4.1 Some influences are moral and ordinary of some professors; some are prophetical and extraordinary. Now as to these which are prophetical, it may be a question whether they be real and physical, or only moral. It seems there are two things here, 1. The visions. 2. The publishing of them. As to the first, Jeremiah sees the rod of an Almond-tree, and a seething pot, and the face of it toward the North. Ezekiel sees a whirlwind and a cloud out of the North, and fire infolding it self, and the colour of amber out of the midst of the fire, 2and the likeness of four living creatures, and every one of them had four faces, and four wings, &c. And Daniel saw a ram with two horns, one higher, another lesser, pushing northward, and westward, and southward, &c. It's clear these were real visions, and had real influences of God carrying them into their mind really, and they could not shun but they were in an ecstasy, and God really made them see as to the publishing of them, just as they saw them. They seem to be moral agents, yet so as Caiaphas could not shun to prophesy; nor could Balaam, when his eyes were opened, and he falling in a trance, ⟨p. 199⟩but see the visions of the Almighty, and could not go beyond the word of the Lord, but must prophetically bless (and no more thanks and praise can be due to them in so doing, then to Satan confessing Christ to be the Son of God, Luke 4.) So are many, who are convinced, and tremble at the word, and when the terrors of God, and a fever or ague of the pressing indignation of God takes them,3 declare God to be righteous, and themselves guilty, are but little praise-worthy: For the Law acting in a natural conscience, is another party representing God the Judge; and when such turn again to their vomit, as there be many false births of this kind, how prodigiously profane are such? for they carry about Satan's light of a natural conscience, and their own profane hearts: so dreadful it is to do violence to light which speaks from God. Saul at the beginning of his reign, and Demas, and some others, are hellish examples of Apostasy to cause others fear.
4.1 Some influences are moral and ordinary of some professors; some are prophetical and extraordinary. Now as to these which are prophetical, it may be a question whether they be real and physical, or only moral. It seems there are two things here, 1. The visions. 2. The publishing of them. As to the first, Jeremiah sees the rod of an Almond-tree, and a seething pot, and the face of it toward the North. Ezekiel sees a whirlwind and a cloud out of the North, and fire infolding it self, and the colour of amber out of the midst of the fire, 2and the likeness of four living creatures, and every one of them had four faces, and four wings, &c. And Daniel saw a ram with two horns, one higher, another lesser, pushing northward, and westward, and southward, &c. It's clear these were real visions, and had real influences of God carrying them into their mind really, and they could not shun but they were in an extasie, and God really made them see as to the publishing of them, just as they saw them. They seem to be moral agents, yet so as Caiaphas could not shun to prophecie; nor could Balaam, when his eyes were opened, and he falling in a trance, ⟨p. 199⟩but see the visions of the Almighty, and could not goe beyond the word of the Lord, but must prophetically bless (and no more thanks and praise can be due to them in so doing, then to Satan confessing Christ to be the Sonne of God, Luke 4.) So are many, who are convinced, and tremble at the word, and when the terrours of God, and a fever or ague of the pressing indignation of God takes them,3 declare God to be righteous, and themselves guilty, are but little praise-worthy: For the Law acting in a natural conscience, is another party representing God the Judge; and when such turn again to their vomit, as there be many false births of this kind, how prodigiously profane are such? for they carry about Satans light of a natural conscience, and their own profane hearts: so dreadful it is to doe violence to light which speaks from God. Saul at the beginning of his reign, and Demas, and some others, are hellish examples of Apostacy to cause others fear.
- 1Ordinary and extraordinary influences.
- 2Prophetical influences.
- 3It's dangerous to resist strong light and the influences thereof.
