The Typology of Scripture [pp. 508-520]

Fafrbairn's Typology.
opened Mr. Fairbairn's book with some misgiving, but were soon
agreeably-surprised by certain indications, which went far- to
reassure us, and by enumerating which we may best assist our
readers in forming a correct idea of the work itself. The first
favourable symptom that appeared was the convincing proof
afforded, that the author had not merely "crammed" for the
occasion, but had long and patiently revolved the subject in
his mind, and thought out his own theory before he undertook
to write his book. Another, near akin to this, was his freedom
from the affectation of some writers, who remove difficulties by
denying their existence. But in this book the difficulties of
the subject are distinctly recognized and fairly appreciated.
Had this test of competency and candour been wanting, we
should scarcely have consented to accompany the author in his
lucubrations. We have long since lost our faith in those empirics
to whom every thing is easy. A writer must know something
by experience of our doubts and perplexities, before we can
expect him to remove them. But in this respect we have no
fault to find with the Typology before us.
The book is recommended by another quality too often wanting in such cases. The author is acquainted with the history
of his subject. He does not come to the discussion of it, with
a few ex parte notions gathered from some recent writer. He
knows not only where the difficulty lies, but what attempts have
heretofore been made for its removal. The historical introduction by itself went far to command our confidence in the author's
competence'to discuss so delicate a subject. Contempt of history or of the past is one of the surest signs of a dogmatical
empiricism.
Under this last head we include a knowledge of the modern
German writings on the subject. This knowledge extends not
only to the rationalists, but to the believing school or schools
of Hengstenberg, Havernick, Kurtz, Delitzsch, Caspari, and the
like. Such knowledge we consider indispensable to a satisfactory discussion of the subject. Whatever may be thought of
the German speculations, they have put a new face upon all such
subjects. We go further, and affirm that the harm done by
German infidelity is less than the good done by German faith
combined with German learning. The questions raised by the
VOL. XXIII.-NO. III. 54
1851.]
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