E

OUR LESSONS ON THE TYPES.

THE Types are so interesting a portion of God's Word, and so full of instruction, that the Committee of the Sunday School Institute could not pass them by, in the course of their preparation of various series of Scripture Lessons for use in schools. It is true that many of them present difficulties to young interpreters, and some are, probably, beyond the grasp of mind to be ordinarily found in children. But to our Senior classes they offer a rich supply of Truth, conveyed in manner that even the young can often thoroughly enjoy.

The following Notes are therefore offered, with the hope that they may assist Teachers in their search after the Truth, in these foreshadowings. The writer of them never felt more diffidence in offering such aid to his fellow labourers; for not only are there occasional differences of opinion as to the application of acknowledged Types, but there is also a controversy as to some persons and things which are counted typical by one class of writers and not by another; whilst a third danger exists in a proneness to push the analogies of an acknowledged Type beyond sober limits. These dangers may not indeed divert us from the attempt, but at any rate they call on us most solemnly to seek the guidance and teaching of that Divine Spirit who saw fit to reveal so much of his Will and Truth in this form, and who is graciously promised as our guide.

The Greek word from which "Type" is derived signifies both a blow, and the impression or mark made by a blow; and the well-known phrase of striking a medal or coin is a parallel idea. The coin bears

the impress of the die, of which it may be called a Type. To apply this to Bible Truth, (bearing in mind that it appears to have been God's will to communicate Heavenly Wisdom by degrees and in portions) -we trace, as it were, in the history of certain men, and in certain Institutions, undeniable marks of some Truth to be more fully set forth at some future time. Nor need we therefore be surprised that whilst (to recur to the illustration) the die is perfect from the very first, each blow only communicates a portion of the stamp. The diligent student, by the light of God's subsequent Revelation, can connect the fragments into a perfect whole. But in looking back, it becomes us to remember the circumstances of those to whom these glimpses of Truth were given, and so neither to add to, nor take from, the words of God.

In the following Series, some of our Readers may miss subjects or persons they would expect to find there; whilst on the contrary, others may object that a few are without the Scriptural authority they need. The wish of the writer has been to steer clear of both extremes, and in the assigned compass of fifty-two Lessons, to treat of those matters which most authoritatively present themselves as Types.

THE TYPE.-ADAM THE FEDERAL HEAD.

THE Countless races of mankind, however diverse in other points, are alike the descendants of Adam. Varieties in language are the result (gradually more and more marked,) of the event related in Gen. xii. 5-9. Varieties in complexion are owing to the influence of climate, food, and habits, which also tend to produce varieties of temperament, and to check or to foster, the power of the animal passions. But IN HUMAN NATURE THERE IS NO REAL VARIETY. Man, everywhere, displays sufficient resemblance to his fellow-man, to confirm the Scriptural account of Creation. And Scripture undoubtedly affirms the single origin of the Human Race, Gen. i. 26-28, followed by ix. 19; Acts xviii. 26.

Adam, then, was the representative of Mankind; their head, the great father of all; and two great truths are involved in this.

I. HIS ACTIONS AFFECTED ALL HIS DESCENDANTS.-Not (like Eve) deceived, 2 Cor. xi. 3; 1 Tim. ii. 14, but apparently sinning with his eyes open, sinning in the WILL, he brought the curse of a corrupt nature on himself and on all his descendants. The doctrine of original sin cannot be refuted whilst the FACT remains that children shew it. The Scripture asserts it in plain terms, Ps. li. 5; Is. xliii. 27; Ephes. ii. 3, and the experience of the most eminent Saints of the Bible confirms it ; 66 ALL have sinned," Rom. iii. 23; and outward temptations find response within, Rom. vii. 14-23.

the

And Adam also brought the threatened penalty of Death (Gen. ii. 17; Ezek. xviii. 4) on all his race, 1 Cor. xv. 22. Here, also, the FACT confirms the doctrine beyond dispute; ALL DIE, Heb. ix. 27, and death is declared to be the wages of Sin, Rom. vi. 23. Part of Adam's penalty was expulsion from Eden, which finds a counterpart in the estrangement of the sinner from God, Ephes. ii. 12, 13.

II. GOD'S COVENANT WITH ADAM WAS MADE WITH ALL MANKIND IN HIM. -He was their representative, or federal (fœdus, a treaty) head, and God treated him as such. God gave to Mankind, (in Adam,) a house to dwell in, a law to keep, a reward to gain, a penalty to shun, a promise to comfort. "Do this and live," was the first covenant, but the Fall rendered some better provision needful, and the promise of a Saviour was given, Gen. iii. 15. It may be doubtful how far Adam saw the full meaning of that Promise, but it cannot be doubted that God gave him ENOUGH to strengthen and guide him in life, and comfort him in death.

THE CONNECTION.

This rests on clear Scriptural authority. Christ is called "the Everlasting Father," Is. ix. 6, and St. Paul's argument, in 1 Cor. xv., places Adam in plain typical relationship to Christ.

THE ANTI-TYPE, CHRIST,

called "the second Man," 1 Cor. xv. 47; "the HEAD over all, Ephes. i. 22 ;Col. i. 18. I. HIS ACTIONS AFFECT ALL HIS PEOPLE.— -He took away the penalty, by bearing it Himself, Is. liii. 5; Gal. iii. 13; Rom. viii. 1. And He takes away the corruption within, giving a new heart by his Spirit, so that old things pass away 2 Cor. v. 17, and the believer, however harassed, shall yet be victorious, Rom, viii 25; 1 Cor. xv. 49, 57. And,

II., GOD'S COVENANT WITH HIM EXTENDS TO ALI, BELIEVERS, who are blessed in and through Him, Ephes. i. 3, 4; 2 Tim. i. 9, 10; Heb. xii. 24; viii. 6. He claims for them what He possesses as his own, of grace and glory, John xvii. 2, 11, 21—24.

Note the infinite superiority of the Anti-type to the Type. Adam received life; Christ quickens, i.e., gives life, 1 Cor. xv. 45. See also Romans v.

THE TYPE. THE SABBATH.

How little we can grasp the full

GOD worked, and God rested, Gen. ii. 2. meaning of these words! But we may be sure that they are not used without intention. The ideas we attach to the terms are right in kind, however limited in degree; and numberless other cases recur where God teaches us something of his own actions by words that strictly apply only to Man (as God's eye, hand, heart). GOD WORKED,—a word sufficient to CREATE, not merely to renew or RE-form. And his work was perfect, Gen. i. 31.

It matThe wisest of men

Then, GOD RESTED,-"not as one wearied, but as one well-pleased." ters not here whether the days are literal days or "periods."

are yet poor judges of the rapidity with which organic changes could be effected, under circumstances unknown to their own observation. At any rate, the time came when God paused in CREATING; and all that goes on now is only reproduction. God then gave man the SABBATH, as part of his provision for Man's wants: sanctified, i.e., set apart as holy, Gen. ii. 3.

I. THE SABBATH WAS GOD'S GIFT ;-it was HIS will that Man should rest at certain intervals from toil, Ex. xx. 8-10. He expressly calls it MY Sabbath, Ex. xxxi. 13; Ezek. xx. 12, and "The Sabbath of the Lord," Deut. v. 14.

II. IT WAS MADE FOR MAN,—as we know on Divine Authority, Mark ii. 27. In other words, it was intended and adapted for his good, in every sense of the word. He who knew Man's constitution, both of mind and body (Ps. ciii. 14), knew that such a gift was needful. But the fact that God made it for Man and Man owes it to God, so far from leaving us to do as we like with it, only shows the more that it should be spent as GOD WOULD HAVE IT. We owe Him an account of Our Sabbaths, as much as of our other gifts, money, power, influence. III. IT WAS A DAY OF REST.-God knew that mind and body needed this; and by his own Divine Example He enforced the Lesson. The Jewish Law was strict to a burdensome degree, Ex. xxxv. 3; Numbers xv. 32—36. Our Lord restored the Day to its old broader character, as a day of Religious and Charitable duties.

IV. IT FOLLOWED TOIL.-The same Commandment that ordains a day of rest, gives six days to "labour ;" and the sluggard is not much less guilty than the Sabbath breaker. How pleasant the rest, of body, mind, and soul, on a well-spent Sunday.

THE CONNECTION.

This we trace in Heb. iv. 9, where "rest" means, in the original, "the keeping of a Sabbath," which St. Paul speaks of as remaining or future, and yet to be entered into, pointing plainly to

THE ANTI-TYPE, HEAVEN, AS A PLACE OF BEST.

I. IT IS GOD'S GIFT.-Man could never earn it, nor gain it. He cannot even mentally grasp it, Isa. lxiv. 4. It is the perfection of God's bounty to Man, the finishing touch of Redemption, Psa. xvi. 11.

II. IT IS MADE FOR MAN,-not only, nor first, for him, but John xiv. 2, 3; Matt. xxv. 34; Heb. xi. 16, clearly show some blessed preparation even for Man. God knows his need of such.

III. IT IS A PLACE OF REST, from sin, temptation, pain, sorrow, and the HARDSHIP OF TOIL (not from pleasant work), 2 Thess. i. 7; Rev. vii.13—17; xiv. 13; xxii. 3-5.

IV. IT FOLLOWS TOIL;-hard struggles with sin and sorrow, and strivings to, do God's will amidst many discouragements. WHAT A CHANGE IT WILL BE! ARE WE PREPARING FOR IT?

THE TYPE. THE TREE OF LIFE.

EDEN, "the garden of the Lord" (Gen. xiii. 10), was the perfection of earthly beauty, and in after times was the standard to which other lovely scenery was compared; Isa. li. 3; Ezek. xxxvi. 35; Joel ii. 3. In it was every provision that Divine goodness could plan, and Divine power effect for human wants. Trees of God's planting supplied abundant and pleasant food and shelter, with beautiful scenery, whilst plenteous streams ministered to Adam's comfort, as well as to the life of the vegetable world, Gen. ii. 8-10. The supply thus freely given was to be freely used, Gen. ii. 16, and fruitless toil or disappointment were unknown.

But man's nobler part, the soul, was also well cared for. It is clear from Gen. ii. 16, 19, 22; iii. 8, that he enjoyed the privilege of constant communion with his Maker, in intercourse such as spoken of afterwards as an unusual privilege, Deut. χχχίν. 10.

What had the TREE OF LIFE to do with either? Little is told us in explanation, but from Gen. iii. 22 we may well gather that if it ministered to his bodily nourishment, it must also have had an adaptation to his spiritual wants, ministering to his nobler LIFE. If so, it must been as the channel, not the source of Grace. I. It showed that MAN NEEDED CONSTANT SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT.-Day by day might he take of its fruit, and receive LIFE. Even before he became subject to death, his very life thus needed fresh vigour. Even when, as yet, there was no tempter to try him, no sin to defile him, no cares to worry him, his soul DEPENDED on God (Ps. lxiii. 8, Prayer Book Version). So even in those bright days, man lived on God's bounty, spiritually as well as bodily.

II.-GOD SUPPLIED THAT NOURISHMENT, and "richly" too, as with all his other gifts. There stood the tree "IN THE MIDST," attracting notice and ready of access. Its power failed not, even when man lost his title to it, chap. iii. 22, 23. Thus He who knew the need, ministered to it with constant, patient love, Psalm cxi. 5.

III. THE GRACE CAME THROUGH A VISIBLE CHANNEL.-God could have supplied it without; HE needs not to make a display of his power. We may then, reverently ask why this tree was thus appointed as the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace; and the reply would probably be, that our nature requires such outward aids and mementoes. And they who try to make devotion more MENTAL than God has ordained (undervaluing a House, a Book, a Day of God) end in losing its real power.

THE CONNECTION.

In this instance the typical nature of the tree is not matter of certainty, but the reference in Rev. ii. 7, seems to justify the belief that it represented something that all believers will need and have in perfection in heaven; some channel for God's grace, of which a foretaste may be had here. Can we err in fixing on

THE ANTITYPE ?-CHRIST.

He is the Author of grace, John i. 12, but He is also the channel of the Father's grace, John i. 17.

I. MAN NEEDS THAT GRACE CONTINUALLY.-The longer the Christian lives the more he feels that he must daily live upon his Saviour; no strength of his own will do. Pardon is bestowed once; renewal of strength is needed always, Is. xl. 31 II. THAT GRACE IS DAILY GIVEN.-There is not an hour when the believer may not seek and FIND it. The promise is without a limit, Matt. vii. 7—11. III. IT COMES THROUGH VISIBLE MEANS, the Lord Jesus, IN HUMAN FORM, the visible image of the invisible Father. HE BIDS US COME TO HIM.