The several ways of revelation a sermon preached at St. Martins in the Fields, Octob. 7, 1695 : being the seventh of the lecture for the said year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
         Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
      
       
         
           1696
        
      
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             The several ways of revelation a sermon preached at St. Martins in the Fields, Octob. 7, 1695 : being the seventh of the lecture for the said year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
             Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
          
           [4], 32 p.
           
             Printed for Ri. Chiswell and Tho. Cockerill ...,
             London :
             1696.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Revelation -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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             D
             r
          
           WILLIAMS's
           SEVENTH
           SERMON
           AT
           Mr.
           BOYLE'S
           Lecture
           ,
           1695.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           The
           several
           Ways
           of
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           St.
           
             Martins
             in
             the
             Fields
          
           ,
           Octob.
           7.
           1695.
           
        
         
           BEING
           THE
           Seventh
           of
           the
           LECTURE
           For
           the
           said
           YEAR
           ,
           Founded
           by
           the
           Honourable
           ROBERT
           BOYLE
           ,
           Esquire
           .
        
         
           By
           
             JOHN
             WILLIAMS
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           His
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             Ri.
             Chiswell
          
           ,
           and
           
             Tho.
             Cockerill
          
           ,
           Sen
           r
           &
           Jun
           r
           :
           At
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ;
           and
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Legs
          
           in
           the
           Poultrey
           .
           M
           DC
           XC
           VI.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             HEB.
             1.1
             ,
             2.
             
          
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             spake
             in
             time
             past
             unto
             the
             Fathers
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             hath
             in
             these
             last
             days
             spoken
             unto
             us
             by
             his
             Son
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           IN
           these
           words
           we
           have
           (
           as
           I
           have
           before
           shewed
           )
        
         
           1.
           
           A
           description
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           't
           is
           God's
           speaking
           ,
           or
           declaring
           his
           Will
           to
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Certainty
           of
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           't
           is
           by
           way
           of
           Declaration
           ,
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
          
           ,
           &c.
           spake
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           Order
           observed
           in
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           as
           to
           Time
           ,
           Manner
           ,
           and
           Persons
           ;
           
             In
             time
             past
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
          
           and
           
             in
             the
             last
             days
             by
             his
             Son.
             
          
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           Perfection
           and
           Completion
           of
           all
           ,
           't
           is
           
             in
             these
             last
             days
             by
             his
             Son.
             
          
        
         
         
           It
           's
           the
           Third
           that
           I
           am
           at
           this
           time
           to
           enter
           upon
           ;
           
             viz.
             ▪
          
        
         
           The
           Order
           observed
           in
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           Where
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Method
           laid
           down
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           these
           Lectures
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           I
           am
           to
           consider
           the
           several
           ways
           by
           which
           God
           did
           reveal
           himself
           
             in
             time
             past
             by
             the
             Prophets
          
           ;
           as
           by
           Inspirations
           ,
           Visions
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           am
           to
           shew
           the
           difference
           between
           Divine
           Inspirations
           on
           one
           hand
           ,
           and
           Diabolical
           Illusions
           ,
           Natural
           Impressions
           ,
           and
           Delusory
           Imaginations
           on
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           am
           to
           consider
           the
           several
           Periods
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           before
           the
           Law
           ,
           under
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           and
           the
           gradual
           Progress
           of
           it
           from
           first
           to
           last
           ,
           from
           the
           lower
           to
           the
           higher
           degree
           ,
           and
           the
           perpetual
           respect
           one
           had
           to
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           I
           am
           to
           shew
           why
           God
           did
           thus
           gradually
           ,
           and
           at
           
             sundry
             times
          
           ,
           proceed
           in
           revealing
           his
           Will
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           not
           at
           first
           as
           fully
           and
           perfectly
           as
           
             by
             his
             Son.
          
           
        
         
           1.
           
           I
           am
           to
           consider
           the
           several
           Ways
           by
           which
           God
           did
           reveal
           himself
           in
           time
           past
           by
           the
           Prophets
           .
        
         
           When
           we
           are
           treating
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           that
           it
           is
           like
           Light
           ,
           to
           be
           
           known
           by
           it self
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           best
           way
           therefore
           is
           to
           take
           the
           Scripture
           it self
           for
           our
           Guide
           in
           the
           matters
           belonging
           thereunto
           ;
           without
           which
           ,
           how
           Learnedly
           soever
           men
           may
           discourse
           upon
           this
           Argument
           ,
           't
           is
           to
           as
           little
           purpose
           as
           if
           we
           should
           go
           about
           to
           compile
           a
           History
           of
           the
           Invisible
           World
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           the
           Transactions
           in
           it
           from
           time
           to
           time
           ,
           which
           we
           have
           no
           Conversation
           nor
           Acquaintance
           with
           .
        
         
           We
           see
           how
           Vain
           (
           though
           Ingenious
           )
           the
           Attempts
           of
           many
           Inquisitive
           Persons
           have
           been
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Improvements
           by
           Telescopes
           ,
           &c.
           for
           their
           assistance
           ,
           to
           give
           us
           any
           tolerable
           Account
           of
           the
           Solar
           and
           Lunary
           Worlds
           ;
           and
           after
           much
           and
           indefatigable
           Pains
           ,
           they
           are
           not
           able
           to
           say
           this
           is
           Land
           ,
           and
           that
           Water
           ;
           or
           whether
           neither
           of
           the
           two
           .
        
         
           And
           we
           talk
           as
           much
           at
           random
           ,
           when
           we
           leave
           the
           beaten
           Track
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           think
           to
           find
           out
           by
           our
           own
           Reason
           what
           we
           must
           understand
           by
           Revelation
           alone
           .
           We
           can
           only
           think
           and
           discourse
           of
           such
           Subjects
           ,
           as
           we
           keep
           that
           Clue
           in
           our
           hand
           ;
           and
           therefore
           laying
           aside
           all
           manner
           of
           Conjectures
           ,
           and
           the
           Speculations
           of
           the
           Jewish
           or
           
             Christian
             Rabbies
          
           upon
           the
           Argument
           in
           hand
           ,
           I
           shall
           
           solely
           keep
           my self
           to
           the
           Rule
           of
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           All
           I
           pretend
           ,
           is
           to
           compare
           Scripture
           with
           it self
           ,
           and
           to
           try
           if
           by
           putting
           these
           things
           together
           ,
           and
           laying
           them
           in
           order
           ,
           I
           can
           contribute
           any
           thing
           to
           the
           Explication
           of
           so
           obscure
           and
           intricate
           an
           Argument
           .
        
         
           There
           are
           several
           Terms
           made
           use
           of
           in
           Scripture
           with
           reference
           to
           this
           Subject
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           signification
           of
           the
           way
           by
           which
           God
           did
           reveal
           and
           make
           himself
           known
           to
           Mankind
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           ,
           
             Inspiration
             ,
             Vision
             ,
             Dreams
          
           ,
           and
           Voices
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Inspiration
           .
           So
           Job
           [
           32.8
           .
           ]
           saith
           ,
           
             The
             inspiration
             of
             the
             Almighty
             gave
             them
          
           [
           men
           ]
           understanding
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           Scripture
           is
           said
           to
           have
           been
           given
           
             by
             Inspiration
             of
             God
          
           ,
           1
           Tim.
           3.16
           .
        
         
           Now
           it
           seems
           to
           be
           called
           Inspiration
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           insensibly
           communicated
           and
           breathed
           as
           it
           were
           into
           the
           Soul
           ,
           as
           the
           Soul
           was
           into
           the
           Body
           ;
           to
           which
           the
           Phrase
           in
           Job
           has
           a
           plain
           reference
           ,
           where
           the
           same
           word
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           is
           used
           ,
           which
           is
           used
           Gen.
           2.7
           .
           when
           God
           is
           said
           to
           
             breathe
             into
             Adam
             the
             breath
             of
             life
          
           :
           And
           by
           which
           term
           it
           is
           properly
           and
           evidently
           distinguished
           from
           all
           the
           other
           Species
           of
           Divine
           Communications
           .
           
           For
           all
           the
           rest
           are
           sensible
           ways
           ,
           whether
           by
           Representation
           ,
           as
           Visions
           or
           Dreams
           ;
           or
           by
           Action
           ,
           as
           Voices
           ;
           but
           this
           comes
           as
           Life
           came
           into
           the
           Body
           ,
           or
           Air
           comes
           into
           the
           Lungs
           ,
           without
           any
           such
           kind
           of
           Perception
           or
           Sensation
           .
        
         
           Now
           there
           is
           a
           Threefold
           Inspiration
           ;
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           which
           is
           purely
           Natural
           :
           So
           't
           is
           said
           of
           God
           ,
           
             who
             hath
             put
             wisdom
             into
             the
             inward
             parts
             ,
          
           Job
           38.16
           .
           And
           he
           is
           said
           to
           
             instruct
             the
             plowman
             to
             discretion
          
           ,
           Isa.
           28.26
           .
           This
           is
           no
           other
           than
           a
           Disposition
           infused
           ,
           and
           connatural
           with
           the
           Soul
           it self
           ;
           and
           that
           afterward
           in
           process
           of
           time
           ripens
           ,
           and
           comes
           to
           be
           a
           Power
           or
           Principle
           ,
           and
           even
           a
           Habit
           ,
           by
           action
           and
           observation
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           There
           is
           a
           Providential
           Inspiration
           ;
           when
           God
           by
           some
           After-Act
           of
           his
           Providence
           ,
           and
           for
           some
           special
           Service
           ,
           doth
           either
           give
           Life
           to
           such
           a
           Natural
           Power
           and
           Inherent
           Disposition
           ,
           or
           else
           infuses
           a
           new
           Disposition
           or
           Power
           into
           the
           Soul.
           This
           seems
           to
           have
           been
           the
           Case
           of
           Bezaleel
           ,
           and
           Aboliab
           ,
           and
           others
           ,
           into
           whom
           God
           is
           said
           to
           have
           
             put
             wisdom
             and
             understanding
          
           ,
           to
           know
           how
           to
           work
           all
           manner
           of
           Work
           ;
           and
           yet
           of
           the
           same
           persons
           't
           is
           said
           ,
           whose
           
             heart
             stirred
             them
             up
          
           ,
           Exod.
           32.1
           ,
           2.
           
           That
           is
           ,
           God
           did
           chuse
           them
           
           out
           ,
           as
           being
           of
           themselves
           well
           disposed
           and
           fitted
           for
           that
           Employment
           ,
           and
           after
           an
           Extraordinary
           Manner
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           Supernatural
           Assistance
           qualified
           them
           further
           for
           it
           .
           And
           from
           the
           Consideration
           of
           the
           difference
           between
           Men
           and
           Men
           ,
           and
           indeed
           between
           a
           Man
           and
           himself
           ,
           when
           from
           some
           imperceptible
           beginning
           he
           comes
           to
           advance
           beyond
           others
           ,
           and
           even
           beyond
           himself
           in
           Knowledge
           ,
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           Success
           ,
           the
           World
           has
           been
           inclin'd
           to
           think
           there
           was
           somewhat
           of
           a
           peculiar
           Inspiration
           in
           it
           .
           Whence
           that
           Saying
           of
           the
           Heathen
           Orator
           ,
           
           
             Nemo
             Vir
             Magnus
             sine
             afflatu
             Divino
             unquàm
             fuit
          
           :
           No
           one
           ever
           came
           to
           be
           a
           Great
           Man
           ,
           or
           attained
           to
           any
           extraordinary
           Eminence
           in
           Knowledge
           or
           Skill
           ,
           but
           by
           a
           Divine
           Illumination
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           There
           is
           an
           Inspiration
           purely
           Supernatural
           ;
           that
           is
           immediately
           ,
           wholly
           ,
           and
           only
           from
           God.
           Of
           this
           sort
           is
           that
           Divine
           Influx
           commonly
           known
           by
           the
           term
           of
           Regeneration
           ,
           when
           God
           so
           changes
           the
           Heart
           by
           the
           Powerful
           Operation
           of
           his
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           that
           it
           's
           said
           to
           be
           New
           ,
           Ezek.
           36.26
           .
        
         
           But
           that
           which
           is
           more
           to
           our
           purpose
           ,
           is
           when
           God
           in
           
           Daniel's
           Phrase
           ,
           chap.
           2.22
           .
           
             revealeth
             the
             deep
             and
             secret
             things
             ,
          
           and
           doth
           communicate
           his
           Will
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           Person
           conceives
           ,
           and
           thinks
           
           and
           acts
           ,
           as
           the
           Divine
           Power
           would
           have
           him
           conceive
           ,
           think
           ,
           and
           act
           .
        
         
           It
           being
           here
           ,
           as
           with
           the
           Soul
           in
           the
           Body
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Principle
           of
           all
           Vital
           Motion
           ;
           for
           though
           the
           Body
           be
           in
           its
           contrivance
           admirably
           adapted
           for
           all
           Offices
           to
           which
           the
           Organs
           of
           it
           are
           to
           serve
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           a
           Soul
           in
           it
           ;
           yet
           it
           is
           the
           Soul
           that
           must
           make
           the
           Eye
           to
           see
           ,
           and
           the
           Foot
           to
           move
           ,
           and
           the
           Tongue
           to
           speak
           ,
           or
           else
           there
           will
           be
           no
           Sight
           ,
           Motion
           ,
           nor
           Speech
           .
        
         
           So
           it
           is
           here
           in
           Divine
           Inspiration
           of
           this
           sort
           ,
           where
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           is
           to
           the
           Soul
           ,
           what
           the
           Soul
           is
           to
           the
           Body
           ,
           and
           must
           make
           all
           those
           Impressions
           upon
           it
           ,
           must
           infuse
           the
           Power
           of
           conceiving
           and
           thinking
           ,
           or
           rather
           those
           Conceptions
           and
           Thoughts
           ,
           those
           Notions
           and
           Ideas
           of
           Things
           ,
           nay
           ,
           that
           Matter
           .
           So
           that
           the
           Person
           Inspired
           doth
           not
           think
           his
           own
           Thoughts
           ,
           nor
           order
           his
           own
           Conceptions
           ,
           nor
           form
           his
           own
           Notions
           ,
           nor
           use
           his
           own
           Words
           (
           where
           these
           are
           Inspired
           )
           as
           far
           as
           he
           is
           Inspired
           .
           Not
           that
           his
           Reason
           is
           not
           in
           operation
           ,
           (
           as
           it
           is
           in
           Raptures
           ,
           Visions
           ,
           and
           Dreams
           ,
           where
           the
           Rational
           Powers
           are
           bound
           up
           as
           it
           were
           by
           Sleep
           for
           the
           present
           )
           ,
           but
           that
           these
           Infusions
           proceeding
           not
           from
           any
           Reasoning
           in
           themselves
           ,
           but
           from
           an
           External
           and
           Supernatural
           
           Cause
           ,
           it
           is
           by
           that
           Cause
           determined
           to
           the
           Matter
           that
           is
           Inspired
           .
        
         
           As
           a
           Prompter
           doth
           suggest
           the
           Matter
           ,
           or
           dictate
           the
           Words
           to
           the
           Interpreter
           he
           makes
           use
           of
           ;
           which
           are
           not
           to
           be
           esteemed
           the
           Words
           or
           Thoughts
           of
           the
           Interpreter
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           Suggester
           .
           As
           our
           Saviour
           saith
           to
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           
             When
             they
             deliver
             you
             up
             ,
             take
             no
             thought
             how
             or
             what
             ye
             shall
             speak
             ;
             for
             it
             shall
             be
             given
             you
             in
             that
             same
             hour
             what
             ye
             shall
             speak
             :
             For
             it
             is
             not
             ye
             that
             speak
             ,
             but
             the
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Father
             which
             speaketh
             in
             you
             .
          
           Matth.
           10.19
           ,
           10.
           
        
         
           Now
           as
           it
           was
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           speaking
           in
           them
           ,
           that
           did
           in
           that
           case
           dictate
           and
           guide
           them
           in
           all
           they
           said
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           spake
           with
           such
           Authority
           and
           Ability
           ,
           such
           Wisdom
           and
           Elocution
           ,
           without
           any
           Premeditation
           ,
           as
           all
           their
           Adversaries
           were
           not
           able
           to
           
             gainsay
             or
             resist
             ,
             Luke
          
           21.15
           .
           ;
           (
           as
           we
           find
           in
           the
           Instance
           of
           St.
           Stephen
           ,
           Acts
           6.10
           .
           )
        
         
           So
           it
           was
           after
           the
           same
           manner
           that
           the
           Divine
           Spirit
           did
           breathe
           upon
           the
           mind
           (
           as
           our
           Saviour
           on
           the
           Apostles
           in
           an
           external
           way
           ,
           the
           signification
           of
           the
           internal
           ,
           John
           20.22
           .
           )
           in
           a
           way
           imperceptible
           ;
           and
           did
           so
           insinuate
           it self
           ,
           that
           it
           became
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           one
           Spirit
           with
           theirs
           ,
           and
           they
           thought
           as
           the
           Spirit
           dispos'd
           them
           to
           think
           ,
           as
           
           well
           as
           spake
           as
           
             the
             Spirit
             gave
             them
             utterance
          
           .
           Acts
           2.4
           .
           This
           was
           thinking
           and
           speaking
           by
           Inspiration
           :
           
           And
           this
           being
           the
           most
           eminent
           way
           of
           God's
           communicating
           his
           Will
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           
           is
           call'd
           Revelation
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           especially
           ,
           it
           being
           immediate
           ,
           
           without
           the
           intervention
           of
           Visions
           ,
           or
           Extasies
           ,
           or
           Voices
           ,
           
           or
           any
           other
           means
           than
           it self
           ;
           and
           this
           was
           the
           way
           by
           which
           the
           Apostles
           received
           their
           Revelation
           ,
           
           called
           a
           Revealing
           by
           
             the
             Spirit
          
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Another
           way
           by
           which
           God
           revealed
           himself
           ,
           was
           Vision
           ,
           or
           Sight
           .
           This
           was
           so
           common
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           ways
           of
           Revelation
           are
           sometimes
           set
           forth
           by
           this
           term
           .
        
         
           A
           Vision
           is
           the
           Representation
           of
           an
           Object
           ,
           as
           in
           a
           Glass
           which
           places
           the
           Visage
           before
           us
           ;
           and
           by
           which
           we
           have
           as
           clear
           a
           view
           of
           the
           things
           thus
           represented
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           the
           things
           themselves
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           Images
           or
           appearances
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           though
           the
           external
           senses
           are
           herein
           bound
           up
           ,
           and
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           laid
           asleep
           in
           a
           Trance
           ;
           yet
           the
           things
           presented
           at
           that
           time
           to
           the
           imagination
           ,
           and
           intended
           as
           a
           Revelation
           of
           something
           to
           happen
           or
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           are
           as
           plain
           ,
           and
           evident
           ,
           as
           sensible
           Objects
           that
           lie
           open
           to
           the
           sense
           .
           Thus
           Balaam
           describes
           it
           
           as
           to
           himself
           ,
           
             who
             saw
             the
             vision
             of
             the
             Almighty
             ,
             falling
             into
             a
             trance
             ,
             but
             having
             his
             eyes
             open
             ,
          
           Numb
           .
           24.16
           .
           that
           is
           ,
           though
           he
           had
           not
           the
           exercise
           of
           his
           outward
           senses
           ;
           and
           so
           his
           eyes
           were
           of
           no
           more
           use
           to
           him
           when
           open
           than
           if
           they
           were
           shut
           ,
           yet
           he
           evidently
           saw
           whatever
           was
           presented
           to
           his
           mind
           .
           
           Thus
           St.
           Paul
           as
           clearly
           saw
           our
           Saviour
           by
           a
           Representation
           or
           Vision
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           in
           a
           Trance
           in
           the
           Temple
           ,
           
           as
           he
           did
           when
           he
           actually
           and
           visibly
           appear'd
           to
           him
           at
           Mid-day
           on
           the
           way
           to
           Damascus
           .
           
        
         
           In
           this
           case
           things
           imaginary
           are
           as
           if
           they
           were
           real
           ,
           remote
           as
           if
           they
           were
           near
           ,
           future
           as
           if
           present
           ,
           and
           secret
           as
           if
           open
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           what
           sight
           ,
           presence
           ,
           and
           knowledge
           is
           to
           us
           in
           things
           sensible
           when
           we
           are
           awake
           ,
           and
           have
           the
           full
           exercise
           of
           our
           outward
           senses
           ;
           that
           is
           Vision
           to
           the
           Visionaries
           ,
           to
           such
           as
           are
           in
           an
           Extasy
           .
        
         
           This
           will
           be
           farther
           illustrated
           by
           a
           reflection
           upon
           these
           several
           particulars
           ;
           to
           which
           (
           if
           I
           mistake
           not
           )
           all
           the
           instances
           of
           this
           kind
           may
           be
           reduced
           .
        
         
           As
        
         
           1.
           
           In
           Vision
           things
           imaginary
           and
           internal
           are
           represented
           as
           evidently
           as
           if
           they
           were
           real
           and
           external
           .
           Thus
           much
           is
           intimated
           in
           the
           case
           of
           St.
           Peter
           ;
           
           of
           
           whom
           't
           is
           said
           ,
           when
           the
           Angel
           smote
           him
           ,
           and
           the
           chains
           fell
           off
           from
           his
           hands
           ;
           
             he
             wist
             not
             that
             it
             was
             true
             which
             was
             done
             by
             the
             angel
             ,
             but
             thought
             be
             saw
             a
             vision
             .
          
           From
           whence
           it
           follows
           ,
           that
           all
           this
           (
           which
           he
           found
           to
           be
           real
           when
           he
           came
           to
           himself
           )
           might
           have
           been
           represented
           by
           way
           of
           Vision
           ;
           and
           things
           thereby
           represented
           are
           as
           evidently
           proposed
           to
           the
           Mind
           ,
           as
           outward
           Objects
           can
           be
           to
           the
           Eye
           .
           Thus
           it
           was
           with
           the
           same
           Apostle
           when
           he
           fell
           into
           a
           Trance
           ,
           and
           
             saw
             heaven
             opened
             ,
             and
             a
             certain
             vessel
             descending
             unto
             him
             ,
             as
             it
             had
             been
             a
             great
             sheet
             ,
             knit
             at
             the
             four
             corners
             ,
             and
             let
             down
             to
             the
             earth
             ;
             wherein
             were
             all
             manner
             of
             four-footed
             beasts
             of
             the
             earth
             ,
          
           &c.
           Acts
           10.10
           ,
           &c.
           
           Of
           this
           kind
           of
           Vision
           ,
           
           were
           
           Jeremiah's
           wearing
           a
           linnen
           Girdle
           ,
           and
           his
           hiding
           it
           afterwards
           in
           a
           hole
           by
           Euphrates
           ;
           and
           his
           taking
           a
           cup
           of
           fury
           at
           the
           Lord's
           hand
           ,
           and
           causing
           all
           Nations
           to
           drink
           of
           it
           .
           Of
           the
           same
           kind
           were
           
           Ezekiel's
           eating
           of
           the
           Roll
           ,
           
           his
           typical
           laying
           Siege
           to
           Jerusalem
           ,
           and
           an
           hundred
           things
           more
           in
           that
           and
           other
           Prophetical
           Books
           .
        
         
           In
           which
           cases
           ,
           when
           the
           things
           represented
           are
           wholly
           imaginary
           ,
           and
           never
           existent
           ,
           what
           is
           in
           Phrase
           positively
           said
           of
           them
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           supplied
           with
           
             as
             it
             were
          
           ;
           as
           in
           the
           aforesaid
           Vision
           of
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           said
           
             Peter
             saw
             heaven
             opened
             ,
             
             and
             a
             sheet
             descending
             ,
          
           &c.
           it
           being
           not
           a
           thing
           really
           done
           ,
           but
           only
           by
           Representation
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           understood
           ,
           That
           he
           ,
           
             as
             it
             were
          
           ,
           saw
           Heaven
           opened
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           In
           Vision
           things
           remote
           are
           represented
           as
           present
           ,
           and
           the
           Visionary
           has
           all
           the
           advantage
           of
           sight
           in
           things
           presented
           to
           the
           Eye
           without
           the
           use
           of
           sight
           ,
           
           or
           change
           of
           place
           .
           So
           Ezekiel
           ,
           when
           a
           Captive
           in
           Chald●ea
           ,
           had
           the
           state
           of
           Jerusalem
           (
           as
           it
           was
           then
           in
           fact
           )
           set
           before
           him
           ;
           whither
           he
           was
           brought
           
             in
             the
             visions
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           as
           evidently
           saw
           all
           things
           that
           were
           at
           that
           time
           transacted
           in
           the
           Temple
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           had
           been
           actually
           there
           :
           And
           even
           the
           secret
           practices
           of
           the
           Elders
           and
           Priests
           in
           the
           most
           retired
           corners
           were
           at
           that
           distance
           exactly
           represented
           to
           him
           ;
           so
           that
           if
           he
           had
           been
           personally
           with
           them
           ,
           they
           had
           not
           been
           more
           visible
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           There
           he
           beheld
           the
           Idols
           pourtrayed
           on
           the
           wall
           ;
           and
           the
           Seventy
           Men
           ,
           or
           Sanhedrim
           ,
           and
           Jaazaniah
           their
           Head
           ,
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           them
           ,
           with
           every
           Man
           his
           Censer
           in
           his
           hand
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           particulars
           as
           there
           described
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           In
           Vision
           ,
           things
           future
           are
           as
           evidently
           represented
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           present
           .
           Thus
           Saul
           when
           deprived
           of
           his
           Sight
           ,
           saw
           in
           a
           Vision
           Ananias
           coming
           in
           ,
           and
           by
           Imposition
           of
           hands
           restoring
           
           him
           to
           it
           ;
           and
           by
           which
           means
           ,
           
           as
           described
           to
           him
           before-hand
           ,
           he
           as
           perfectly
           knew
           Ananias
           ,
           when
           he
           came
           to
           see
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           had
           afore
           time
           been
           conversant
           with
           him
           .
           From
           whence
           we
           may
           observe
           :
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           Vision
           is
           Supernatural
           ;
           so
           in
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           Ezekiel
           saith
           ,
           
           
             The
             hand
             of
             the
             Lord
             was
             upon
             me
             .
          
           And
           in
           the
           New
           ,
           St.
           John
           saith
           ,
           He
           was
           
             in
             the
             Spirit
          
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           That
           it
           is
           Internal
           ;
           when
           the
           Soul
           ,
           tho'
           in
           the
           Body
           ,
           yet
           for
           the
           present
           is
           as
           out
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           to
           corporeal
           Sensations
           ,
           and
           sees
           ,
           perceives
           ,
           and
           understands
           nothing
           by
           the
           external
           organs
           .
           Thus
           it
           was
           with
           St.
           Paul
           in
           his
           wonderful
           Rapture
           ,
           when
           his
           Soul
           was
           in
           such
           an
           abstracted
           and
           elevated
           state
           ,
           that
           he
           himself
           could
           not
           tell
           ,
           
           whether
           he
           was
           
             in
             the
             body
             or
             out
             of
             the
             body
             .
          
        
         
           So
           that
           when
           the
           Name
           of
           Vision
           is
           given
           in
           Scripture
           to
           this
           way
           of
           Divine
           Communication
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           from
           any
           use
           made
           of
           corporeal
           sight
           ,
           or
           that
           it
           is
           entertain'd
           with
           any
           external
           objects
           ;
           but
           because
           of
           the
           clearness
           and
           evidence
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           a
           conformity
           it
           therein
           bears
           to
           outward
           and
           corporeal
           Sense
           .
        
         
           By
           which
           it
           is
           distinguished
           from
           external
           Representations
           ,
           (
           which
           were
           also
           very
           frequent
           
           in
           those
           times
           of
           Revelation
           )
           of
           which
           there
           were
           two
           sorts
           more
           especially
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           which
           the
           Jews
           call
           the
           Shechinah
           ,
           which
           was
           God's
           manifestation
           of
           himself
           in
           a
           visible
           Glory
           and
           Majesty
           ,
           without
           any
           form
           ,
           as
           he
           did
           to
           the
           Patriarchs
           ;
           and
           afterwards
           it
           was
           the
           token
           of
           his
           special
           residence
           among
           his
           people
           the
           Jews
           ,
           
           called
           therefore
           his
           
             dwelling
             between
             the
             cherubins
          
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Another
           way
           of
           appearance
           was
           by
           Angels
           ,
           when
           they
           took
           upon
           them
           a
           humane
           form
           ,
           by
           way
           of
           condescension
           to
           mankind
           ,
           and
           for
           a
           freer
           conversation
           with
           them
           ;
           and
           from
           which
           form
           and
           umbrage
           ,
           the
           Scripture
           terms
           them
           Men
           :
           
           but
           ,
           besides
           what
           the
           Sequel
           of
           Scripture
           and
           common
           Sense
           shews
           ,
           the
           Apostle
           hath
           taught
           us
           that
           they
           were
           Divine
           Messengers
           sent
           immediately
           from
           God
           ,
           upon
           especial
           occasions
           and
           emergencies
           .
           
           But
           the
           Schechinah
           ,
           called
           
             The
             Glory
             of
             the
             Lord
          
           ,
           was
           a
           Manifestation
           of
           the
           Divine
           Presence
           ,
           and
           not
           a
           Revelation
           ;
           and
           the
           Angels
           were
           only
           Messengers
           of
           a
           Revelation
           :
           And
           so
           neither
           of
           them
           belong
           properly
           to
           this
           place
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Another
           way
           of
           Revelation
           was
           by
           Dreams
           .
           There
           is
           so
           far
           an
           agreement
           between
           Vision
           and
           Dreams
           ,
           that
           in
           both
           the
           external
           Senses
           
           were
           bound
           up
           ,
           so
           that
           a
           Vision
           may
           be
           called
           a
           supernatural
           Dream
           ,
           and
           a
           Dream
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           a
           natural
           Vision
           ;
           and
           so
           in
           Job
           they
           seem
           to
           be
           taken
           for
           one
           and
           the
           same
           .
           
           
             God
             speaketh
             in
             a
             dream
             ,
             in
             a
             vision
             of
             the
             night
             ,
             when
             deep
             sleep
             falleth
             upon
             men
             ,
             in
             slumbrings
             upon
             the
             bed
             .
          
           But
           the
           Scripture
           otherwise
           usually
           speaks
           of
           them
           as
           two
           distinct
           ways
           of
           Revelation
           :
           So
           Num.
           12.6
           .
           
             If
             there
             be
             a
             prophet
             among
             you
             ,
             I
             the
             Lord
             will
             make
             my self
             known
             to
             him
             in
             a
             vision
             ,
             and
             will
             speak
             unto
             him
             in
             a
             dream
             .
          
           So
           Joel
           2.28
           .
           And
           the
           difference
           between
           them
           seems
           to
           be
           ,
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           Vision
           properly
           speaking
           was
           generally
           ,
           if
           not
           always
           ,
           when
           the
           Visionary
           was
           awake
           ,
           whether
           by
           night
           or
           day
           ;
           but
           Dreams
           (
           as
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           shews
           )
           were
           ,
           when
           the
           external
           Senses
           were
           asleep
           ;
           and
           Reason
           ,
           as
           to
           its
           present
           operation
           ,
           was
           bound
           up
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           In
           a
           Vision
           the
           whole
           was
           supernatural
           ,
           without
           any
           humane
           predisposition
           or
           concurrence
           ,
           as
           the
           Scripture-phrase
           doth
           shew
           ,
           
           (
           as
           St.
           John
           was
           said
           to
           be
           
             carried
             in
             the
             spirit
             into
             the
             wilderness
             ,
          
           and
           a
           Trance
           is
           said
           
             to
             fall
             upon
          
           St.
           Peter
           :
           )
           But
           to
           dream
           ,
           is
           a
           natural
           Motion
           of
           the
           Spirits
           ,
           and
           Disposition
           of
           Body
           ,
           which
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           an
           Angel
           (
           the
           usual
           Minister
           
           employ'd
           in
           such
           conveyances
           )
           made
           use
           of
           ;
           both
           as
           the
           Mind
           was
           then
           in
           a
           state
           of
           repose
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Body
           relaxed
           from
           the
           business
           of
           the
           day
           ;
           and
           also
           as
           what
           was
           suggested
           in
           that
           way
           ,
           made
           a
           stronger
           impression
           upon
           the
           Mind
           ,
           when
           not
           diverted
           by
           outward
           objects
           and
           occasions
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           was
           a
           cessation
           from
           all
           external
           and
           sensible
           operations
           .
           For
           it
           seemed
           necessary
           (
           naturally
           speaking
           )
           that
           in
           all
           Revelations
           there
           should
           be
           a
           sedate
           disposition
           of
           Mind
           ,
           and
           an
           abstraction
           from
           all
           other
           Conceptions
           ;
           and
           therefore
           it
           was
           either
           sound
           so
           ,
           as
           in
           Dreams
           ,
           or
           made
           so
           by
           some
           Angelical
           and
           Divine
           Operation
           ,
           as
           in
           a
           Vision
           or
           Trance
           .
           In
           both
           the
           Senses
           were
           therefore
           bound
           up
           ;
           but
           in
           a
           Vision
           ,
           by
           a
           supernatural
           Agency
           ;
           in
           Sleep
           or
           Dreams
           ,
           by
           the
           meer
           effect
           of
           Nature
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           it
           be
           asked
           ,
           How
           then
           is
           there
           a
           Revelation
           by
           Dream
           ,
           when
           Revelation
           is
           supernatural
           ,
           and
           a
           Dream
           natural
           ?
        
         
           I
           answer
           ;
           Though
           it
           be
           as
           natural
           to
           dream
           as
           to
           sleep
           ,
           and
           a
           Dream
           is
           a
           Consequent
           ,
           if
           not
           a
           constant
           Concomitant
           of
           Sleep
           ;
           yet
           in
           this
           case
           (
           which
           we
           are
           speaking
           of
           )
           the
           Revelation
           or
           Dream
           was
           supernatural
           .
           As
           to
           think
           or
           speak
           is
           natural
           to
           man
           ;
           but
           so
           to
           think
           or
           
           speak
           as
           is
           above
           the
           capacity
           of
           the
           Agent
           ,
           and
           what
           he
           of
           himself
           could
           never
           have
           thought
           or
           spoken
           ,
           shews
           that
           he
           is
           not
           so
           much
           an
           Agent
           as
           a
           Recipient
           ,
           and
           the
           Instrument
           made
           use
           of
           in
           the
           conveyance
           .
           Thus
           it
           was
           no
           more
           natural
           for
           Balaam
           several
           Ages
           before
           to
           foretel
           
             what
             the
             children
             of
             Israel
             should
             do
             to
             the
             Moabites
             in
             the
             latter
             days
             ,
          
           
           than
           it
           was
           for
           his
           Ass
           to
           speak
           .
        
         
           So
           to
           dream
           is
           natural
           ,
           but
           to
           dream
           of
           such
           things
           then
           in
           doing
           ,
           or
           of
           such
           things
           to
           come
           as
           are
           altogether
           independent
           on
           the
           Body
           ,
           nor
           by
           any
           methods
           of
           Nature
           or
           presumptive
           Art
           to
           be
           known
           or
           foreseen
           ,
           is
           supernatural
           .
           Thus
           to
           dream
           was
           natural
           to
           Pharaoh
           ,
           as
           to
           others
           ;
           and
           his
           Dream
           of
           the
           Seven
           fat
           and
           lean
           Kine
           ,
           might
           have
           pass'd
           for
           the
           fruit
           of
           a
           nocturnal
           Imagination
           ;
           but
           by
           a
           Dream
           to
           be
           made
           understand
           ,
           that
           there
           should
           be
           successively
           Seven
           years
           of
           great
           Plenty
           ,
           and
           then
           Seven
           years
           of
           Famine
           ,
           
           could
           proceed
           only
           from
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           will
           further
           appear
           in
           the
           process
           of
           this
           Discourse
           ,
           when
           I
           am
           to
           consider
           the
           difference
           between
           what
           is
           Natural
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           Divine
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
         
           4.
           
           Another
           sort
           of
           Revelation
           was
           by
           Voice
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           way
           of
           immediate
           communication
           ,
           or
           occasional
           .
           The
           former
           of
           these
           was
           vouchsafed
           to
           Abraham
           ,
           and
           above
           all
           to
           Moses
           ;
           
           to
           whom
           God
           is
           said
           to
           have
           spoke
           
             face
             to
             face
             ,
             as
             a
             man
             speaketh
             unto
             his
             friend
             .
          
        
         
           By
           which
           He
           is
           distinguished
           from
           all
           other
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           preferr'd
           above
           them
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           recorded
           ,
           Numb
           .
           12.6
           ,
           7
           ,
           8.
           
           
             If
             there
             be
             a
             prophet
             among
             you
             ,
             I
             the
             Lord
             will
             make
             my self
             known
             unto
             him
             in
             a
             vision
             ,
             and
             will
             speak
             unto
             him
             in
             a
             dream
             .
             My
             servant
             Moses
             is
             not
             so
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           
             With
             him
             will
             I
             speak
             mouth
             to
             mouth
             ,
             even
             apparently
             ,
             and
             not
             in
             dark
             speeches
             ,
             and
             the
             similitude
             of
             the
             Lord
             shall
             he
             behold
             .
          
        
         
           That
           Revelation
           to
           him
           was
           after
           the
           way
           of
           communication
           ,
           open
           and
           clear
           ,
           as
           a
           Friend
           converses
           with
           a
           Friend
           ;
           and
           whenever
           he
           had
           occasion
           to
           know
           the
           mind
           of
           God
           ,
           he
           went
           to
           the
           place
           where
           he
           might
           be
           sure
           to
           meet
           him
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           into
           the
           Tabernacle
           ,
           and
           there
           he
           
             heard
             the
             voice
             of
             one
             speaking
             unto
             him
             from
             between
             the
             two
             cherubims
             ,
          
           Numb
           .
           7.89
           .
        
         
           Next
           to
           this
           ,
           was
           the
           continuance
           of
           that
           Oracle
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           to
           which
           the
           High-Priest
           repair'd
           in
           any
           difficulties
           ;
           but
           how
           far
           the
           Divinity
           did
           communicate
           it self
           in
           that
           
           way
           ,
           the
           Scripture
           is
           not
           positive
           .
           We
           find
           that
           it
           was
           with-held
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Saul
           ;
           for
           when
           he
           enquired
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           't
           is
           said
           ,
           
             The
             Lord
             answer'd
             him
             not
             ,
             neither
             by
             dreams
             ,
          
           
           
             nor
             by
             Urim
             ,
             nor
             by
             prophets
             ,
          
           nor
           by
           any
           other
           way
           .
        
         
           There
           was
           another
           sort
           of
           Voice
           ,
           which
           was
           altogether
           occasional
           ,
           
           and
           proceeded
           from
           the
           
             magnificent
             Glory
          
           ,
           in
           St.
           
           Peter's
           Phrase
           ;
           and
           was
           for
           some
           particular
           direction
           ,
           as
           to
           Hagar
           ,
           to
           Abraham
           ,
           &c.
           or
           for
           testimony
           and
           confirmation
           ,
           as
           was
           that
           the
           Apostle
           speaks
           of
           ,
           when
           it
           was
           audibly
           proclaim'd
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           
             This
             is
             my
             beloved
             Son
             in
             whom
             I
             am
             well-pleased
             .
          
        
         
           Thus
           far
           I
           have
           treated
           of
           the
           several
           ways
           of
           Revelation
           recorded
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           in
           which
           God
           spake
           
             in
             time
             past
             by
             the
             prophets
             .
          
           There
           was
           one
           more
           which
           the
           Jews
           of
           latter
           Ages
           speak
           of
           ,
           and
           would
           have
           continued
           ,
           after
           the
           other
           were
           discontinued
           ,
           called
           by
           them
           the
           
             Bath
             Col
          
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Low
             Voice
          
           ;
           and
           which
           after
           a
           sort
           they
           conceive
           was
           to
           supply
           the
           deficiency
           of
           the
           other
           ;
           but
           that
           is
           beside
           my
           present
           purpose
           ,
           having
           confined
           my self
           to
           Scripture
           alone
           .
        
         
           Where
           also
           we
           find
           nothing
           observ'd
           or
           allow'd
           of
           another
           way
           ,
           which
           the
           Heathenish
           World
           abounded
           in
           ,
           and
           by
           which
           they
           thought
           the
           success
           and
           event
           of
           any
           design
           they
           had
           in
           hand
           
           might
           be
           learned
           ,
           and
           that
           was
           Divination
           .
           When
           by
           the
           Air
           or
           Earth
           ,
           the
           flight
           or
           feeding
           of
           Birds
           ,
           the
           Entrails
           of
           Beasts
           ,
           &c.
           they
           might
           judge
           of
           the
           way
           they
           were
           to
           take
           ,
           or
           the
           event
           of
           their
           proceedings
           ,
           
           as
           did
           the
           King
           of
           Babylon
           .
           A
           Pretence
           foolish
           enough
           ,
           and
           which
           we
           can
           make
           no
           better
           a
           use
           of
           ,
           than
           to
           observe
           how
           desirous
           the
           World
           has
           always
           been
           of
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           how
           sensible
           of
           the
           need
           of
           a
           further
           direction
           ,
           than
           what
           mere
           Nature
           or
           Reason
           did
           dictate
           ;
           and
           withal
           ,
           how
           foolish
           Mankind
           was
           under
           the
           want
           of
           it
           .
           For
           how
           can
           it
           be
           suppos'd
           that
           Futurities
           should
           be
           dependent
           upon
           such
           sorry
           Accidents
           ,
           or
           that
           the
           Divinity
           should
           thus
           reveal
           it self
           ?
           Therefore
           it
           is
           no
           wonder
           to
           find
           the
           true
           Revelation
           so
           silent
           as
           to
           these
           ludicrous
           matters
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           had
           there
           found
           such
           an
           Order
           of
           Men
           established
           by
           that
           ,
           as
           were
           the
           
             Augurs
             ,
             Haruspices
          
           ,
           and
           Extispices
           among
           the
           Heathens
           ,
           and
           such
           Rules
           as
           those
           had
           for
           to
           guide
           them
           in
           their
           observations
           in
           that
           sensless
           Art
           ;
           it
           would
           be
           a
           better
           Argument
           against
           the
           Authority
           of
           such
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           than
           ever
           yet
           has
           been
           or
           can
           be
           advanced
           against
           it
           by
           its
           greatest-Enemies
           .
           No!
           these
           are
           justly
           reckon'd
           among
           the
           Abominations
           of
           the
           Heathen
           ,
           and
           forbidden
           to
           the
           Jews
           ,
           viz.
           
             There
             shall
             
             not
             be
             found
             among
             you
             any
             one
             ,
          
           
           
             that
             useth
             divination
             ,
             or
             an
             observer
             of
             times
             ,
             or
             an
             inchanter
             ,
             or
             a
             charmer
             ,
             or
             a
             consulter
             with
             a
             familiar
             spirit
             ;
             for
             all
             that
             do
             these
             things
             ,
             are
             an
             abomination
             unto
             the
             Lord.
             
          
        
         
           But
           now
           granting
           that
           the
           Deity
           did
           make
           known
           and
           communicate
           his
           Will
           in
           the
           ways
           before
           spoken
           of
           ,
           of
           Inspiration
           ,
           Vision
           ,
           Dreams
           and
           Voices
           ;
           yet
           there
           remains
           a
           great
           difficulty
           behind
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           How
           we
           may
           be
           satisfied
           about
           the
           truth
           and
           certainty
           of
           such
           a
           Revelation
           ?
           And
           that
           because
           as
           there
           are
           Supernatural
           Visions
           ,
           Voices
           and
           Dreams
           ,
           so
           there
           are
           Natural
           ;
           as
           Divine
           ,
           so
           Humane
           ;
           as
           Real
           ,
           so
           Imaginary
           on
           one
           hand
           ,
           and
           Pretence
           on
           the
           other
           :
           And
           therefore
           how
           shall
           we
           distinguish
           the
           Supernatural
           ,
           from
           the
           Natural
           ;
           the
           Divine
           ,
           from
           the
           Humane
           ;
           the
           Real
           ,
           from
           the
           Imaginary
           and
           Pretended
           ?
           And
           how
           know
           we
           ,
           but
           that
           what
           we
           call
           a
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           Vision
           ,
           Dream
           and
           Voice
           ,
           may
           be
           Natural
           and
           Humane
           ,
           may
           be
           Imaginary
           ,
           Enthusiastical
           and
           Supposititious
           ?
           That
           persons
           may
           say
           as
           those
           ,
           Jer.
           27.25
           .
           
             I
             have
             dreamed
             ,
             I
             have
             dreamed
          
           ;
           and
           yet
           it
           be
           a
           
             Vision
             of
             their
             own
             heart
          
           .
           Or
           that
           there
           may
           
             be
             a
             lying
             spirit
             in
             the
             mouth
             of
             the
             prophets
             ,
          
           as
           Micaiah
           said
           of
           those
           in
           his
           time
           ,
           1
           Kings
           22.22
           .
        
         
         
           This
           brings
           to
           the
           second
           :
        
         
           2.
           
           To
           consider
           the
           difference
           between
           Divine
           Communications
           ,
           Natural
           Impressions
           ,
           and
           Diabolical
           Illusions
           ;
           whether
           by
           Inspiration
           or
           Vision
           ,
           Dreams
           or
           Voices
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           resolution
           of
           which
           Case
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           my
           design
           to
           discourse
           nicely
           ,
           after
           a
           philosophical
           manner
           ;
           as
           about
           the
           force
           of
           Imagination
           ,
           and
           the
           influence
           invisible
           Agents
           have
           upon
           Mankind
           ;
           for
           that
           is
           to
           go
           a
           great
           way
           about
           ,
           without
           coming
           nearer
           the
           Point
           than
           when
           we
           first
           set
           out
           ;
           and
           is
           not
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           without
           knowing
           what
           we
           pretend
           not
           to
           know
           .
        
         
           I
           don't
           question
           but
           that
           if
           we
           had
           an
           immediate
           Intuition
           into
           the
           state
           of
           the
           Mind
           ,
           or
           the
           operations
           upon
           it
           ,
           we
           might
           discern
           as
           plain
           a
           difference
           between
           Temper
           and
           Inspiration
           ,
           Imposture
           and
           Revelation
           ,
           as
           between
           day
           and
           night
           ;
           or
           as
           there
           is
           between
           an
           Angel
           of
           light
           ,
           and
           an
           Angel
           of
           darkness
           ,
           to
           such
           as
           are
           in
           the
           invisible
           state
           .
        
         
           But
           these
           things
           are
           alike
           unknown
           to
           us
           ;
           only
           this
           we
           may
           say
           ,
           That
           Divine
           Inspiration
           is
           discover'd
           as
           Light
           ,
           by
           it self
           ;
           and
           which
           the
           person
           divinely
           moved
           and
           illuminated
           is
           as
           much
           assured
           of
           ,
           as
           he
           is
           of
           the
           existence
           of
           any
           
           thing
           in
           being
           ,
           or
           the
           truth
           of
           any
           Proposition
           ,
           as
           has
           been
           before
           said
           .
           
           And
           when
           the
           Divine
           Power
           operates
           ,
           it
           hath
           so
           much
           the
           Ascendant
           over
           the
           natural
           temper
           ,
           
           that
           it
           lays
           a
           person
           under
           an
           uncontroulable
           necessity
           of
           obeying
           the
           Dictates
           of
           it
           ,
           
           as
           it
           was
           with
           the
           Prophets
           of
           old
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           Don't
           we
           see
           Enthusiastical
           Persons
           as
           confident
           of
           their
           Imaginary
           Inspirations
           and
           Visions
           ,
           and
           look
           upon
           themselves
           as
           much
           obliged
           to
           follow
           them
           ,
           as
           those
           that
           are
           truly
           Inspired
           do
           to
           obey
           what
           is
           Divine
           ?
        
         
           I
           answer
           ,
           Be
           it
           so
           ;
           yet
           this
           is
           of
           it self
           no
           Argument
           against
           the
           truth
           and
           certainty
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           of
           Revelation
           in
           those
           ways
           .
           Is
           it
           any
           Argument
           against
           the
           certainty
           of
           Sense
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           often
           deceived
           and
           imposed
           upon
           ?
           Or
           against
           Truth
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           Errors
           and
           everlasting
           Disputes
           among
           Mankind
           ?
           And
           because
           there
           are
           ,
           are
           we
           all
           obliged
           to
           be
           Scepticks
           ;
           and
           may
           we
           be
           positive
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Truth
           nor
           Certainty
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           that
           no
           man
           can
           be
           sure
           he
           sees
           ,
           or
           hears
           ,
           or
           knows
           ,
           or
           lives
           ?
           And
           because
           there
           are
           or
           have
           been
           deluded
           and
           brain-sick
           persons
           ,
           are
           therefore
           none
           wise
           ,
           or
           in
           their
           Wits
           ?
        
         
         
           And
           are
           all
           Inspired
           Persons
           no
           more
           to
           be
           credited
           than
           if
           they
           were
           Lunaticks
           ?
           Or
           don
           't
           they
           know
           themselves
           to
           be
           any
           more
           Inspired
           ,
           than
           those
           that
           are
           agitated
           by
           the
           power
           of
           a
           wild
           Imagination
           ?
           Confidence
           in
           Imaginary
           Inspirations
           may
           be
           great
           ;
           but
           the
           Perception
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Assurance
           cannot
           be
           alike
           to
           what
           is
           real
           .
           But
           tho'
           the
           Deity
           can
           so
           communicate
           it self
           ,
           as
           that
           the
           Person
           inspired
           shall
           know
           most
           certainly
           ,
           it
           is
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           from
           him
           alone
           ;
           and
           so
           there
           is
           no
           absolute
           necessity
           of
           any
           farther
           evidence
           to
           him
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           there
           is
           of
           Light
           to
           give
           evidence
           to
           Light
           :
           yet
           that
           there
           might
           nothing
           be
           wanting
           for
           the
           further
           satisfaction
           of
           such
           as
           had
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           there
           was
           often
           added
           some
           sign
           ,
           or
           supernatural
           proof
           .
           So
           when
           Gideon
           had
           some
           doubt
           of
           what
           the
           Angel
           said
           ,
           (
           when
           he
           knew
           not
           what
           he
           was
           )
           and
           was
           timerous
           ,
           when
           requir'd
           to
           go
           on
           a
           difficult
           Enterprize
           ;
           he
           was
           confirmed
           ,
           by
           the
           Fire
           out
           of
           the
           Rock
           that
           consumed
           the
           Flesh
           ;
           
           and
           by
           the
           Fleece
           ;
           and
           the
           Soldier
           's
           Dream
           ,
           and
           the
           Interpretation
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           Moses
           was
           convinced
           not
           only
           of
           his
           own
           Mission
           from
           God
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           acceptance
           and
           authority
           he
           should
           upon
           it
           have
           with
           the
           People
           ,
           when
           the
           Rod
           in
           his
           hand
           was
           turned
           
           into
           a
           Serpent
           ;
           and
           his
           Hand
           ,
           
           by
           putting
           it
           into
           his
           bosom
           ,
           was
           made
           leprous
           ;
           and
           cured
           again
           in
           a
           moment
           ,
           by
           taking
           it
           out
           .
        
         
           A
           course
           altogether
           necessary
           ,
           for
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           others
           ,
           
           (
           as
           has
           been
           before
           observed
           )
           and
           which
           may
           reasonably
           be
           demanded
           .
           For
           if
           a
           Person
           shall
           come
           ,
           under
           the
           pretence
           of
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           with
           a
           Message
           to
           others
           ,
           and
           require
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           tender
           their
           Salvation
           ,
           to
           receive
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           submit
           to
           it
           ,
           without
           such
           Certificates
           as
           shall
           give
           Authority
           to
           it
           ;
           it
           is
           like
           one
           that
           shall
           take
           on
           him
           the
           Style
           and
           Character
           of
           an
           Ambassador
           ,
           without
           any
           Credentials
           to
           give
           him
           Authority
           ,
           and
           deserves
           no
           better
           acceptance
           .
           Let
           then
           a
           Moses
           come
           with
           a
           Message
           to
           Pharaoh
           in
           the
           Name
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           require
           him
           to
           obey
           it
           ;
           that
           Prince
           might
           reasonably
           expect
           a
           farther
           confirmation
           than
           his
           word
           ,
           
           and
           it
           must
           be
           somewhat
           truly
           great
           and
           greater
           than
           what
           was
           done
           by
           his
           Magicians
           ,
           that
           should
           determine
           him
           to
           a
           belief
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Let
           Elijah
           confront
           Ahab
           ,
           and
           the
           Priests
           of
           Baal
           ,
           and
           they
           dispute
           his
           Mission
           and
           Authority
           ;
           he
           appeals
           to
           the
           Supreme
           Authority
           to
           decide
           it
           ,
           
           
             The
             God
             that
             answereth
             by
             fire
             ,
             let
             him
             be
             God.
             
          
        
         
           Let
           a
           
             lying
             spirit
          
           be
           put
           in
           the
           mouth
           of
           the
           other
           Prophets
           in
           opposition
           unto
           Micaiah
           ,
           th
           a
           
           Prophet
           ,
           for
           the
           Conviction
           of
           all
           ,
           leaves
           it
           to
           the
           event
           ,
           saying
           unto
           
             Ahab
             ,
             If
             thou
             return
             at
             all
             in
             peace
             ,
          
           
           
             the
             Lord
             hath
             not
             spoken
             by
             me
             .
             And
             he
             said
             ,
             Hearken
             ,
             O
             people
             ,
             every
             one
             of
             you
             .
          
        
         
           By
           this
           means
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           by
           Predictions
           and
           Miracles
           ,
           a
           Prophet
           may
           be
           known
           to
           be
           a
           Prophet
           ,
           and
           an
           Inspiration
           to
           be
           an
           Inspiration
           ;
           and
           by
           these
           Characters
           may
           we
           be
           able
           to
           judge
           of
           both
           ;
           as
           to
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Mission
           ,
           and
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Inspiration
           .
           Where
           the
           Evidence
           was
           necessary
           ,
           there
           was
           never
           wanting
           one
           or
           both
           of
           these
           .
           And
           though
           John
           did
           no
           Miracle
           ,
           yet
           he
           had
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Prophecy
           ,
           the
           People
           acknowledged
           ,
           
           for
           said
           they
           ,
           
             All
             things
             John
             spake
             of
             this
             man
             [
             Jesus
             ]
             were
             true
             .
          
           There
           may
           ,
           't
           is
           likely
           ,
           be
           Inspiration
           where
           there
           is
           neither
           of
           these
           ,
           nor
           the
           like
           Evidences
           ;
           but
           there
           is
           no
           obligation
           on
           others
           to
           believe
           it
           ,
           without
           the
           Evidence
           be
           sufficient
           ;
           (
           for
           such
           as
           the
           Evidence
           is
           ,
           such
           is
           the
           Obligation
           )
           but
           the
           Evidence
           is
           not
           sufficient
           which
           rests
           solely
           on
           Humane
           Authority
           ,
           and
           has
           nothing
           but
           the
           bare
           word
           and
           affirmation
           of
           the
           Pretender
           ,
           to
           prove
           it
           .
           To
           this
           purpose
           ,
           
           saith
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           
             If
             I
             bear
             witness
             of
             my self
             ,
             my
             witness
             is
             not
             true
             —
             The
             works
             that
             I
             do
             ,
             bear
             witness
             of
             me
             .
          
           So
           that
           Inspiration
           is
           ,
           as
           to
           others
           ,
           no
           Inspiration
           ,
           till
           it
           be
           proved
           :
           
           It
           may
           ,
           for
           ought
           appears
           to
           the
           contrary
           ,
           be
           no
           other
           than
           Delusion
           ,
           or
           Imposture
           .
           Let
           therefore
           the
           Imagination
           be
           never
           so
           strong
           ,
           the
           Confidence
           never
           so
           great
           ,
           the
           Intent
           never
           so
           good
           ;
           the
           Question
           is
           ,
           Whence
           is
           this
           ,
           what
           Evidence
           doth
           the
           Person
           bring
           of
           his
           Mission
           from
           God
           ?
           upon
           what
           doth
           it
           rest
           ?
           into
           what
           is
           it
           resolved
           ?
           What
           doth
           he
           produce
           more
           than
           what
           may
           be
           the
           fruit
           of
           Imagination
           ?
           It
           may
           all
           be
           a
           fit
           of
           Enthusiasm
           .
           So
           that
           if
           a
           Person
           will
           pretend
           to
           immediate
           Inspiration
           ,
           (
           were
           it
           an
           Age
           for
           it
           )
           and
           much
           more
           ,
           pretend
           to
           it
           after
           Inspiration
           has
           ceased
           ;
           he
           must
           be
           able
           to
           fortify
           it
           by
           such
           Evidence
           as
           can
           come
           from
           none
           but
           him
           from
           whom
           the
           Inspiration
           came
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           Divine
           .
        
         
           So
           much
           for
           Inspiration
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           Natural
           Impressions
           and
           Diabolical
           Illusions
           ;
           and
           which
           may
           serve
           as
           a
           general
           Answer
           to
           the
           other
           particular
           Instances
           that
           remain
           .
        
         
           Thus
           it
           was
           in
           Visions
           ;
           which
           as
           to
           the
           Visionaries
           was
           with
           that
           Evidence
           ,
           as
           could
           leave
           no
           manner
           of
           doubt
           of
           what
           was
           therein
           represented
           .
           So
           Micaiah
           describes
           his
           Vision
           ,
           
           
             I
             saw
             the
             Lord
             sitting
             on
             his
             throne
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             host
             of
             heaven
             standing
             by
             him
             ,
             on
             his
             right
             hand
             ,
             and
             on
             his
             left
             .
             And
             the
             Lord
             said
             ,
             Who
             shall
             persuade
             Ahab
             ,
             that
             he
             may
             go
             up
             and
             fall
             at
             Ramoth-Gilead
             ?
          
           &c.
           And
           by
           this
           
           as
           he
           himself
           did
           abide
           ,
           so
           the
           Event
           verified
           it
           ,
           vers
           .
           34.
           
        
         
           The
           same
           is
           to
           be
           said
           as
           to
           Dreams
           ,
           which
           had
           such
           a
           peculiar
           stroke
           upon
           the
           Imagination
           ,
           that
           the
           Divine
           had
           a
           different
           effect
           upon
           the
           Person
           from
           what
           was
           Natural
           ;
           
           and
           therefore
           Abimelech
           ,
           before
           he
           had
           expostulated
           the
           Case
           with
           Abraham
           ,
           communicated
           his
           Dream
           to
           his
           Family
           ,
           from
           the
           confidence
           he
           had
           in
           himself
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           especially
           has
           this
           a
           sufficient
           Evidence
           as
           to
           others
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           When
           such
           things
           are
           therein
           discover'd
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           before
           no
           knowledge
           of
           ;
           as
           was
           the
           Case
           of
           Abimelech
           .
        
         
           Or
           2.
           
           Which
           were
           so
           remote
           in
           Place
           ,
           or
           Time
           ,
           as
           none
           could
           possibly
           reveal
           ,
           but
           by
           a
           Divine
           Communication
           .
        
         
           Or
           3.
           
           When
           the
           Interpretation
           was
           quite
           different
           from
           the
           Dream
           ,
           nor
           was
           without
           that
           Interpretation
           to
           be
           understood
           .
           This
           was
           the
           Case
           of
           Pharaoh
           ,
           about
           the
           
             seven
             fat
             and
             lean
             kine
          
           ,
           &c.
           Gen.
           41.38
           .
           Of
           Nebuchadnezzar
           ,
           about
           his
           own
           Transformation
           and
           Deposition
           ,
           Dan.
           4.19
           .
           and
           that
           of
           the
           Midianitish
           Soldier
           ,
           Judg.
           7.13
           ,
           14.
           
        
         
           Where
           if
           we
           grant
           that
           the
           Dreams
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           matter
           ,
           might
           have
           been
           the
           effect
           of
           a
           rolling
           
           Imagination
           ,
           (
           as
           
           Pharaoh's
           Kine
           ,
           
           Nebuchadnezzar's
           Tree
           ,
           and
           the
           Soldier
           's
           Cake
           )
           yet
           how
           the
           seven
           Kine
           should
           prove
           a
           Prediction
           of
           seven
           Years
           Plenty
           and
           Famine
           ;
           or
           the
           felling
           of
           the
           Tree
           be
           an
           Emblem
           of
           
           Nebucha●nezzar's
           dethronization
           ;
           or
           that
           a
           Cake
           of
           Bread
           tumbling
           into
           the
           Host
           ,
           and
           overturning
           a
           Tent
           ,
           should
           presignify
           the
           Sword
           ,
           and
           Success
           of
           Gideon
           ,
           and
           that
           
             into
             his
             hand
             God
             would
             deliver
             the
             host
             of
             Midian
          
           ;
           was
           utterly
           unaccountable
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           not
           as
           Joseph
           said
           to
           Pharaoh
           ,
           that
           
             God
             himself
             thereby
             shewed
             what
             he
             was
             about
             to
             do
             ,
          
           and
           that
           it
           came
           from
           him
           who
           
             is
             a
             Revealer
             of
             Secrets
          
           ,
           as
           Nebuchadnezzar
           acknowledged
           .
        
         
           Lastly
           ,
           The
           like
           may
           be
           said
           of
           a
           Revelation
           by
           Voice
           ,
           which
           ,
           if
           internal
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           with
           a
           Dream
           or
           Vision
           ,
           as
           going
           along
           with
           it
           ;
           and
           so
           has
           the
           same
           sort
           of
           evidence
           .
           If
           external
           ,
           it
           is
           its
           own
           evidence
           ;
           as
           was
           that
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           to
           give
           testimony
           to
           our
           Saviour
           .
           
           Or
           it
           was
           by
           way
           of
           Oracle
           ;
           and
           then
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Voices
           was
           justified
           by
           the
           numerous
           Predictions
           ;
           the
           design
           they
           apparently
           promoted
           of
           encouraging
           the
           good
           ,
           of
           admonishing
           and
           reforming
           the
           bad
           ;
           and
           in
           all
           ,
           of
           promoting
           Vertue
           and
           true
           Religion
           in
           the
           world
           ;
           and
           to
           whose
           veracity
           future
           Ages
           have
           given
           Testimony
           ,
           by
           sutable
           
           Events
           .
           Whereas
           those
           of
           the
           Heathens
           were
           very
           suspic●ous
           and
           doubtful
           ,
           and
           often
           detected
           to
           be
           only
           Forgery
           and
           a
           Conspiracy
           ;
           and
           disowned
           at
           that
           time
           (
           when
           in
           vulgar
           estimation
           )
           by
           the
           wisest
           among
           themselves
           ;
           and
           the
           reputation
           of
           which
           at
           last
           as
           well
           utterly
           fell
           ,
           
           as
           the
           pretence
           to
           them
           did
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           were
           the
           Case
           to
           be
           put
           upon
           this
           issue
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           decided
           by
           the
           measures
           before
           laid
           down
           ,
           we
           may
           safely
           venture
           the
           whole
           Cause
           of
           Revelation
           upon
           it
           ;
           when
           there
           is
           nothing
           wanting
           ,
           that
           can
           reasonably
           be
           desired
           ,
           toward
           the
           justification
           of
           its
           veracity
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           is
           no
           manner
           of
           pretence
           for
           applying
           the
           same
           terms
           of
           evidence
           and
           sincerity
           to
           Imagination
           ,
           as
           to
           Inspiration
           ;
           or
           to
           Imposture
           ,
           (
           whether
           Enthusiastical
           or
           Diabolical
           )
           as
           is
           to
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           For
           when
           was
           it
           known
           ,
           that
           Imagination
           or
           Nature
           did
           ever
           empower
           persons
           to
           speak
           all
           Languages
           ,
           and
           to
           discourse
           readily
           at
           once
           with
           the
           
             Parthians
             ,
             Medes
          
           ,
           and
           Elamites
           ,
           &c.
           in
           their
           several
           Tongues
           ?
           When
           did
           Imagination
           or
           Nature
           enable
           persons
           ,
           without
           any
           skill
           ,
           to
           cure
           Diseases
           ,
           naturally
           incurable
           ;
           and
           such
           as
           had
           no
           Humane
           Learning
           ,
           to
           talk
           like
           Philosophers
           of
           the
           sublimest
           Arguments
           ,
           and
           with
           as
           much
           freedom
           as
           they
           used
           the
           Speech
           of
           the
           Foreign
           Nations
           they
           instructed
           ?
        
         
         
           Further
           ,
           What
           Imagination
           ,
           or
           Nature
           ,
           or
           Art
           ,
           could
           inspirit
           Moses
           with
           such
           a
           supernatural
           Power
           ,
           as
           to
           turn
           his
           Rod
           into
           a
           Serpent
           ,
           and
           to
           devour
           those
           of
           the
           Magicians
           ;
           and
           by
           a
           stroke
           of
           it
           to
           fetch
           water
           out
           of
           the
           Rock
           ,
           and
           stop
           the
           mighty
           Current
           of
           the
           Sea
           ?
        
         
           What
           Imagination
           could
           form
           such
           Idea's
           in
           the
           minds
           of
           a
           Pharaoh
           and
           Nebuchadnezzar
           ,
           or
           inspire
           a
           Joseph
           and
           a
           Daniel
           to
           give
           such
           an
           Interpretation
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           justified
           it self
           to
           be
           true
           by
           a
           correspondent
           Event
           ?
        
         
           When
           did
           Imagination
           give
           life
           to
           a
           Fly
           ,
           or
           do
           the
           least
           Act
           out
           of
           it self
           ?
           When
           did
           that
           ,
           or
           Nature
           ,
           or
           Imposture
           ,
           raise
           the
           dead
           ,
           with
           Elisha
           ,
           call
           for
           Fire
           from
           Heaven
           with
           Elijah
           ,
           or
           foretel
           what
           shall
           happen
           a
           hundred
           or
           a
           thousand
           years
           after
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           as
           what
           a
           Person
           shall
           think
           to
           morrow
           ?
           Here
           we
           may
           challenge
           all
           the
           Magicians
           of
           a
           Pharaoh
           and
           a
           Nebuchadnezzar
           ,
           all
           the
           Men
           of
           Art
           and
           Science
           ,
           all
           the
           Enthusiasts
           and
           Impostors
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           to
           talk
           as
           the
           Persons
           Inspired
           did
           talk
           ,
           to
           do
           as
           they
           did
           ,
           and
           to
           produce
           those
           Testimonies
           as
           those
           upon
           occasion
           produced
           in
           their
           own
           justification
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           confirmation
           of
           their
           Mission
           from
           God.
           
        
         
           From
           all
           which
           we
           see
           what
           evidence
           we
           
           have
           for
           the
           Truth
           of
           our
           Revelation
           ,
           by
           the
           various
           ways
           of
           its
           manifestation
           .
           If
           we
           had
           such
           Inspirations
           ,
           such
           Visions
           of
           things
           future
           and
           remote
           ,
           &c.
           what
           evidence
           could
           we
           desire
           more
           to
           attest
           and
           bear
           witness
           to
           what
           we
           are
           to
           believe
           and
           receive
           ?
           And
           what
           Absurdities
           must
           we
           be
           cast
           upon
           ,
           if
           we
           would
           venture
           to
           call
           those
           matters
           of
           Fact
           in
           question
           ,
           which
           though
           peculiar
           to
           those
           times
           ,
           lose
           not
           their
           evidence
           and
           force
           because
           they
           are
           not
           in
           ours
           ,
           nor
           have
           been
           for
           several
           Ages
           ,
           nor
           are
           to
           be
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ?
        
         
           However
           ,
           there
           are
           those
           manifestations
           of
           the
           Divine
           Presence
           and
           Power
           ,
           which
           we
           are
           all
           capable
           of
           ,
           and
           may
           obtain
           by
           Prayer
           to
           God
           ;
           and
           which
           shall
           be
           more
           beneficial
           to
           us
           ,
           than
           if
           we
           our selves
           could
           work
           Miracles
           ,
           and
           were
           the
           Inspired
           Persons
           to
           whom
           God
           did
           thus
           make
           known
           himself
           ,
           as
           he
           did
           
             in
             time
             past
             to
             the
             Prophets
          
           ;
           and
           those
           are
           the
           Grace
           and
           Assistance
           of
           his
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           the
           doing
           his
           Will
           :
           Qualifications
           that
           will
           render
           us
           more
           acceptable
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           make
           us
           more
           capable
           of
           his
           favour
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           advantages
           of
           it
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           and
           that
           to
           come
           ,
           than
           if
           we
           could
           divide
           the
           Sea
           with
           Moses
           ,
           or
           stop
           the
           Sun
           in
           its
           course
           with
           Joshua
           ,
           or
           raise
           the
           dead
           with
           Elisha
           .
           For
           then
           ,
           though
           without
           those
           miraculous
           Donations
           ,
           we
           may
           be
           received
           with
           a
           
             Come
             ye
             blessed
             of
             my
             Father
             ,
             inherit
             the
             kingdom
             prepared
             for
             you
             from
             the
             foundation
             of
             the
             world
             .
          
        
         
           Which
           God
           of
           his
           Infinite
           Mercy
           grant
           to
           us
           all
           ,
           through
           Jesus
           Christ
           our
           Lord.
           Amen
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A66426-e250
           
             Cic.
             l.
             2.
             de
             Nat.
             Deor.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             16.25
             ,
             26.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             1.12
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor
             2.10
             .
          
           
             Ephes.
             3.3
             ,
             5
             ,
             6.
             
          
           
             1
             Thes.
             4.8
             .
          
           
             Acts
             22.17
             ,
             18.
             
          
           
             Acts
             9.4
             .
             c.
             26.13
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             15.8
             .
          
           
             Acts
             12.9
             .
          
           
             Jerem.
             13.1
             ,
             &c.
             25.15
             .
          
           
             Ezek.
             ch
             .
             3.4.5
             .
             &c.
             
          
           
             Ezek.
             1.1
             .
             &
             8.3
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Acts
             9.12
             .
          
           
             Ezek.
             8.1
             .
             Revel
             .
             1.10
             .
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             12.1
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             17.1
             ,
             &c.
             Psal.
             80.1
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             18.1
             .
             19.1
             .
             Hebr.
             13.2
             .
          
           
             Num
             :
             16.42
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Job
             33.14
             15.4.13
             .
          
           
             Revel
             .
             17.13
             .
             21.20
             .
             Acts
             10.10
             .
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             Numb
             .
             24.14
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             4●
             ,
             ●
             .
          
           
             Exod.
             33.9
             ,
             11.
             
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             28.6
             .
          
           
             2
             Pet.
             1.17
             .
          
           
             Ezek.
             21.21
             .
          
           
             Deut.
             18.10
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Serm.
             3.
             p.
             7.
             
          
           
             Jer.
             20.9
             .
          
           
             Ezek.
             3.14
             .
          
           
             Judg.
             6.21
             ,
             37.
             7.13
             ,
             14.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             4.3
             ,
             6.
             
          
           
             Serm.
             3.
             p.
             13.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             8.18
             .
          
           
             1
             Kings
             19.24
             ,
             36.
             
          
           
             1
             Kings
             22.28
             ,
             29.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             10.
             ver
             41.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             5.31
             ,
             36.
             
          
           
             1
             Kings
             22.19
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             20.3
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             3.17
             .
          
           
             Vid.
             Ser.
             2.
             p.
             36.