Hebrue Roe (that is, a seer:) sometimes Chose, (that is, a watchman:) & sometimes Isch Eloim (that is, a man of God:) as in the first of Sam. the 9. chapter,
and first of
Paralipo. the 29. In the Greeke he is called
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to foretell: or as some rather will of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, to shew. Whervpon among the Latins, tem∣ples are called Phana: and as
Festus Pompeius thinketh, the bishops of the temples were called prophets. There were also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to wit, in∣terpretors, which did seruice to the greater pro∣phets. They were also called among the Gréeks
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Among the Latins mad men are called Fanatici: yet further, they were called of the Gréekes
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, to stir vp and driue forward. They were cal∣led in Latine Vates, as some suppose, of spea∣king, although there were that thought other∣wise. A prophet is he, which being stirred vp by the spirit, foretelleth things to come.
2 Now that we may also speake somwhat of the causes: a prophet is occupied about heauen∣lie and hidden matters. Somtimes he séeth the things that be present: as Peter did of Ananias and Saphira: and
Elizeus of Gehezi (saieng,) Was not my spirit present with thee? Somtime he séeth things that are past: as
Moses concer∣ning the creation of the world. For as touching things to come, no man doubteth, (but he fore∣séeth them.) Also they which expound other mens prophesies, are prophets.
For so was Aaron said to be the prophet of
Moses vnto Pharao: and the expounders of the holie scriptures are called prophets. Also it belongeth to the office of a pro∣phet to praie vnto God: wherefore Paule saith, that euerie man praieng or prophesieng, &c. And in Genesis,
God answereth
Abimelech concer∣ning Abraham,
when he had taken his wife from him: Giue him his wife againe, for he is a prophet,
and shall praie for thee. And Paule in the first Epistle to the Corinthians the 14. chap∣ter, setteth foorth more at large the office of a prophet. When ye come together (saith he,)
eue∣rie one hath a psalme,
or hath doctrine, or hath reuelation, or hath interpretation; let all things be done to edifieng. They may also make hymnes and thanks-giuing, and exhort the peo∣ple. For Paule saith: He that prophesieth, spea∣keth doctrine,
exhortation, and consolation. Which facultie pertaineth to the mind and po∣wer of vnderstanding. And a prophet differeth from a préest,
in that a préest should not onelie exhort, teach, and comfort; but also minister ho∣lie seruices, which thing a prophet may not doo. Besides, the préests were of the tribe of Leui: the prophets were of other tribes. Moreouer, the préests might erre, & often did erre; but the true prophets, in that they were prophets, could not erre. Indéed they somtimes added somwhat of their owne, but therein they were not prophets. Lastlie, the préests were chosen onlie by succes∣sion, and had an ordinarie ministerie: but the prophets were sent by an extraordinarie means according to the will of God.
3 The forme (of prophesieng) is the reuela∣tion of God.
For he that declareth naturall cau∣ses and arts, and sciences, is not a prophet. And so a prophet is distinct frō a doctor or teacher.
For doctors, although they be instructed in the gifts of God, to teaching, persuading, & comforting; yet they get those things by exercise, instructi∣on, studie, and labour: but prophets are taught by no other means than by the onelie reuela∣tion of God. Howbeit, such prophets as are thus taught of God, although perhaps there be some now a daies in the church, yet I thinke there be not manie. But at the verie beginnings,
when the church began to spring vp, God raised ma∣nie prophets. For when men were conuerted from Gréekish gentilitie vnto Christ, and were altogether ignorant and vnskilfull of the holie scriptures,
it was néedful that God helped them by such reuelations: but now that all places abound with bookes, and teachers, there is no néed of the helpe of prophets. For the Iewes did onlie looke for Christ to come, he is now come: wherefore we haue no néed of other prophets. Besides, they were not so instructed in the holie scriptures. For at the beginning they had the lawe, and nothing else. Then came Samuel and other prophets, which made all things full and whole. Now there is scripture enough euerie∣where. Finallie, they were alwaies curious ser∣chers of things to come, and prone to idolatrie: therefore least they should run vnto sorcerers and soothsaiers,
GOD promised that he would giue them a prophet from among their owne brethren.
This dooth
Peter by the figure 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 trulie transfer vnto Christ. But in verie déed, God euermore cared and prouided, that they should not be without some prophet of their owne number. But in our daies that grosse ido∣latrie is taken awaie.
Chrysostome vpon Ge∣nesis saith, that the sinnes of men haue brought to passe, that no such rare & pure spirit can dwell among vs: which reason dooth not much mooue me. For when the people did most gréeuouslie offend, God did euer stir vp his prophets. The end of prophesieng, as Paule saith, is to edifie:
that is, to bring vs to eternall felicitie: but that is not perceiued by mans iudgement. For nei∣ther eie euer sawe it, or eare heard it: wherefore it was néedfull to haue it shewed in a more hid∣den sort by prophets. But they could not open it, vnlesse they themselues vnderstood it; neither could they euer vnderstand it, vnlesse they were admonished by the inward spirit of God.
For otherwise they would be as ignorant in those