PREPARATORY TO T vine dispensation into a trance or ecstasy, wherein their outward senses were suspended, their operation, their minds, and understandings, were unto their own ap prehension, carried in a holy rapture from one place unto another, which was effected only by a divine and efficacious representation of the things unto them, which were done in the places from whence they were really absent. And these are some of those accidents of prophetical revelations which arc recorded in the scripture; and it is possible that some other instances of the like nature may be observed. And all these be- long to aozurtresa vs, S'ra sa isescrsi, or manifold variety of divine revelations mentioned, Heb. i.1. Sect. 17. But here a doubt of no small difficulty, nor of less importance, presents itselfunto us, namely, whether the Holy Ghost rt did ever grant his holy in- " spirations, and the, gift of prophecy thereby, unto st men wicked and unsanctified." * For the apostle Peter tells us, that holy men spike of old as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. i. 21. which seems to intimate that all those who were inspired and moved by him as to this gift of prophecy were holy men of God. fi And yet, on the other hand, we shall find that true prophecies have been given out by men seeming utterly void of all sanctifying grace. And, to increase the difficulty, it is certain that great predictions, and those with respect unto Christ himself, have been given and made by men, guided and actuated, for the most part, by the devil. So was it with Salaam, who was a sorcerer, that gave himself to diabolical enchantments HE NEW CREATION. (T and divinations; and as such a one was destroyed by God's appointment. Yea, at, or about the same time wherein he uttered a most glorious prophecy concerning the Messiah the star of Jacob, being left unto his osen spirit and inclination, be gave cursed advice and coun- sel for the drawing of the people of Gad into destructive and judgment-procuring sins, Numb.+Plexiii. 18. And in the whole of his enterprise, he thought to have satis- fied his covetousness with a reward for cursing them by his enchantments. And yet this man not only profess- eth of himself that he heard the words of God, and saur the visions of the Almighty, Numb. xxiv. 4. but did ac- tually foretel and prophecy glorious things concerning Christ and his kingdom. Shall we then think that the Holy Spirit of God will inmix his own holy inspirations with the wicked suggestionsof the devil in a soothsayer? Or shall we suppose that thedevil was the author of those predictions, whereas God reproacheth false gods, and their prophets actuated by them, that they could not st declare the things that should happen, nor shew as the things that were to come afterwards?" Isa. xli. 22, 23. So also it is said of Saul, that the Spirit of the Lord departed from hitn, and an evil spirit vexed him; and yet, afterwards, that the Spirit of God carne tapon him and he prophesied, 1 Sam. xix. 24. The old pro- phet at Bethel, who lied unto the prophet that came from Judah, and that in the name of the Lord, seduc- ing him into sin and destruction, and probably defiled with theidolatry and false worship of Jeroboam, was yet esteemed a prophet, and did foretel what came to pass, 1 Kings xiii. Sect. H.Sundry things may be offered for the sd- lution of this difficulty: For (t.) as to that place of the apostle Peter; (1.) It may not be taken universally, that all who prophesied at any time were personally ho- ly, but only that for the most part so they were. (2.) He seems to speak particularly of them only who were penmen of the scripture, and of those prophecies which remain therein for the instruction of the church, con- cerning whom 1 no way doubt but that they were all sanctified and holy. (3.) It may be that he understand- eth not real inherent holiness, but only a separation and dedication unto God by especial office, which is q thing ofanother nature. (2.) The gift of prophecy is granted not to be in itself, and its own nature, a sanc- tifying grace, nor is the inspiration so whereby it is Prophets emnt Baal, et Prophets confusions, et alii-ofi'ensionum, et quoscunque vitiosos prophetas Scriptnra Commemorar Hietron. Comment. in Epist. ad Timm. cap. 1. i' Zsrpct,a óita matite, sii t/e flear@aT£V£,, v 'tempo-rot äyae DgoPees ; roes ói x ,rreeas ä555v ira,, si yt Aee0 ¡sera 5,0l imt Te 'Ceps áteagraar ¡OO.a/tapat,ee ei¢estgt9nraa ria asse TO ä740e assena ¢sri. To avesµa To ¿pros ea ,aa rrartnte äa' ïprs- ¿re Ói 5T5e,a£ 4,0r ira To alga 413 tree aaros s1 ásvarat twee, ear le waagroaoe r'rys.Origen. Commentar. in Johan. Tom. 30. Prophetic mysterio usi suns edam qui exorbitaverant a vera Religione, quia ea illisdedic Deus Verbum strumut mysteria future pronunciarent lominibus.Ilieron. Comment. in Job, cap. 33. Now et Prophetere et Dremonia escludere et stirates magnas in terns facers sublimisutique etadmirábilis res est, non tames regnumcodes, consequitur quisquis in bis omnibus inventor, nisi rectiet fusti itineris observation gradiatur.--Cyprien. de Veritas. Ecelesice.
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