第48章

FortosaythatGodhathspokentohimintheHolyScriptureisnottosayGodhathspokentohimimmediately，butbymediationoftheprophets，oroftheApostles，oroftheChurch，insuchmannerasHespeakstoallotherChristianmen。TosayHehathspokentohiminadreamisnomorethantosayhedreamedthatGodspaketohim；whichisnotofforcetowinbelieffromanymanthatknowsdreamsareforthemostpartnatural，andmayproceedfromformerthoughts；andsuchdreamsasthat，fromself-conceit，andfoolisharrogance，andfalseopinionofaman’sowngoodliness，orvirtue，bywhichhethinkshehathmeritedthefavourofextraordinaryrevelation。Tosayhehathseenavision，orheardavoice，istosaythathedreamedbetweensleepingandwaking：forinsuchmanneramandothmanytimesnaturallytakehisdreamforavision，asnothavingwellobservedhisownslumbering。Tosayhespeaksbysupernaturalinspirationistosayhefindsanardentdesiretospeak，orsomestrongopinionofhimself，forwhichhecanallegenonaturalandsufficientreason。SothatthoughGodAlmightycanspeaktoamanbydreams，visions，voice，andinspiration，yetHeobligesnomantobelieveHehathsodonetohimthatpretendsit；who，beingaman，mayerrand，whichismore，maylie。

HowthencanhetowhomGodhathneverrevealedHiswillimmediately(savingbythewayofnaturalreason)knowwhenheistoobeyornottoobeyHisword，deliveredbyhimthatsaysheisaprophet？Offourhundredprophets，ofwhomtheKingofIsrael，askedcounselconcerningthewarhemadeagainstRamothGilead，onlyMicaiahwasatrueone。*TheprophetthatwassenttoprophesyagainstthealtarsetupbyJeroboam，*(2)thoughatrueprophet，andthatbytwomiraclesdoneinhispresenceappearstobeaprophetsentfromGod，wasyetdeceivedbyanotheroldprophetthatpersuadedhim，asfromthemouthofGod，toeatanddrinkwithhim。Ifoneprophetdeceiveanother，whatcertaintyisthereofknowingthewillofGodbyotherwaythanthatofreason？TowhichIansweroutoftheHolyScripturethattherebetwomarksbywhichtogether，notasunder，atrueprophetistobeknown。Oneisthedoingofmiracles；theotheristhenotteachinganyotherreligionthanthatwhichisalreadyestablished。

Asunder，Isay，neitheroftheseissufficient。“Ifaprophetriseamongstyou，oradreamerofdreams，andshallpretendthedoingofamiracle，andthemiraclecometopass；ifhesay，Letusfollowstrangegods，whichthouhastnotknown，thoushaltnothearkentohim，etc。Butthatprophetanddreamerofdreamsshallbeputtodeath，becausehehathspokentoyoutorevoltfromtheLordyourGod。“*(3)Inwhichwordstwothingsaretobeobserved；first，thatGodwillnothavemiraclesaloneserveforargumentstoapprovetheprophet’scalling；but(asitisinthethirdverse)foranexperimentoftheconstancyofouradherencetoHimself。FortheworksoftheEgyptiansorcerers，thoughnotsogreatasthoseofMoses，yetweregreatmiracles。Secondly，thathowgreatsoeverthemiraclebe，yetifittendtostiruprevoltagainstthekingorhimthatgovernethbytheking’sauthority，hethatdothsuchmiracleisnottobeconsideredotherwisethanassenttomaketrialoftheirallegiance。

Forthesewords，revoltfromtheLordyourGod，areinthisplaceequivalenttorevoltfromyourking。FortheyhadmadeGodtheirkingbypactatthefootofMountSinai；whoruledthembyMosesonly；

forheonlyspakewithGod，andfromtimetotimedeclaredGod’scommandmentstothepeople。Inlikemanner，afterourSaviourChristhadmadehisDisciplesacknowledgehimfortheMessiah(thatistosay，forGod’sanointed，whomthenationoftheJewsdailyexpectedfortheirking，butrefusedwhenhecame)，heomittednottoadvertisethemofthedangerofmiracles。“Thereshallarise，“saithhe，“falseChrists，andfalseprophets，andshalldogreatwondersandmiracles，eventotheseducing(ifitwerepossible)oftheveryelect。“*(4)Bywhichitappearsthatfalseprophetsmayhavethepowerofmiracles；yetarewenottotaketheirdoctrineforGod’sword。St。

PaulsaysfurthertotheGalatiansthat“ifhimselforanangelfromheavenpreachanotherGospeltothemthanhehadpreached，lethimbeaccursed。“*(5)ThatGospelwasthatChristwasKing；sothatallpreachingagainstthepowerofthekingreceived，inconsequencetothesewords，isbySt。Paulaccursed。Forhis