P R O P H E T . 303 which was foon after the Time of Ifrael's Return from the Babylonifh Captivity; the Expofition only of what had been revealed fupplied the Place, for the Edification of the Church. Nicodemus feems to have been one of thefe Mafiers or Teachers in Ifrael, who had, before his Time, been dittinguifhed into three Claflês, of Wife.- men, Scribes, and Difputers; to whom the Apoille is thought to allude, when he afks, Where is the Wife ? whereis the Scribe? where is the Dfputer ofthis World ? The Title of Wifemen was arrogated by the conceited Pharifres, who were likewife termed Maftterr of the Tra- ditions ; for, by them, feems to have been broached the Diflindion of the Law- into written end era, or traditi- onal. Scribes were, generally, Expounders cf the written Law, to which alone they adhered ; and it is remarked, that, while both Scribes and Pharifees combined in feek- ing matter ofAccufation againft fefus Chrift, each fought it in the Way agreeable to their refpective ProfeETons ; for as the Scribes were employed in endeavouring to catch him with the written Word, fo the Pharifees as zealoufly accufed him of breaking the Traditions ofthe Fathers, in eating with Publicans and Sinners, and in negleaing fome of their formal Punétilios. The Dif- togive ranks, and to praile Jehovah. 3. Admonition, or Denunciation ofGOD's yudgements, was a third Sort of Prophecy, which Ezekiel was commanded to ufe towards Ifrael. Ezell. xxi, z. and other Places. }. Prsediflion was, in the Rrideit Senfe, underítood by Prophecy; and this had its Degrees of Excellence. Sometimes it related to the Perlon, Offices, and Sufferings of the Mefah, whichwas the molt ex- cellent, and wherein Ifaiah was diftinguilbed above others; and fometimes it related to more temporary Concerns, and the Common- wealth and Affairs of the yews, S. Expofirion was termed Pro- phecy, becaufe,by fpiritual Illumination, it rendered the Meaning of the Prophets plain and obvious. Thus Aaron was Molees's Prophet or Exportor;fo $auiis underftoodtohave prophefied (t Sam. x. 13,) and thus the Apoltle is fuppofed to mean (t Cor. xiv. 1.) where osp4nruniu, to propheeh, can intend nothing more than the fpiritual Faculty ofexpounding the Scriptures. This laft Species of Pro- phecy remains in the Church ofGOD, and will remain, till the final Confummation of all things. See more on this dead in GODWIN'S Moss and Aaron. ° I Cor. i.zo. puler
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