therefore as many false Prophets"

were gone out into the world," as well in the time of Ahab, as in the time of the Apostle who gave this advice, it is manifest, that the latter intended thereby to warn true Believers that they should prove the Inspiration or the Nature of the Spirits which actuated the Prophets in the primitive Church, and that they might carefully distinguish whether these Prophets spoke by the Spirit of God, or the Spirit of Antichrist; and in such a case it would be absurd to mention the mere effect (the Doctrine or Prophecy) instead of the cause, or First Movers of the Prophets, the Spirits themselves! Try the "Spirits whether they be of God, be

66

cause many FALSE PROPHETS ARE "gone out into the world." We cannot discern nor judge, indeed, concerning the nature of invisible Spirits but by the DOCTRINES of the Prophets; yet, even so, the Spirits themselves are sufficiently

sufficiently known, and are as readily distinguished as a Tree by its fruits.

816

Hereby know we the SPIRIT OF TRUTH " and the SPIRIT OF ERROR" (ver. 6.) -which, in the proving of Prophets, must refer us back to the First Cause or Spirit, by which each Prophet is inspired; especially as the Apostle in the 13th Verse of the same Chapter adds as follows," Hereby know we that we "dwell in him, and HE IN US, because "he hath given US OF HIS SPIRIT." We are not by this to understand only that God" hath given us of his" DOCTRINE (though that is certainly true likewise) but that he hath given us AN ACTUAL

to

INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which all sincere believers have an unquestionable claim, the Bodies of true Christians being the Temples of the Holy Ghost, which I have fully demonstrated, I trust, in the preceding Tract. So that" the Spirit of Truth" which the Apostle, in the above-cited chapter

instructs

instructs us to know, or distinguish from "the Spirit of Error," cannot signify merely "the Doctrine of Truth," but is undoubtedly the Paraclete or Comforter; that real divine Spirit which Christ promised to send to his Church " from "the Father" (John xv. 26.) distinguishing his personality by this very appellation το πνευμα της αλήθειας "the "Spirit of Truth” (said he)

" which

"proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."-The same

The same" Spirit of

Truth" which "will guide" (us)“ into "all truth: for he shall not SPEAK of "himself" (said our Lord) " but "whatsoever HE SHALL HEAR, that SHALL HE, SPEAK: and he will shew "you things to come." (John xvi. 13.) Surely these expressions necessarily imply a personality: for though a Doctrine may, in one sense, be said to speak to us, or instruct us, yet it cannot with any possible propriety be said to Hear, and, much less, to speak what it hears ;

taj

neither

neither can it shew us things to come! And again, though a Doctrine may be represented in an allegorical Figure, yet no Doctrine whatever can assume the visible figure or appearance of Fire, or of fiery Tongues; nor can a Doctrine of itself manifest a reality of Being by sensible effects on the Organs of Hearing by an outward audible "SOUND "like as of a mighty rushing Wind," nor demonstrate the least degree of personal existence by imparting the supernatural Gifts of Prophecy, of unknown tongues, of healing, and working miracles, &c. And therefore" the

Spirit of Truth" cannot possibly signify the mere "doctrine of truth," as I before remarked, but a real Spirit, and consequently" the Spirit of error," to which it is opposed in the same sentence, (1 John iv. 6.) is undoubtedly a real Spirit also; the same that I have already proved to be thavo HAL & AUTIXPIOT THE Deceiver, and THE Antichrist,

Antichrist, that inspires and actuates all other Deceivers," that Old Serpent "called the DEVIL and SATAN which "DECEIVETH the whole world," (Rev. xii. 9.) “ the Prince of the power of the Air, THE SPIRIT that NOW WORKETH "IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE."

(Eph. ii. 2.)

These several Texts, therefore, clearly point out to us the true meaning of the Apostle's advice—“ Beloved, believe "not every SPIRIT, but try the SPIRITS "whether they are of God." (1 John iv. 1.) The " many False Prophets' that were then (and are now) "gone "out into the World," are undoubtedly "Children of disobedience," in whom "worketh" THE SPIRIT, "which de"ceiveth the whole world."-The Father of Lies-even THE DEVIL or his Angels; because "he that committeth "sin is of THE DEVIL.” (1 John iii. 8.)

The known Influence of this danger