SENSE of the Scripture. These five different Senses may be distinguish’d in the Scripture. I. The Grammatical Sense. II. The Historical or Literal Sense. III. The Allegorical or Figurative Sense. IV. The Anagogical Sense. V. The Tropological or Moral Sense.
I. The Grammatical Sense is that which the Words of the Text present to the Mind, according to the proper and usual Signification of those Words. Thus when it is said that God repents, that he is in Anger, that he ascends or descends, that he has Eyes open, or Ears attentive, &c. the Grammatical Sense of all these Expressions might induce one to think, that God is corporeal, and subject to the same Weaknesses as ourselves. But as Reason and found Faith will assure us, that he has none of our Infirmities and Imperfections; upon such Occasions we are not to abide by, or confine ourselves to, the Grammatical Sense.
II. The Literal and Historical Sense is that which belongs to the History or Fact, to the Sense which the Rehearsal and Terms of the Scripture immediately present to the Mind. Thus when it is said, that Abraham marry’d Hagar, that he afterwards sent her away, that Isaac was born of Sarah, that he received Circumcision: All these Facts, taken in the Historical and Literal Sense, mean nothing else than what is express’d in the History; that is, the Marriage of Abraham with Hagar, the Birth of Isaac, &c.
III. The Allegorical and Figurative Sense, is that which examines what may be conceal’d under the Terms, or under the Event mention’d in the History. Thus the Marriage of Abraham with Hagar, who was afterwards repudiated and driven away because of her Insolence, and that of her Son; is a Figure or Representation of the Synagogue, which was only a Slave, and which was divorced and rejected because of its Infidelity and Ingratitude. Sarah is the Figure of the Christian Church, and Isaac of the People chosen of God.
IV. The Anagogical Sense, or Sense of Analogy and Agreement, is that which refers some Expressions of Scripture to eternal Life and Happiness; because of some Conformity or Similitude between the Terms that are brought to express something happening in this World, and what shall happen hereafter in Heaven. For Example, on Occasion of the Sabbath, or of the Seventh-Days Rest that was enjoyn’d the People of God, a Transition may be made to that Repose or Rest that the Saints enjoy in Heaven. On Occasion of the Israelites entering into the Land of Promise, we naturally pass to treat of the entering of the Elect into the Land of the Living, &c.
V. The Moral or Tropological Sense, is that which deduces Moral Reflections for the Conduct of Life, and for the Reformation of Manners, from what is related historically and literally in Scripture. For Example, on Occasion of those Words of Deut. xxv. 4.Deuteronomy, Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox, when he treadeth out the Corn, St. 1 Cor. ix. 10.Paul says, that the Preachers, and those that instruct us, ought to be supply’d with the Necessaries of Life.
The Object of the Literal Sense are Facts and History; of the Allegorical, what we believe, or the Mysteries of our Faith; of the Anagogical, eternal Happiness, and what has relation thereto; of the Moral or Tropological, the Regulation of our Manners; all which is comprehended in this Distick.
Litera gesta docet, quid credas Allegoria, Moralis quid agas, quò tendas Anagogia.
These five Senses now mention’d may be observed in this one Word Jerusalem. According to the Grammatical Sense, it signifies the Vision of Peace; according to the Literal and Historical, the capital City of Judea; according to the Allegorical, the Church Militant; according to the Anagogical, the Church Triumphant; according to the Moral, a faithful Soul, of which Jerusalem is a Kind of Figure.