no other Way than in thofe Terms which we use, when we write and speak of one another. Therefore he is introduc'd as talking, being angry, pleas'd, repenting, grieving, fometimes in one Place, fometimes in another, having Eyes, Hands, a Mouth, with other Circumstances of the fame Kind. All which argues no Imperfection in God, but in us poor Mortals; who are not able, either to think or speak of him in any other Terms than those which relate to our felves.

And for this, as long as we continue in our mortal State, there is no Remedy. And therefore, God, at fuch Times as he thought proper, has convey'd his Will to Mankind, chiefly by infpiring fome Men to declare and deliver it to others; by which Means, it comes to be call'd, the word of God, Spoken by the mouth of the LORD, &c. The Perfons, who were fo infpir'd, being call'd Prophets; and the Things which they deliver'd, Prophefies. And therefore it is frequently said of them, The word of the LORD came unto them. And they themselves, are oblig'd to say, The LORD spake unto me, faying.

Before

Before we leave this Head, it must be obferv'd that frequent Mention is made of Prophets, both true and falfe, in the New Teftament; by which, are not always meant such as foretold, or pretended to foretell, future Events; but, many times, fuch only, as in preaching the Word of God, had an extraordinary Gift of expounding and interpreting the Writings of the old Prophets. This Difference may be difcern'd with a very little Attention. For though we often read of Prophets and Prophecy in the Epiftles of St. Paul, yet there is no Reason for us to think, that the Prophetic Spirit of which we have been difcourfing, was ever found, in any Perfons, where Chriftianity had taken Place, except in the Apostles themfelves; who, for the more effectual Eftablishment and Propagation of the Gospel, were furnish'd with Abilities, in feveral Refpects, beyond what any other Mortals have enjoy'd fince their Time.

SECT.

Next to the Prophets, we fhall speak of the Scribes; who were fuch as, down from Mofes, through all Generations, made it their Business to teach and expound the Law. We don't find the Name till the Time of David, when, we read of the Chron. families of the Scribes, which dwelt at Jabez: Which fhews that fuch Perfons were then well establish'd, and had been fo a confiderable Time before.

ii. 55.

They were, of the Tribe of Levi; and, at the Time that David is faid to have made the Regulation of that Tribe, we read that fix Thoufand of them were conftituted Officers and Judges; among ib. xxiii. whom it is reasonable to believe, the 4 Scribes were included. For, in another Place we read of Shemaiah the Scribe, 1 Chron. one of the Levites: and again we find it xxiv. 6. written; Of the Levites, there were Scribes 2 Chron. and Officers.

When the Principal Officers of David's Houfhold and State are enumerated,

xxxiv.

13.

The

2 Sam.

viii. 17.

The Scribe is not omitted. At one Time we find Seraiah was the Scribe; at anoib. xx. 25. ther, Sheva is faid to have fill'd that Post: Whether they were in the Nature of Secretaries of State, or Auditors of the Royal Accounts is uncertain, But probably they fill'd all thofe Places, where a ready Pen, and fome Knowledge of the Arts and Sciences were requir'd. For, at the Time of the Captivity, it is faid, The Captain of the Guard, among other confi2 Kings derable Perfons, took the Principal Scribé of the Hoft (or Secretary at War) which mufter'd the People of the Land.

XXV. 19:

It is not unlikely that they might have had their Education among the Colleges of the Prophets; fince we do not read of any other Schools of Learning among them. Their very Name implies ¡fome Degree of Scholarship; and that no inconfiderable one; fince we find our LORD joyning Prophets, and wife Men, and Scribes Ifaiah together; and the Prophet Ifaiah, and after him St. Paul, inftancing in them as fuch. Where is the Wife? where is the Scribe? Where is the Difputer of this World?

Matt. xxiii. 34.

xxxiii.

18.

I Cor. i.

20.

Some

Some of these were they who, by Jehoshaphat's Order, taught in Judah, and bad the book of the law of the LORD with them; and went about through all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

2 Chron.

xvii. 9.

Thus, Ezra, call'd the Priest, the Scribe, Ezra vii. even a Scribe of the words of the command- 10, &c. ments of the LORD, and of his ftatutes to Ifrael; and a Scribe of the law of the God of heaven; is faid to have prepared his heart to feek the law of the LORD, and to teach in Ifrael ftatutes and judgments. From him, the expounding and teaching of the Law, continued to be deriv'd, fucceffively, to the Chief Priefts, and Elders and Scribes, at our LORD's Coming into the World. Therefore he fays, Every Scribe that is inftructed unto the kingdom Mat. xiii. of heaven, is like unto a man that is an 52. boufholder, which bringeth forth, out of his treasure, things new and old.

They feem to have had the fole expounding of the Scriptures; and therefore the Difciples ask our LORD, faying, Why then say the Scribes that Elias must ib. xvii. first come? Again, How fay the Scribes 10: that CHRIST is the son of David? So 35. Herod,

Mark xii.