1 " Propheta Deum, qui corporaliter invisibilis est, non coi-poraliter sed spiritualiter videt. Nam multa genera visionis in Scripturis Sanctis inveniuntur. Unum secun- dum oculos corporis, sicut vidit Abraham tres vires siib ilice Mambre ; alterum secun- dum quod imaginamur ea quK per corpus sentimus. Nam et pars ipsa nostra cum Divinitus assumitur, multa revelantur non per oculos coi-poris, aut aures, aliumve sensum carualem, sed tamen his similia, sicut vidit Petrus discum ilium submitti a ccelo cum variis animalibus. Tertium autem genus visionis est secundum mentis in- tuitum quo intellectu conspiciuntur Veritas et sapientia ; sine quo genere ilia duo qusB prius posui vel infi'uctuosa sunt vel etiam in errorem mittuut." — August, contra Adam- antum, cap. xxviii.
138 OPEEATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIEIT [BOOK II.
rod seen by Jeremiah, chap. i. 11, 13, as also liis ba kets of figs, [chap, xxiv. 1-3;] and many more of the Kke kind might be instanced in. In these cases God made representations of things unto their outward senses. 2. They were made sometimes only to their minds. So it is said expressly that when Peter saw his vision of a sheet knit at the four corners, and let down from heaven to earth, he was in a " trance :'' 'E-rr'sTSifev sir" avrov sxgraffig, Acts X. 10. An " ecstasy seized on him," whereby for a season he was deprived of the use of his bodily senses. And to this head I refer Daniel's and the apocalyptical \'isions. Esj^e- cially I do so [refer] all those wherein a representation was made of God himself and his glorious throne ; such as that of Micaiah, 1 Kings xxii. 19-22; and Isaiah, chap, vi.; and Ezekiel, chap. i. It is evident that in all these there was no use of the bodily senses of the projjhets, but only their minds were affected with the ideas and representation of things; but this was so effectual as that they understood not but that they also made use of their visive faculty. Hence Peter, when he was actually delivered out of prison, thought a good while that he had only " seen a vision," Acts xii. 9 ; for he knew how power- fully the mind was wont to be affected by them. Now, these visions of both sorts were granted unto the prophets to confirm their minds in the apprehension of the things communicated unto them for the instruction of others; for hereby they were deeply affected with them, whereunto a clear idea and representation of things doth effectually tend. But yet two things were required to render these visions direct and complete parts of divine revelation: — 1. That the minds of the prophets were acted, guided, and raised in a due manner by the Holy Spirit for the receiving of them. This gave them their as- surance that their visions were from God. 2. His enabling them faitlifully to retain, and infallibly to declare, what was so represented unto them. For instance, Ezekiel receiveth a vision, by way of re- presentation unto his mind of a glorious fabric of a temple, to instruct the church in the spiritual glory and beauty of gospel-worship which was to be introduced, chap. xli.-xlvi. It seems utterly impos- sible for the mind of man to conceive and retain at once all the har- monious structure, dimensions, and laws of the fabric represented. This was the peculiar work of the Holy Ghost, — namely, to implant and preserve the idea presented unto him on his mind, and to enable him accurately and infallibly to declare it. So David affirms that the Spirit of God made him to understand the pattern of the temple built by Solomon, " in writing by his hand upon him."
(2.) There were some accidental adjuncts of prophecy, which at some times accompanied it : —
I First, In the revelation of the will of God to the prophets, they were sometimes enjoined symbolical actions. So Isaiah was commanded
CHAP. I.] PREPARATOEY TO THE NEW CREATION. 189
to " walk naked and bare-foot," chap. xx. 1-3 ; Jeremiah, to dispose of a " linen girdle," chap. xiii. 1-5 ; Ezekiel, to " lie in the siege," chap. iv. 1-3, and to remove the " stuff of his house," chap. xii. 3, 4 ; Hosea, to take " a wife of whoredoms, and children of whoredoms," chap. i. 2. I shall be brief in what is frequently spoken unto. Some of these things^ as Isaiah's going naked, and Hosea's taking a wife of whoredoms, contain things in them against the light of nature and the express law of God, and of evil example unto others. None of these, therefore, can be granted to have been actually done ; only these things were represented unto them in visions, to take the deeper impression upon them. And what they saw or did in vision they speak positively of their so seeing or doing: see Ezek. viii. For the other instances, I know nothing but that the things reported might be really performed, and not in vision only. And it is jDlain that Ezekiel was commanded to do the things he did in the sight of the people, for their more evident conviction, chap, xii. 4-6 ; and on the sight whereof they made inquiry what those things belonged unto them, chap. xxiv. 19.
Secondly, Their revelations were accompanied with local mutations, or rather being carried and transported from one place unto another. So was it with Ezekiel, chap. viii. 3, xi. 24. And it is exjDressly said that itwas "in thevisions of God." Falling, by divine dispensation, into a trance or ecstasy, wherein their outward senses were suspended [in] their operation, their minds and understandings were, unto their own apprehension, carried in a holy rapture from one place unto another : which was effected only by a divine and efficacious representation of the things unto them which were done in the places from whence they were really absent.