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CONCERNING THE INTERPRETATION

OF PROPHECY.

In the first chapter and 20th verse of the second general epistle of Peter, we find these words; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

By which I understand, that where the sayings of the prophets are plain and natural, we are to receive them as plain and natural, of which there is sufficient for our guide in life; as where it is written, for instance, in Hosea, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice;" yet the Jews understood not the saying. "If ye had known what this meaneth," saith our Saviour, "I will have mercy and not sa

crifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless*." Again, as another instance, in the seventh chapter of Jeremiah, and 22nd verse, it is written, "I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt-offerings and sacrifices; but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, &c.; but they hearkened not, &c., since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day, I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: yet they hearkened not, nor inclined the ear; they did worse than their fathers! They have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it; and they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart." The Jews (I mean the wicked among them) must have been blind indeed to their own prophets, for in Micah it is written: "Wherewith shall I

come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burntofferings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression*, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" These words are too plain to be misunderstood, too contrary to the Jews to have been invented by them, and too savouring of the divine to be of uninspired inditing.

Also, when the prophets have spoken by a figure, or by a parable, or in vision, it is nevertheless true; for as all things are possible with God, who is able and will preserve the righteous in the midst of flames, the accomplishment shall be according to the words; indeed some sayings are expressly said to be counted for so and so; when they afterwards occur, therefore, if we search the scriptures, we may know their

* That is, Shall I burn my son or my daughter in the fire? the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

meaning: but where a parable is explained in the New Testament is the best way; there we may get at the true meaning of words, such as the prophets have used, which leads us to an understanding of many of their passages, whereby we may obtain a comprehensive knowledge of the scriptures, and thus our minds will be more enlarged, and we shall become more convinced of their truth, perceiving that there is no contradiction in them. In short, the things which shall be done shall bear so close an affinity to the words, that, as concerning the just, all of whom shall be enlightened, as where it is written, "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased;"" for whosoever hath* to him shall be given, and he shall have in abundance;" it shall be so plain to them, that, as it is said in the prophet Habukkuk," he may run that readeth it." But, as concerning the incorrigible and lost of mankind, it shall be to them, ("for whosoever hath not+, from him shall be taken away, even that which he hath ; and for this cause," saith our Saviour," speak I to

* i. e., hath improved that which is a gift.

come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burntofferings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression*, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" These words are too plain to be misunderstood, too contrary to the Jews to have been invented by them, and too savouring of the divine to be of uninspired inditing.

Also, when the prophets have spoken by a figure, or by a parable, or in vision, it is nevertheless true; for as all things are possible with God, who is able and will preserve the righteous in the midst of flames, the accomplishment shall be according to the words; indeed some sayings are expressly said to be counted for so and so; when they afterwards occur, therefore, if we search the scriptures, we may know their

* That is, Shall I burn my son or my daughter in the fire? the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

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