pe of the New Testament, where grace and the
forgiveness of sins are promised openly through the sacrifice of
Christ. This is why the Holy Spirit chose to appear in the form of a
dove in the New Testament.

124. The third dove did not return. After the fulfilment of the
promise given the whole world through the mouth of the dove, no new
teaching is to be looked for, but we simply await the revelation of
those things which we believe. Herein is certain testimony for us that
the Gospel will endure unto the end of the world.

125. The text, furthermore, specifies the time Noah waited after he
had first sent forth a dove, namely, seven days. These seven days
typify the time of the Law which, of necessity, preceded the period of
the New Testament.

126. We read, likewise, that the second dove returned at dusk,
carrying the olive branch. To the Gospel the last age of the world has
been assigned. Nor should we look for another kind of doctrine, for it
is to an evening meal that Christ compared the Gospel (Mt 22, 2; Lk
14, 16).

127. True, the doctrine of the Gospel has been in the world since the
fall of our first parents, and the Lord confirmed this promise to the
patriarchs by various signs. The first ages knew nothing of the
rainbow, nor of circumcision, nor of other signs afterward ordained by
God. But all ages have known of the blessed seed. Since it has been
revealed, there remains nothing else than the revelation of that which
we believe. With the third dove, we shall fly away to that other life,
never to return to the life here, so wretched and so full of grief.

128. These are my thoughts concerning this allegory. I have set them
forth briefly, for we must not tarry with them as we do with
historical narratives and articles of faith.

129. Origen, Jerome, Augustine, and Bernard seek diligently for
allegories. But this practice has one drawback. The more attention
they direct to allegories, the more do they draw it away from the
facts of sacred history and from faith, to the exclusion of these more
important things. Allegories should be employed for the purpose of
inducing and increasing, of explaining and strengthening, that faith
of which all the stories treat. It is not to be wondered at, that
persons who do not seek faith in the stories of the Bible, look for
the region of allegorical shades as a pleasant playground in which to
stroll about.

130. Just as in the popish Church false and unscriptural words a