!£y OPER:ITIONS OP TILE IIOLY SPIRIT, vtóured to come to an acquaintance with the things them selves, in their nature and efficacy, which were reveal -. ed unto them; * yetso, as considering that not them- selves, but some succeeding generations, should enjoy them in their actual exhibition. And whilst they were . intent on these things, they searched also, as far as in- timation was given thereof by the Spirit, after the time wherein all these things should be accomplished; both when it should be, and what manner of time it should be, or what would be the state and condition of the people of God in those days. This was the principal end of the gift of prophecy, and this the principal work and employment of the prophets. The first promise was given by God in the person of the Son, as I have proved elsewhere; Gen. iii. 15. But the whole explica- tion, confirmation, and declaration of it was carried on by the gift of prophecy, Sect. 6. The communication of this gift began be- times in the world, and continued without any known interruption in the possession of some one or more in the chus-cl, at all times, during its preparatory or sub- servient estate, After the finishing of the canon of the Old Testament, it ceased in the Judaical church until it had a revival in John the Baptist, who was therefore greater than any prophet that went before, because he made the nearest approach unto, and the clearest dis- covery of the Lord Jesus Christ, the end of all prophe- cies. Thus Goti spake by the mouthofhis holyprophets, es, d aswss,, Luke i. 70. that werefrom the beginning of the world. Adam himself had many things revealed unto him; without which he could nót have worshipped God aright in that state and condition whereinto he was come. For although his natural light was suffi- cient to direct him unto all religious services required by the law of creation; yet was it not so unto all duties of that state whereinto he was brought by the givingof the promise after the entranceof sin. So was he.guid- ed unto the observance of suchordinances of worship as were needful for him, and accepted with God, as were sacrifices. The prophecy of Enoch is not only re- 'Damps Prophets ills tantummotlo aciebantquo illisfuissent a Do- mino serelata. Unde et Rex llieremiam dubio interrogat, si in ea flora qua cum illo loquebatur aped sum Sermo Domini ',abuser, Sed et Elisens dicit, quomodo hoe Dominus abscondit a me, et Elias prefer se esse eliosqui Deum colerent ignoravit. Iiieron. Commons. in Epist. ad Roman. Cap. ,q^. membered, but called over and recorded, Jude xiv. 15. And it is a matter neither curious nor difficult to de- monstrate, that all the patriarchs of old, before the flood, were guided by a prophetical spirit in the impo sition of names on those children who were to succeed them in the sacred line. Concerning Abraham God expressly saith himself, that he was a prophet, Gen. xx. 7. that is, one who used to receive divine revela- tions. Sect. 7. Now, this gift of prophecy was always the immediate effect of the operation of the Holy Spirit. So it is both affirmed in general, and in all the particu- lar instances of it. In the first way, we have the illus- trious testimony of the apostle Peter; 2 Epist. chap. i. ver. 20, 21. " Rnowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for the " prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, " but holy men of God spike as they were moved by " the Holy Ghost." k This is a principle among be- lievers; this they grant and allow, in the first place, as that which they resolve their faith into; namely, that the sore word of prophecy, which they in all things take heed unto, ver. 19. was not a fruit of any man's privateconceptions; nor was subject to the willsof men, so as to attain it, or exercise it by their own ability. But it was given by inspiration from God; 2 Tim. iii. 16; for the Holy Ghost, by acting, moving, guiding the minds of holy men, enabled them thereunto. This was the sole fountain and -cause of all true divine pro- phecy that ever was given or granted to the use of the church. And, in particular, the coming of the Spirit of God upon the prophets, enabling them unto their work, is frequently mentioned. Micah declares, in his own instance, how it was with them all, chap. iii. 8. '5 But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the " Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare " unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.' 'Or al vu Osa dv9gwros vrvsvtearopogo, r svuar.e ages, air rgoOnras ysvo¡nsro, v`r dura ra Osx iva,avc&see,a air cegsasvres iveravro 9so8,7áxroy aa, Jetas es buwss.-.-Theophil. ad Autoly cum. lib. 2. Prophets voces itemq; Virtutes ad fidem Divinitatis cdebant. Ter- tul. Apolcap. 8. 0 I' ,i,Seas Toro raw, ñ cops sew; air 5,,u; n bro; ei, i;go, .prig res et, r o J ysea;. Kas wee I To fuxvrsaq, r, ósor, ár).a ro ón pt's., ssor,.Plotin. Enead. 3. lib. 4.
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