I. “The Symbol and that which it represents resemble each other in the
station they fill, the relation they sustain, and the agencies they exert
in their respective spheres.”—_Lord._
II. The Symbol and that which it represents are of the _same_, or they are
of _different_ species, kinds, or rank, according to the _nature_ and
_use_ of the symbol.
III. “When the Symbol is of such nature, or is used in such a relation
that it can properly symbolise something _different_ from itself, the
representative and that which it represents, while the counterpart of each
other, are of _different_ species, kinds, or rank.”—_Lord._
_Example._—Dan. 7:3, beasts; v. 17, governments.
IV. “Symbols that are of such a nature, station or relation, that there is
nothing of an analogous kind that they can represent, symbolize agents,
objects, acts, or events of _their own_ kind.”—_Ib._ _Example._—Dan. 7:9.
V. “When the Symbol and that which it symbolizes differ from each other,
the correspondence between the representative and that which it
represents, still extends to their chief parts; and the elements or parts
of the symbols denote corresponding parts in that which is
symbolized.”—_Ib._
VI. “The Names of Symbols are their literal and proper names, not
metaphorical titles.”—_Ib._
VII. “A single agent, in many instances, symbolizes a body and succession
of agents.”—_Ib._
VIII. Symbols of the same kind, and used in the same relations, always
represent one class of objects; and when the office of a symbol has been
once shown, the same symbol, similarly used, always fills a like office.
They are never used arbitrarily.
IX. While like symbols represent like objects, the same agents are often
indicated by different symbols.
Thus, a church may be symbolized by a city and a woman; and government, by
a beast and a mountain, &c.