er below, No. 7.

(4.) _The fable_ is related to the parable, but it differs from it in
two respects. _First_, it moves in a _worldly sphere_, having to do with
prudential maxims rather than spiritual truth. _Secondly_, it allows, in
harmony with this its lower nature, irrational objects as speakers and
actors, which would be contrary to the dignity of the parable. Our Lord
never employed fables as vehicles of instruction. There are two examples
of them in the Old Testament; neither of them, however, coming from the
lips of prophetical men. The first is that of Jotham: "The trees went
forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the
olive-tree, Reign thou over us," etc. Judg. 9:8-15. The second is that
of Jehoash: "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was
in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there
passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle."
2 Kings 14:9.

(5.) A _symbol_ is a _material object_, a _transaction in the material
world_, or sometimes a _number_, to represent some _higher spiritual
truth_. Ritual symbols, like the ark of the covenant, the high-priest's
dress, the sacrifices, and, in general, the whole tabernacle and temple
service, will be considered hereafter under the head of _types_. We
speak of symbols now, only so far as they belong to the human side of
interpretation. We have a beautiful example of a symbolic transaction in
the seventeenth chapter of the book of Numbers, where the princes of
Israel, by God's direction, take twelve rods, write each man his name
upon his rod, and lay them up in the tabernacle before the Lord,
whereupon Aaron's rod "budded, and brought forth buds, and blossomed
blossoms, and yielded almonds;" a symbol that God would make the
priesthood to flourish in his family.

Scriptural symbols exhibit a wonderful variety. Sometimes they
are seen in _dreams_, as in Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching
to heaven (Gen. 28:12-15); Pharaoh's two dreams of the fat and
lean kine, and the good and thin ears (Gen. 41:1-7); or in
_prophetic vision_, like Jeremiah's vision of a seething pot
with the face towards the north (Jer. 1:13); Ezekiel's vision of
the cherubim (chap. 1); and Amos' vision of a basket of summer
fruit (chap. 8:2). At other times they are actual transactions.
So the false prophet Zedekiah "made him horns of iron: and he
said, Thus saith the Lord, w