5+8 The Parable of the Vol. L The loweft ofall was that which they call'd Bath-col, which was by a Voice fromHeaven; and this is the way of Revelation, which the Yews obferved did only continue among them for the days of the Prophet Malachi to our Sa- viour. The higheft of all was that which they call'd graders Mofaicus, to which the Jews give feveral Prerogatives above all the other ways of Revelation; as that it was done by Impreflien merely upon the Underlianding, without Extafie, or Rapture, or Tranfport, when he was waking, and in his ordinary Temper, and bis Senfes not boundup either by-Extafie or Sleep, that it was a Revelation im- mediately from God himfelf,. and not by the Mediation of Angels; without any Fear, or Amazement, or Fainting, which was incident to other Prophets; and the Spirit of Prophefie retied upon him, and he could exert it arbitrarily, and put it fourth when he would. Ofwhich thus much is evidently true from the Story of him, that the Spirit ofProphecydid red more conftantly upon him, and that he could exert it with greater freedom, and without anydifcernable Amazement or Tranfport from his ordinary Temper. ¡sut that it was by Impreffion merely up- on his Underftanding, as that is a diftind Faculty from the Imagination, is not fo certain ; that it was always by an immediate Communication IromGod, with- out the Mediation of Angels, feeins not to be true ; for St. Stephen tells us, that the Law was given by thedifpofstion of Angels, Ads 7. S3. And Sr. Paul, that it was ordained by the Angels in the hand of a Mediator, that is Mofes, Gal. 3. 59. But that the Revelation which was made tohim, had force lingular Prerogatives above thofe of other Prophets, is plain from Scripture, Numb. 12- S, 6, y, 8. when Aaron and Miriam contended with Mofes as being equal to him, God tells them that there was a vaft difference between him and other Prophets ; Hear now my Words, if there be a Prophet among you, I the Lord will make my felf known unto him in a Vifaon, and will f eak unto him in a Dream. My Servant Mfes is notfo--With him will I f eak Mouth, to Mouth, even appa_ gently, and not . in dark Speeches, &c. Ex. 33. í r . Andthe Lordfpake unto Mofes face to face, as a Manfpeaketh unto his Friend, Deut. 34. to. And there arofe not a Prophet fnce ioelfrael like unto Mofes, whom the Lordknew face toface. All which fignity at leaft this, that God made the cleared, and moft familiar, and molt per- fed Difcoveries to Mofes of any of the Prophets ; only our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom God hathdifcovered his Will to its under the New Teflament, did excel! Mofs ; Mofes being but afaithful Servant that is humilis amicus , a meaner fort of Friend ; but theLord yefus Chriff, the only begotten Son ofGod, who came from the bofom of his Father, and wasintimately acquainted with the ferrets of his Will, and had not the Spirit givenhim bymeafure, but the molt plentiful Effufion of it, being anointedabove his Fellows. . Now thefe being the feveral forts and degrees ofRevelation, which God hath made of himfelf to the World, the Holy Scriptures area Syfem or Colle&ion of thefe, the authentick Inftrument or Record, by which the things revealed any of thefe ways, are tranfmitted to us, and is therefore call'd the Word ofGod, as con- taining thofe things which God in feveral Ages háth fpoken to the World ; that is matters of divine Revelation, which are necellary to be known by Men, in order to their eternal Happinefs. And this being now the great and ftanding Revelation of God, which is to continue to the end of the World, I intend to limit my Difcourfe folely to this, as being the only Revelation which we are concern'd to enquire after. And therefore in the 3d Place to Thew you what Advantage this ftanding Re- velation of the Scriptures hath above private Revelations made to particular Per- fons, and frequently repeated and renewed in feveral Ages ; that fo it may appear both agreeable to the Wifdom of God to fettle Revelations in this way, as being more commodious ; and likewife to his Goodnefs, it being a real Privilege which thefe later Ages of the World enjoy, that they have a more fixt and cer- tain wayof being acquainted with the Will of God, than thofeAges had, which were govern'd by fuch private Revelations, as were now and then made to parti- cular Perfons. And the Advantages are thefe. a.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=