MEDIÆVAL HYMNS.
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to do anything for the salvation of man; while by the Levite, who "came and looked" on the Traveller, the Law was typified:—which indeed showed man his sinfulness, but gave no effectual help.
The allusion is, of course, to the staff of Elisha. Our Lord's taking the form of a child is here considered as symbolised by the Prophet's stretching himself upon the dead son of the Shunammite, and thus, so to speak, taking his form before raising him to life.