. Now, if they grant, as they must, unless they intend to expose all sacred truth to the scorn and contempt of atheists, that these expressions are figurative and allegorical, they must do the same in all other promises of earthly things, as of peace, plenty; victory, long life, dominion, wealth, and the like, beimg set out in the same kind of allegorical expressions. At least, they can- not make them, in the strict literal sense of the words, the object of their faith and expectation, unless they can by some infallible rule declare what is figuratively to be understood in them, what properly, or which promises are expressed allégorically, which not; and this they can never do The event, therefore, is the only infallible inter- preter of the meaning of such prophetical predictions; whatever pre- cedes that is but conjecture. Wherefore,—
34, Secondly, Some interpret all these promises and prophecies spiritually, without the least respect unto those outward, terrene things, which are made use of in figurative expressions only to shadow out those spiritual, heavenly, and eternal things which are intended in them. And indeed this way of interpretation, which
SECT. 33-35.] CONCERNING THE MESSIAH. 261
Calvin follows in all his commentaries, is attended with great proba- bility of truth; for the main end and work for which the Messiah was promised being, as we have proved, spiritual and eternal, and whereas it is evident that many promises of things relating unto him and the condition of them that believe in him are allegorically expressed (it being the constant way of the Old Testament to shadow out spiritual and heavenly things by things earthly and carnal), this way of interpreting the promises seems to have great countenance given unto it, both from the nature of the things themselves, and the constant tenor of the prophetical style. According unto this rule of interpretation, all that is foretold in the Psalms and Prophets of the deliverance, rest, peace, glory, rule and dominion of the church; of the subjection and subserviency of nations, kingdoms, rulers, kings and queens, thereunto; intends only either the kingdom of grace, consisting in faith, love, holiness, righteousness, and peace inthe Holy Ghost, with that spiritual beauty and glory which are in the worship of the gospel, or the kingdom of heaven itself, where lies our happiness and reward. And indeed this interpretation of the promises, as in respect of many of them it is evidently certain, true, and proper, they being so expounded in the gospel itself, so in re- spect of them all it is safe and satisfactory to the souls of believers; for they who are really made partakers of the spiritual good things of the Messiah, and are subjects of his spiritual kingdom, do find and acknowledge such liberty, rest, peace, and glory, those durable riches therein, as they are abundantly content withal, whatever their outward condition in this world may be. And unto this exposi- tion, as to the main and prime intendment of the promises, the whole doctrine of'the gospel gives countenance.