assertions as are literally appliable to any other besides Christ, or to others with him, belong unto the third member of the former division; that is, to testimonies or prenotions typically prophetical, or (at least) prophetically typical for some difference there is (though not much) betwixt these two expressions, as will appear hereafter.

2. All the predictions which we have in that fiftythird chapter of Isaiah are merely prophetical; they cannot be literally avouched of any man, of any creature, but only of the Son of God himself, made a man of sorrows and infirmities" for us men, and for our salvation." Of the same rank is that particular prophecy of Jeremiah, Jer. xxxi. 22: The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, The woman shall encompass the man. But whether that other prophecy, Isaiah vii. 14, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, be merely prophetical, or prophetically typical, will require further discussion in a more convenient place. But for that prophecy, Zech. ix. 9—Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: a King just and lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass-it is without all question merely prophetical, and can be literally meant of none but of Zion's and Jerusalem's Saviour alone. And however the accomplishment of this prediction might with more facility have been counterfeited by the fraudulent Jew, than the accomplishment of any other prophetical testimony before our Saviour's coming in this manner to Jerusalem, or immediately after it, yet for this fifteen hundred years and more they have had no possible colour for disguising the truth of the prophetical prediction or evangelical story how it was ful

filled. Though out of their madness they might set up a king, and cry and shout before him; yet have they had no Zion nor Jerusalem whereunto they could have brought him for these fifteen hundred years and more, nor have they been permitted to come near the place where it stood with any other than counterfeit 581 joy, being enforced for many generations to purchase the privilege or liberty of howling over the ruins of Zion and Jerusalem, unto which their expected Messias, by the purport of the former prophecy, was to come, at a far higher rate, than they had bought the delivery of him into their power.

4. That the coming of their King unto that Zion and Jerusalem which then were, was foretold by their prophet Zechariah above two thousand years ago, the Jewish rabbins of this age confess that this prophecy was literally meant of their expected King or Messias, they do not deny that this prophecy hath been already literally fulfilled, according to every circumstance, we Christians verily believe. The parti çular manner how it was fulfilled in and by our Saviour Christ will have its place in the article of his passion, and in the manner of his consecration to his everlasting priesthood. Now for the better confirmation of our faith unto this general, that all the predictions of the Old Testament which concern our Saviour Christ's incarnation, death, and passion, &c., were dictates of the Holy Spirit of God, who neither deceiveth any man, nor can be deceived by man or wicked spirit, we are in the next place briefly to shew how sacred testimonies merely prophetical concerning Christ exhibit that demonstration of the Spirit whereof the apostle speaks, (1 Cor. ii. 4,) unto all reasonable men that will seriously weigh them, together with the nature or subject of matters foretold, and with the

various circumstances of time and place, &c., wherein they were uttered or fulfilled.

CHAP. VII.

What manner of Predictions they be, or of what Matters the Predictions must be, which necessarily infer the Participation of a Divine Spirit.

EVERY prophecy is a true prediction, but every true prediction is not a prophecy, Any ordinary man that is arbitrator of his own actions, and master of his word, may truly foretell some events, projected or seriously purposed by himself, unless death or some extraordinary casualty prevent his accomplishment of them. And no wise man will foretell the performance of what he promiseth, or the accomplishment of his purposes, otherwise than with subordination (either express or implied) unto his good-will or pleasure, who seeth all things, even the very secret purposes of our hearts, much better than we ourselves do, and worketh all things according to the counsel, not of our will, but of his own. However, though by his permission and assistance we make performance of whatsoever was for many years before promised or purposed by us, yet this is no demonstration of a divine or prophetical spirit in us. To arrogate or challenge the name of a prophet from the truth of such predictions, were more than enough to prove the party so peccant to be a false prophet.

Besides those predictions which are common to all men, whilst they have the ordinary gift of memory, discretion, or understanding, there be predictions peculiar to several arts or faculties, which come somewhat 582 nearer to the nature of prophecies properly so called, but (well examined) fall further short of them, than

they go beyond the former presages or predictions of ordinary wise or discreet men.

2. A man of ordinary skill in astronomy, able by his own or others' skill to foretell the set times of the eclipses, whether in the sun or moon, might easily gain the reputation of a prophet or a soothsayer amongst barbarous illiterate people; yet no civil nation will account men thus far skilful to be extraordinarily learned, much less for celestial prophets. Hippocrates or Galen (so they had been disposed to play the mountebanks) might have gotten a better opinion amongst the vulgar, or their patients, than they had of themselves or their own skill; for both of them could and did discover the nature of such diseases and alterations ensuing in men's bodies, as the wisest men then living, but not so good physicians as they were, could not guess at aright, much less distinctly foresee. Yet neither of these two famous physicians (for aught I can learn) did take upon them to interpret the aspects or motions of the stars after such a manner as many meaner physicians since their time have done. So far were they from challenging the name or title of prophets or soothsayers, that they did not take upon them to foretell what the secret motions or dispositions of their patients' bodies, whether alive or dead, did presage either to private men or to public states. Yet, to foretell strange events to come, by observing the alterations in men's living bodies, or by the anatomy of them dead, is in any reasonable construction more congruous and facile, than to foretell the success of war or politic projects by anatomizing dead brutish creatures, or by inspection of their entrails. This latter skill many in times past amongst the heathens have professed, and have had the reputation of augurs, or soothsayers.

But albeit their predictions in this subject might for the most part prove true, (which I do not believe,) yet all this was not sufficient to purchase the just title of prophets or diviners: it only argues some deeper insight in ominous forewarnings or portendments, as Hippocrates and Galen had in medicinal presages, above ordinary men. That there may be a peculiar skill or dexterity of conjecture concerning the peculiar signs of times, whether by interpretation of dreams, of prodigies, of comets, or the like, is a point not worth the debating in divinity: that this skill (were it granted to be much greater than the professors of it, in what kind soever, arrogate unto themselves) doth amount to the nature of a true prophecy or divination, properly so called, all true divines must deny.

3. That skilful physicians may truly presage the certain issue of some diseases settled or growing, as of the life and death of their patients, far beyond the capacity of vulgars, and to the admiration of men otherwise more learned than themselves, is not doubted by any man of understanding. But all wherein they exceed others not skilled in physic is this; that their art and experience enables them to discern the working or first projects of causes physical, or seminal originals of alterations in men's bodies, much sooner, and with more dexterity, than men without skill or experience in their art can do. But so a well experienced, though illiterate gardener, will distinguish several herbs or simples at the first peeping out of the mould wherein they were hid, much better than a mere contemplative artist (which hath pored oftener and longer upon Mathiolus, Dioscorides, or other 583 herbalists, than the most industrious gardener hath done on his plots) shall be able to distinguish them after a month's growth. Yet will not the cunningest