And mingling Falshood with those Mysteries
Wou'd make our sacred Truths appear like Lies.

But I hope the Critic knew, that there is a fair difference between a mere
Fiction, or Falshood, and an Instructive Parable or Fable, on one side, or
a few more lively Poetical Colours on the other. To mingle Falshoods, or
dull Legendary Fictions, without either Life or Soul in 'em, with our
Saviour's Blessed Gospel, may make 'em, in some Sence, superiour to it:
This wou'd indeed incline an Italian to be of the same Faith with his
Countryman, that 'twas all Fabula Christi, in the worst Sence of the Word:
But certainly expressing the Truth in Parables, and mingling these with
the Mysteries of the Gospel, can't be thought to give it an Air of
Fiction: nor dare any affirm it does so, without Blasphemy, since our
Saviour has so often done it. Nor only these but deeper Allegories are
thought to be made use of in the Christian Religion; for Example, the
Throne and Temple of God in the Revelations, and the Description of the
New Jerusalem, with all its Gates and Foundations of Sapphires and
Emeralds, and that lovely Scheme of Trees and Rivers, worthy a Paradise:
All this, I say, will scarcely be granted literal, and consequently must
be all an Allegory; alluding partly to the Old Jewish Church and Temple,
partly to Ezekiel's Visionary Representation and Prophetical Paradise. Nor
can it, I think, be justly reckoned more criminal, where we have any great
instructive Example, which has been real matter of Fact, to expatiate
thereon; adding suitable and proper Circumstances and Colours to the
whole, especially when the History it self is but succinctly Related, and
the Heads of things only left us. And this some great Man have thought was
the Method of the Holy Pen-man himself, whoever he were, in that lovely
antient Poem of Job; which, that 't was at the bottom a real History, few
but Atheists deny; and yet 'tis thought some Circumstances might be
amplified in the account we have left us, particularly the long Speeches
between that Great Man and his Friends; tho' the main hinges of the
Relation, his Person, Character, and Losses, the malice of the Devil, the
behaviour of his Wife and Friends, nay even the Substance of their
Discourses, as well as of that between God and him, and the wonderful Turn
of his Affairs soon after: All this might, and did, truly happen. Or, if
any amplification should be here deny'd, does not the Divine howev