The memory of the deluge being so fresh among men, while Noah was still alive, God made promises to Abraham, and, while Shem was still living, sent Moses, etc....

644

Types.—­God, willing to deprive His own of perishable blessings, created the Jewish people in order to show that this was not owing to lack of power.

645

The Synagogue did not perish, because it was a type.  But because it was only a type, it fell into servitude.  The type existed till the truth came, in order that the Church should be always visible, either in the sign which promised it, or in substance.

646

That the law was figurative.

647

Two errors:  1.  To take everything literally. 2.  To take everything spiritually.

648

To speak against too greatly figurative language.

649

There are some types clear and demonstrative, but others which seem somewhat far-fetched, and which convince only those who are already persuaded.  These are like the Apocalyptics.  But the difference is that they have none which are certain, so that nothing is so unjust as to claim that theirs are as well founded as some of ours; for they have none so demonstrative as some of ours.  The comparison is unfair.  We must not put on the same level, and confound things, because they seem to agree in one point, while they are so different in another.  The clearness in divine things requires us to revere the obscurities in them.

[It is like men, who employ a certain obscure language among themselves.  Those who should not understand it, would understand only a foolish meaning.]

650

Extravagances of the Apocalyptics, Preadamites, Millenarians, etc.—­He who would base extravagant opinions on Scripture, will, for example, base them on this.  It is said that “this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled."[236] Upon that I will say that after that generation will come another generation, and so on ever in succession.

Solomon and the King are spoken of in the second book of Chronicles, as if they were two different persons.  I will say that they were two.

651

Particular Types.—­A double law, double tables of the law, a double temple, a double captivity.

652

Types.—­The prophets prophesied by symbols of a girdle, a beard and burnt hair, etc.

653

Difference between dinner and supper.[237]

In God the word does not differ from the intention, for He is true; nor the word from the effect, for He is powerful; nor the means from the effect, for He is wise.  Bern., Ult.  Sermo in Missam.

Augustine, De Civit.  Dei, v, 10.  This rule is general.  God can do everything, except those things, which if He could do, He would not be almighty, as dying, being deceived, lying, etc.