And not only the Miracles of _Jesus_ were Signs and Figures of future Events; but, according to _Origen_,[372] _every thing else that he did_: From whence we may gather what was _Origen_'s Meaning, when he said[373] _Christ's first_ Advent in the Flesh is all Type and Shadow of his _second_, spiritual, and glorious Coming; which being an _Opinion_ that our _Clergy_ are Strangers to, I desire them to consider of it, and whether there is any Possibility of Truth in it, because it is contrary to modern Conceptions about _Christ's second_ Advent. Nay further, according to the Fathers,[374] the very Life and Ministry of _John_ the _Baptist_, so far as it is recorded by the _Evangelists_, is Type and Figure of another's Ministry before Christ's spiritual Advent; and I am almost, if not altogether of the same Mind with them. It is beside my present Business, to insert here many of their Testimonies to this Purpose: But if the _Bishop_ of _St. David_'s would spare a little Time, which can't be better employ'd, and make a Collection of the Opinions of the Fathers about the _Baptist_'s Ministry, and print it, I dare say he'll thereupon present the learned World with the most surprizing Curiosity they ever were entertain'd with. Tho' it is improper for me to do such a Work; yet I will here tell my _Readers_ what will be the true Meaning of _John's Preaching Repentance, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand_, when his Ministry revives, _viz._ "It will be an Exhortation to Ministers of the Letter, [Greek: metanoein], to reconsider the Matter and Error of their literal Expositions, and to betake themselves to spiritual and allegorical Interpretations of the Scriptures, in which allegorical and spiritual Senses of them consists the _Kingdom of Heaven_." This I assert upon the Authority of _Origen_,[375] and if the _Clergy_ please to consult St. _Austin_ and others, they'll find them of the same Mind. But, this by the by, having no more to say to the Typicalness of _John_'s Ministry, than whenever his foresaid mystical Preaching of Repentance shall revive, it can hardly be to a more viperous Generation of Ecclesiastical _Scribes_ and _Pharisees_, than are the _Ministers_ of the _Letter_ at this present. But against all these, and Ten Thousand more Testimonies of the Fathers for the allegorical Interpretation of the Writings of the _Evangelists_, and of _Jesus_'s Miracles in particular, the _Bishop_ of _St. David_'s says, the Fathers are not of good Authority in this Case, but, for all them, who were Men of whimsical and volatile Fancies, we ought to adhere to the _Letter_ of the Story of _Christ_'s Life and Miracles. This the _Bishop_ asserts roundly and frequently in express or implicit Terms, as his Readers may observe; and I dare say, the _Bishop_ himself will not here charge me with a Misrepresentation of his Opinion, tho', to spare Time and Paper, I quote not his own Words and large Passages.