Chap. 33. An Expofarion upon the Boojaf J o B. Verf. 15. 2 only without the help ofany humane tradition, but without any further divine revelation. And therefore though God fhould pleafe to fpeak to us now by dreames and vifions, yet that were. only (as theApollle fpeaks about hisadding ofan oath to his pro- mife (Heb. 6. 17.) to thew that he is ( exabundanti) more abundantly willing to fátisfie our tveakneffe;by fuch acondifcenti- on,,then that there is a neceffity of it with refpe& to any de- ficiency ofthe Scriptures fullneflè. Ar>.d hence it is, that if men :tear( profeflè they have received any thing fromGod by dreams or vifions, concerning what is either to beleeved or done, the matter of thofe dreams muff be examined and weighed at the ballance of theScriptures, and isno further tobe credited then is'tis found agreeable thereunto. It cannot be denyed but Mat men may make profitable ufe of their dreames at this day ; they may fee much of themfelves wheti their eyes are(hut up by fleepe. Evil! men may fee their lulls at worke in the night, andfind out what lull ismolt working and wakeful! in them. What is faid in Hillory of the ancient Per- fian Kings, that they were feldome feen in the day, but came to view in the night, is true of a mans fpeciall fin,or of that fin which reignes and Kings it inhim. What ugly apparitions of luft hath many aman in his nightly dreams, efpecially of thole filthy lulls which are aloft proper to the night ? Thus alto good 'men have , fometimes aclearer fight oftheir graces in the night by dreatnes, then in theduties of theday. What holy frames of heart.? what lively a&ings of grace? what fweet and ravithing communion withGod havemanygodly men foundand felt in dreames ? That may at left, be fomewhat of David: meaning, when he Paid (PIA 16.17.) My retnes alto infirnc2 me an the night fe*. fonLaflly,Though wecannot make any certaine conclufions,either what we are, or what we are to doe from dreames;yet from them they'who are wife and watchful( may fometimes gather firong con- je&ures about both or either . To make dreames the rule or war- rant of what we doe is extreamly dangerous, yet that we may have hints what to do in adreame, I nothing doubt, nor can there be any danger in ir, while the matterhinted is confonant to the rule ofthe word, both as.that which is .lawful( to be done, and lawful! for us ( all circumilances confidered) to doe. Other- P p wife
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