Page:A Cloud of Independent Witnesses.djvu/67

This page needs to be proofread.

TESTIMONY OF REV. EDWIN P. HOOD. 6 1

in the wilderness, the magnificence of Solomon's Temple, gleam out with meaning as well as lustre, receiving and reflecting light from the parables of our Lord, the harp of prophecy, and the city of the New Jerusalem with its twelve manner of stones." (p. 382.) " Why did the Holy Spirit speak to man by images? — to perplex, to baffle, to confound? Surely not; but that the words might be seen to contain, as in an Ark, things more sacred than words alone can reveal."

(p- 385.)

" Scripture has a literal writing and signification all may read — all may understand; and it is sufficient for the salvation and understanding of all. But there is a hidden writing — a name like that upon the * white stone,' * which none may read but those to whom it is given.' The Saviour in his words and parables declared this; it is the principle of the old Jewish services; it is the principle of Prophetic Writing; it is adopted by our Lord in his discourses, and evidently indicated in his miracles; and the canon of Scripture closes with a most wonderful illustration of it. It is a hand-writing we partly know. Why should we not accept any other aid which may yet further elucidate the meaning of a Book which, though it speaks plainly and clearly the words on which depends our eternal life, reserves much for the consolation of those who, with humble hearts, seek * for the consolation of Israel.'

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.