returned to the ark and was seized by Noah.

119. This dove is a picture of the holy prophets sent to teach the
people; but the flood, that is, the time of the Law, had not yet
passed away. Thus David, Elias, Isaiah, though they did not live to
see the time of the New Testament, were yet sent as messengers with
the tidings that the flood would eventually be brought to an end,
though that time was at a distance. Having delivered their message,
they returned to the ark; that is, they were justified and saved
without the Law, by faith in the blessed seed, in which they believed
and for which they longed.

120. After this, another dove was sent forth, which found the earth
dried, and not only the mountains, but also the trees, standing free
from water. But she alighted upon an olive tree, plucked a branch, and
brought it back to Noah.

121. The allegorical meaning of this incident is interpreted by the
Scriptures. The olive tree is very often used as a symbol of grace, of
mercy or of forgiveness of sins. The dove brings the branch in her
beak, thus typifying the outward ministry, or the spoken Word. For the
Holy Spirit does not teach by new revelations aside from the ministry
of the Word, as the enthusiasts and Anabaptists, those truly fanatical
teachers, dream. It was the will of God that a branch from a living
olive tree should be carried to Noah in the mouth of the bird, to
teach that in the New Testament, the time of the flood or anger being
past, God desires to set his mercy before the world by the spoken
Word.

122. The messengers of this Word are doves; that is, sincere men,
without guile, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 60, 8, likens
ministers of the Gospel or of grace to doves which fly to their
windows. And, though Christ commands them to imitate the harmlessness
of doves, Mt 10, 16, meaning that they should be sincere and free from
venom, yet, he admonishes them to be wise like serpents; that is, they
should be wary of false and cunning people, and cautious like the
serpent, which is said to shield its head with special skill in a
fight.

123. The green freshness of the olive branch, also, is a type of the
Word of the Gospel, which endureth forever and is never without fruit.
Psalms 1, 3 likens those who study the Word to a tree, the leaves of
which do not wither. We heard nothing like this above concerning the
raven, which flew to and fro near the ark. This second dove which was
sent forth is a ty