6. As for an Allegory, which is a continuation of a Metaphor, and properly signifies a figure expressing one thing by another, from ἄλλος, and ἀγορέω, _enuntio_, and this is very frequently used in the Scriptures, as when the Apostle speaking of the two Sons of _Abraham_, _the one from Hagar a bond-woman, the other from Sarah a free woman_, saith: _These things are an Allegorie_, ἅτενα ἀλληγορόυμενα, which things do express one thing by another; From whence we may note, 1. That Allegories that tend to edification, keeping the Analogie of Faith, and not perverting or overthrowing the literal sense, ought not to be so much cried down nor condemned, as some have done both against _Origen_ and others. “For the Apostle here, as _Beza_ hath noted, made it manifest, that he had followed the footsteps of the Prophet _Isaiah_, who did foretel that the Church was to be constituted of the Children of Sarah that was barren, that is to say of those who meerly and spiritually were by Faith to be made the Sons of _Abraham_, rather than of _Hagar_ that was fruitful, even then foretelling the rejection of the Jews, and the vocation of the Gentiles.” 2. Allegories may be used, and the literal sense nevertheless preserved also for the History is literally true that _Sarah_ and _Hagar_ were two living Women, the one _Abrahams_ Wife a free Woman, the other his Servant, and a bond-woman, and yet this did not hinder but that thereby an Allegory might be used, and they might, and did signifie and express another thing than what was meerly contained in the letter. 3. We cannot here but add the grave and learned opinion of S. _Augustin_ upon this very point, who rejecting the tenent of some that made Paradise and the things therein contained, meerly corporal, and of some that made it only spiritual and intelligible, doth run a middle course betwixt these two extreams, saying thus: “As though Paradise could not be corporal, because also it might be understood to be spiritual: As though therefore there were not two Women _Agar_ and _Sarah_, and of them two Sons of _Abraham_, one of the bond-woman, the other of the free woman, because the Apostle saith that the two Testaments were prefigured in them; or therefore that water had flowed from no rock _Moses_ smiting, because there by a figurative signification Christ also may be understood, the Apostle saying, _and the rock was Christ_.” And after concludeth thus: “These and some others may be spoken of understanding Paradise spiritually, and may be spoken without contradiction, while notwithstanding the most faithful verity of that History may be believed in the commendable narration of the things done or performed.” This same opinion this learned Father doth maintain in another place, where he is speaking of the Ark of _Noah_.