23 Sept 1815

Jug. True

Ch.5. Proofs

§. Prophecies

 From Crudens Concordance. state the source of prophecy viz.

1. Prediction 1. of ordinary occurrence

2. of extraordinary d o

2. Political or religious discourse without prediction

3. Speaking out on the part of any one: after, or before the event spoken of

 Tabulate the quotations made by Jesus

1. Ambiguous meaning of the word prophecy—To prophecy means as well to speak in public to discourse for the public ear, or more simply to speak out—and after the event has happened—as to predict. Many of the discourses cited as prophecies are not so much as predictions. Prophet, a writer at large.

2. Incapacity of prophecy in the sense of prediction to prove commission from God. Prophecies that prove nothing are

1. A prophecy which can never be disfulfilled: ex.gr. one for the fulfilment of which no man is particularized. ex.gr. deliverance from natural oppression

2. A prophecy predicting in general terms, and without particularization an event belonging to any of those sorts of events which in the course of nature are continually happening—such as vicissitudes of the weather—war and peace—good and ill fortune in all shapes

3. Any political speaker or writer of modern times better entitled to the appellative of prophet than any of the Jews so called.