of the Context—­In some Cases no Context exists—­On the Use of Biblical Texts as Mottoes—­Various Applications of the Principle contained in a Given Passage a Legitimate Mode of Exposition—­5.  Parallelisms Verbal and Real—­Help derived from the Former—­Subdivision of Real Parallelisms into Doctrinal and Historic—­Importance of Doctrinal Parallelisms with Illustrations—­Value of Historic Parallelisms illustrated—­Difficulties arising from them, and the Principle of their Adjustment—­Illustration—­6.  External Acquirements—­Various Illustrations of the Importance of these—­7.  Sound Judgment—­Office of this Quality illustrated—­Inept Interpretations:  Interpretations Contrary to the Nature of the Subject; Necessary Limitations of an Author’s Meaning; Reconciliation of Apparent Contradictions; Forced and Unnatural Explanations and the Rejection of Well-established Facts—­8.  Remarks on the Proper Office of Reason in Interpretation

CHAPTER XXXV.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE OF SCRIPTURE—­1.  Figurative Language defined and illustrated—­General Remarks respecting it—­2.  Rules for the Ascertaining of Figurative Language—­Nature of the Subject; Scope, Context, and Analogy of Scripture—­Error of understanding Literal Language figuratively—­Remark on the Interpretation of Prophecy—­3.  Different Kinds of Figures—­The Trope in its Varieties of Metonymy, Synecdoche, and Metaphor—­Remarks on Comparisons—­The Allegory—­Its Definition and Distinction from the Metaphor—­Distinction between True Allegory and the Allegorical Interpretation of History—­The Parable—­How distinguished from the Allegory—­The Fable—­The Symbol—­Its Various Forms—­The Proverb—­It always embodies a General Truth—­Its Various Forms—­Signification of the Word “Myth”—­It does not come within the Sphere of Scriptural Interpretation—­4.  General Remarks on the Interpretation of the Figurative Language of Scripture—­5.  Its Certainty and Truthfulness—­6.  Key to the Interpretation of the Allegory—­ Examples:  The Vine Transplanted from Egypt, Psa. 80; the two Eagles and the Cedar Bough, Ezek. 17:3-10; The Song of Solomon; the Two Allegories of Ezekiel, chaps., 16 and 23-7.  The Interpretation of the Parable—­How it differs from that of the Allegory—­Point of Primary Importance—­How far the Details are significant—­Examples:  The Sower, Matt. 13:3-8, 19-23; the Tares in the Field Matt. 13:24-30, 37-43; the Ten Virgins, Matt, 25:1-13—­Remark respecting the Personages introduced in Parables with Illustrations—­The Unforgiving Servant, Matt. 18:  23-35; the Importunate Friend, Luke 11:5-8; the Unjust Judge, Luke 18:1-8; the Unfaithful Steward, Luke 16:1-9—­8.  Scriptural Symbols-How to determine whether they are Real or Seen in Prophetic Vision—­Principles on which they are to be interpreted—­Examples—­9.  Remarks on the Interpretation of Numerical Symbols

SECOND DIVISION—­INTERPRETATION VIEWED ON THE DIVINE SIDE.