in which God's presence is more especially manifested, and his service more eminently performed. The types being expressly instituted for the purpose of pre- figuring spiritual things, have a determinate meaning in their minutest particulars : and it is highly probable that they have always a two-fold accomplishment, one in Christ, and the other in the Church. For instance ; every sacrifice undoubtedly directs our views to Christ : yet we ourselves also, together with our services, are frequently represented as sacrifices acceptable to him: which shews, that the sacrifices have a further re- ference to us also. But here, it is of great importance that we distinguish between those expressions of the New Testament which are merely metaphorical, and those which are direct applications of the types. St. Paul, speaking of the probability of his own martyr- dom in the cause of Christ, says, " If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all." Here he alludes to the drink-offerings, which were always poured out upon the sacrifices ; and intimates that he was willing to have his blood poured out in like manner for the Church's good. This, as a metaphor, is beautiful; but if we were to make the sacrifices typical of faith, and the drink- offerings typical of martyrdom, and from thence pro- ceed to explain the whole type in like manner, we should bring the whole into contempt. The rule then that we would lay down is this ; to follow strictly the apostolic explanations as far as we have them ; and, where we have them not, to proceed with extreme caution; adhering rigidly to the analogy of faith, and standing as remote as possible from any thing which may appear fanciful, or give occasion to cavillers to discard typical expositions altogether.
The foregoing observations are particularly appli- cable to the subject of our present consideration. We apprehend that the meat-offering might be applied in every particular both to Christ and his Church : but in some instances the application would appear forced ; and therefore we think it better to omit some things which may possibly belong to the subject, than