Mamma. I think I nearly know what a type is, but I should like you to explain it fully, that I may know I am not mistaken.

MAMMA. A type has been defined as a symbol of something future and distant, or an example prepared and evidently designed by God to prefigure that future thing. Thus Isaac, when about to be sacrificed by his father Abraham, was a type of the

Saviour of the world. So was Aaron the high priest of the Israelites. The land of Canaan was the type of Heaven, that land of rest so graciously promised by our heavenly Father to all who love and serve Him. The brazen serpent lifted on a pole in the wilderness, that all who had been bitten, and were suffering and dying in consequence, might look on it and be healed, was a type

of the crucifixion of our Lord and the blessed pardon purchased thereby for repentant sinners. Jonah being swallowed and preserved three days alive inside the fish was a type of the death, burial, and resurrection of the holy Jesus.

CHARLES. Was not the lamb slain and eaten in the passover a type of Christ?

MAMMA. Most particularly; for which reason the celebration of the passover was abolished after His one all-sufficient sacrifice, by all but the Jews, who blindly refuse belief to His earth.

coming upon

The passage you read last is in fact a splendid prediction of the final and universal sway of the Messiah, when the middle wall of partition shall be broken down, and both Jews and Gentiles shall become "one fold

under one shepherd."* This explanation is perfectly consonant to many other prophecies concerning the Saviour; which, in similar language, describe Him as acquiring dominion over heathen countries, and destroying the enemies of His church; and it is observable, that in several of these ancient predictions some particular opposers, as the Moabites and Edomites, are put for the adversaries of the Lord in general. So David says, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."+

"He shall have dominion

also

from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."‡

"He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with

* St. John x. 16. † Psalm 11. 8. ‡ Psalm LXXII. 8.

the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries."*

66

They shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines towards the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab ; and the children of Ammon shall obey them." †

"For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden for the dunghill."+

The remarks I have repeated are chiefly from Robinson §, who adds, "Jesus, then, as the Star which Balaam foretold, the bright and morning star,' which through the tender mercy of our God hath visited us ¶;'

* Psalm cx. 6. † Isaiah XI. 14. Isaiah xxv. 10. Thomas Robinson, Rector of Leicester, who is best known as the author of Scripture Characters. || Revelation xx. 16. St. Luke 1. 78.

and to Him also 'the sceptre' of universal government is committed, 'He shall have dominion,' for He must reign until He hath put all enemies under His feet." Balaam looked forward to the time of His coming, which is usually called the latter days,' and concerning Him he said, I shall see Him, but not now I shall behold Him, but not nigh,' which might intimate that His appearance was far removed, and that he should see Him only by the spirit of prophecy. But it may also refer to the second advent of the Saviour, when indeed both Balaam and every despiser of His grace shall see Him' in His glory, shall behold Him, but not nigh,' for they shall be driven out from Him with shame and confusion, and be punished with ever

* 1 Corinthians xv. 25.