CHAP. X.
That most part of prophesies in the old Testament were revealed in dreams, that we are not now to look for such revelations, of some who have dreamt of that which hath come to passe, that dreams prove con∣trary Nabuchadnezzers rule to know a true Expositor of Dreames.
IT is held and maintained by divers, and gathered out of the 12. of Numbers, that all which was written or spoken by the prophets, a∣mong the children of Israel (Moses excepted) was propounded to them by dreames. And indeed it is manifest, that many things, which are thought by the unlearned to have been really finished, have been only per∣formed by dreames and visions. As where Solomon required of God the gift of wisdome:* 1.1 that was (I say) in a dream; and also where he recei∣ved promise of the continuance of the kingdome of Israel in his line. So was Esay's vision in the 6. of his prophesie: as also that of Ezechiel the 12. Finally,* 1.2 where Jeremie was commanded to hide his girdle in the clift of a rock at the River Euphrates in Babylon; and that after certain daies, it did there putrefy, it must needs be in a dream; for Jeremy was never (or at least wise not then) at Babylon. We that are christians must not now slumber and dream, but watch and pray, and meditate upon our salva∣tion in Christ both day and night. And if we expect revelations in our dreams, now, when Christ is come, we shall deceive our selves: for in him are fullfilled all dreams & prophesies.* 1.3 Howbeit, Bodin holdeth that dreams and visions continue till this day, in as miraculous manner as ever they did.
If you reade Artemidorus, you shall reade many stories of such as dreamt of things that afterwards came to passe. But he might have cited a thousand for one that fel out contrary: for as for such dreamers among the Jews them∣selves, as had not extraordinary visions miraculously exhibited unto them by God, they were counted couseners, as may appear by these words of the prophet Zacharie; Surely the idols have spoken vanity, and the soothsayers have seen a ly,* 1.4 and the dreamers have told a vainthing. Ac∣cording to Solomons saying;* 1.5 In the multitude of dreames and vanities are many words. It appeareth in Jeremie 23. that the false prophets, whilest they illuded the people with lies, counterfeiting the true prophets, used to cry out, Dreames, dreames; We have dreamed a dreame, &c. Finally, Nabuchadnezzer teacheth all men to know a true expositor of dreames; to wit, such a one as hath his revelation from God. For he can (as Daniel did) repeate your dream before you discover it:* 1.6 which thing if any expounder of dreames can do at this day, I will believe him.