But could not the Bishop have carry'd his Story of the allegorical Interpretation of the _Old Testament_ much higher? Yes, he might, and have told us what I do him now, that the LXX Interpreters were _Allegorists_, as appears from the Translation itself, and from the Opinion of the ancient Jews and Fathers of the Church concerning them. And what's more still, he might, as a Christian, upon the Authority of St. _Hilary_[382] have derived the allegorical Art of Interpretation from _Moses_ himself, who received it from God; and instructed the _Seventy Elders_ in it, from whom it continued thro' all Ages of the Jewish and Christian Churches, without Interruption, excepting that Opposition which the later _Caraites_ of the Jews, and _Ministers_ of the _Letter_ among Christians, have made to it. If this be true, as I firmly believe it, then the allegorical Method of Interpretation is of original and divine Right. And it is reasonable to think accordingly, that it is of _Mosaic_ and _divine_ Extraction, or the Apostles _Paul_ and _Barnabas_, and the Fathers afterwards, had never been permitted of God to countenance a Practice, in Imitation of the _Jews_, if it was of a base, or of any other than _divine_ Original. The Consequence is, that we at this Day ought to be allegorical Interpreters of the _Old Testament_, or we set ourselves against all Antiquity, and oppose a Tradition that's like a Command, derived from _Moses_ and God himself. And what can the _Bishop_ of St. _David_'s say to this Consequence? Why, he'll tell us, tho' the allegorical Method of Interpretation be as ancient as the _Therapeuts_ and some of their Predecessors, yet, whatever the _Jews_ and Fathers may say of its Antiquity, it came not from God and _Moses_, or he would subscribe to it; but took its Rise, some Ages after the Giving of the Law of _Moses_, tho' he knows not how nor when. And I am willing the _Bishop_ should please himself with such an Answer and Opinion, till I have absolutely demonstrated the Certainty of the allegorical Method, and thence made it manifest, that it is of Mosaick and divine Original.