Ebook Christian Symbolism

There were always two Classes Of symbols, fixed and arbitrary. In the one Class emblems acquired a fixed meaning, the relation Of which to the thing signified is not always traceable, though in many cases it is fairly obvious. There is no reason on the face of it why a Fish should signify Christ, or a palm-branch martyrdom and the application Of'the Four Living Creatures Of Ezekiel and the Apocalypse to the Four Evan gelists does not explain itself very easily. Yet these and many others acquired the value Of Egyptian ideographs, and, explainable 'or not, were generally accepted with meanings as definite as words. This class merges by imperceptible degrees into the Class Of types, metaphors and allegories, to which every man may attach the meaning that seems good to him, and whose value depends upon their applicability.