pass their life, the time of their fojourn- SER M. ing here, in eafe and fecurity.

Let us therefore, when we reflect on this great virtue, and the bleffed effects of it, be all perfuaded, as we regard our peace here and happiness hereafter, to be clothed with humility, for God refifteth the proud, and giveth grace to the bumble.

XV.

SER

395

SERMON XVI.

Prophecy the Teftimony of JESUS
CHRIST.

REVELATION XIX. IO.

For the teftimony of Jefus is the Spirit of

I

prophecy.

XVI.

SHALL not confider the connection SER M. of these words with what goes before in this book or chapter, that I may be able more accurately to confider what I chiefly intend. The meaning of them there is this, that the fure evidence or testimony of the miffion of the apostles by our Lord, is the fpirit of prophecy, with which they were endued. This, I fay, is the meaning, if we view them only with regard to the preceding verfes; but they may be very well understood in a more general fenfe, which the literal construction of them will bear, viz. that the evidence or teftimony of the divine miffion of Jefus Chrift himself, as well as those who were commiffioned by him, is

SER M. the spirit of prophecy. By the spirit of

XVI.

prophecy, we understand the power of defcribing distant future events, which cannot be foreseen by the ordinary penetration or fagacity of men. In this fenfe, the like phrase is often used in the scriptures; thus we read of the fpirit of know-ledge, of the spirit of meekness, of the spirit of judgment, and the like,, by which is meant the gift of these several faculties or virtues; all which worketh the fame Spirit of God, dividing to every man severally as be will. And fuch are the ufual effects of the operations of the holy Spirit, by which he miniftreth to the use of the church, and people of God; but prophecy is his extraordinary gift, which he only communicates to few, at parti cular periods of time, for the general interest of religion, or to confirm a divine revelation.

In difcourfing on this fubject, I fhall endeavour

I. To confider the nature of prophecy, and the ufe of it, in proving the truth of the christian religion.

II. To give some instances of prophecy, among many, that are contained

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XVI.

tained in the Old and New Tefta-S ER M.
ment, which are evidently fulfilled,
and which greatly strengthen the
evidence for the divine original of
the gospel. And in the

Last place, make some practical re-
flections.

And this fubject, as it will tend to illuftrate the influence of the Holy Ghost, prophecy being one of his chief and uncommon operations, it will not, I hope, be improper for the purpose of this day, on which we commemorate his divine effufion on the apoftles at the time of Pentecoft. I am

I. Then, to confider the nature of prophecy, and the use of it in proving the chriftian religion. Now it is evident, that God, who is infinite in knowledge, who fees all the poffible combinations of things, who knows the circumstances of all men that are in being, and that are to be, and all the confequences of their actions, may foresee things that shall come to pass at the greatest distance of time. Nor is this inconsistent with the freedom of human actions; for if God knows all the poffible ways of actX 2

ing