The third Chapter. Concerning Prophesie; out of the first of Samuel, the 19. Chapter, verse 33.
SEing therfore that God would be knowne vnto men by prophesie, I thought it not from the purpose to speake somewhat thereof. And that I may doo it the more bréeflie and plainlie, 1 I will first shew what is meant by this name or word prophesie: then what are the causes of it: next the definition: and lastlie, the properties and effects. As touching the name of prophesie: 2 A prophet is in the Hebrue toong called Naui: which noune commeth of the Hebrue verbe Bo, that signifieth to come. And it is in the passiue coniugation Niphal. 3 Khimhi dooth interpret prophesie to be a certein facultie receiued from GOD. For prophets doo suffer a certeine breathing on them, and instinct from God: and that word dooth signifie sometime an interpretor or messenger. And a prophet is called somtimes in 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, 4 and first of Paralipo. the 29. In the Greeke he is called ⟨…⟩, of ⟨…⟩, to foretell: or as some rather will of ⟨…⟩, that is, to shew. Whervpon among the Latins, temples are called Phana: and as Festus Pompeius thinketh, the bishops of the temples were called prophets. There were also ⟨…⟩, to wit, interpretors, which did seruice to the greater prophets. They were also called among the Gréeks ⟨…⟩, of ⟨…⟩. Among the Latins mad men are called Fanatici: yet further, they were called of the Gréekes ⟨…⟩ of ⟨…⟩, that is, to stir vp and driue forward. They were called in Latine Vates, as some suppose, of speaking, although there were that thought otherwise. A prophet is he, which being stirred vp by the spirit, foretelleth things to come.
5 2 Now that we may also speake somwhat of the causes: a prophet is occupied about heauenlie 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 concerning the creation of the world. For as touching things to come, no man doubteth, (but he foreséeth them.) Also they which expound other mens prophesies, are prophets. 6 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 prophet to praie vnto God: wherefore Paule saith, that euerie man praieng or prophesieng, &c. And in Genesis, 7 God answereth Abimelech concerning Abraham, 8 when he had taken his wife from him: Giue him his wife againe, for he is a prophet, 9 and shall praie for thee. And Paule in the first Epistle to the Corinthians the 14. chapter, setteth foorth more at large the office of a prophet. When ye come together (saith he,) euerie one hath a psalme, 10 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 people. For Paule saith: He that prophesieth, speaketh doctrine, 11 exhortation, and consolation. Which facultie pertaineth to the mind and power of vnderstanding. And a prophet differeth from a préest, 12 in that a préest should not onelie exhort, teach, and comfort; but also minister holie 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 succession, and had an ordinarie ministerie: but the prophets were sent by an extraordinarie means according to the will of God.