InwhatmannerGodspaketoAdam，andEve，andCain，andNoahisnotexpressed；norhowhespaketoAbraham，tillsuchtimeashecameoutofhisowncountrytoSicheminthelandofCanaan，andthenGodissaidtohaveappearedtohim。*SothereisonewaywherebyGodmadeHispresencemanifest；thatis，byanapparition，orvision。Andagain，thewordoftheLordcametoAbrahaminavision“；*2thatistosay，somewhat，asasignofGod’spresence，appearedasGod’smessengertospeaktohim。Again，theLordappearedtoAbrahambyanapparitionofthreeangels；*3andtoAbimelechinadream；*4toLotbyanapparitionoftwoangels；*5andtoHagarbytheapparitionofoneangel；*6andtoAbrahamagainbytheapparitionofavoicefromheaven；*7andtoIsaacinthenight*8thatis，inhissleep，orbydream；andtoJacobinadream；*9thatistosayasarethewordsofthetext，“Jacobdreamedthathesawaladder，“etc。Andinavisionofangels；*10andtoMosesintheapparitionofaflameoffireoutofthemidstofabush；*11andafterthetimeofMoses，wherethemannerhowGodspakeimmediatelytomanintheOldTestamentisexpressed，Hespakealwaysbyavision，orbyadream；astoGideon，Samuel，Eliah，Elisha，Isaiah，Ezekiel，andtherestoftheprophets；andoftenintheNewTestament，astoJoseph，toSt。
Peter，toSt。Paul，andtoSt。JohntheEvangelistintheApocalypse。
OnlytoMosesHespakeinamoreextraordinarymannerinMountSinai，andintheTabernacle；andtothehighpriestintheTabernacle，andinthesanctumsanctorumoftheTemple。ButMoses，andafterhimthehighpriests，wereprophetsofamoreeminentplaceanddegreeinGod’sfavour；andGodHimselfinexpresswordsdeclareththattootherprophetsHespakeindreamsandvisions，buttoHisservantMosesinsuchmannerasamanspeakethtohisfriend。Thewordsarethese：“Iftherebeaprophetamongyou，ItheLordwillmakeMyselfknowntohiminavision，andwillspeakuntohiminadream。MyservantMosesisnotso，whoisfaithfulinallmyhouse；
withhimIwillspeakmouthtomouth，evenapparently，notindarkspeeches；andthesimilitudeoftheLordshallhebehold。“*And，“TheLordspaketoMosesfacetoface，asamanspeakethtohisfriend。“*2AndyetthisspeakingofGodtoMoseswasbymediationofanangel，orangels，asappearsexpressly，Acts7。35and53，andGalatians，3。19，andwasthereforeavision，thoughamoreclearvisionthanwasgiventootherprophets。Andconformablehereunto，whereGodsaith，“Ifthereariseamongstyouaprophet，ordreamerofdreams，“*3thelatterwordisbuttheinterpretationoftheformer。And，“Yoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy；youroldmenshalldreamdreams，andyouryoungmenshallseevisions“：*4
whereagain，thewordprophesyisexpoundedbydreamandvision。AndinthesamemanneritwasthatGodspaketoSolomon，promisinghimwisdom，riches，andhonour；forthetextsaith，“AndSolomonawoke，andbeholditwasadream“：*5sothatgenerallytheprophetsextraordinaryintheOldTestamenttooknoticeofthewordofGodnootherwisethanfromtheirdreamsorvisionsthatistosay，fromtheimaginationswhichtheyhadintheirsleeporinanecstasy：whichimaginationsineverytrueprophetweresupernatural，butinfalseprophetswereeithernaturalorfeigned。
Thesameprophetswereneverthelesssaidtospeakbythespirit；
aswheretheprophet，speakingoftheJews，saith，“Theymadetheirheartshardasadamant，lesttheyshouldhearthelaw，andthewordswhichtheLordofHostshathsentinHisSpiritbytheformerprophets。“*BywhichitismanifestthatspeakingbythespiritorinspirationwasnotaparticularmannerofGod’sspeaking，differentfromvision，whentheythatweresaidtospeakbytheSpiritwereextraordinaryprophets，suchasforeverynewmessageweretohaveaparticularcommissionor，whichisallone，anewdreamorvision。
*Zechariah，7。12
OfprophetsthatweresobyaperpetualcallingintheOldTestament，someweresupremeandsomesubordinate：supremewerefirstMoses，andafterhimthehighpriests，everyoneforhistime，aslongthepriesthoodwasroyal；andafterthepeopleoftheJewshadrejectedGod，thatHeshouldnomorereignoverthem，thosekingswhichsubmittedthemselvestoGod’sgovernmentwerealsohischiefprophets；andthehighpriest’sofficebecameministerial。AndwhenGodwastobeconsulted，theyputontheholyvestments，andenquiredoftheLordasthekingcommandedthem，andweredeprivedoftheirofficewhenthekingthoughtfit。ForKingSaulcommandedtheburntofferingtobebrought；*andhecommandsthepriesttobringtheArknearhim；*2and，again，toletitalone，becausehesawanadvantageuponhisenemies。*3AndinthesamechapterSaulaskethcounselofGod。InlikemannerKingDavid，afterhisbeinganointed，thoughbeforehehadpossessionofthekingdom，issaidto“enquireoftheLord“whetherheshouldfightagainstthePhilistinesatKeilah；*4andDavidcommandeththepriesttobringhimtheephod，toenquirewhetherheshouldstayinKeilahornot。*5AndKingSolomontookthepriesthoodfromAbiathar，*6andgaveittoZadok。*7ThereforeMoses，andthehighpriests，andthepiouskings，whoenquiredofGodonallextraordinaryoccasionshowtheyweretocarrythemselves，orwhateventtheyweretohave，wereallsovereignprophets。ButinwhatmannerGodspakeuntothemisnotmanifest。TosaythatwhenMoseswentuptoGodinMountSinaiitwasadream，orvision，suchasotherprophetshad，iscontrarytothatdistinctionwhichGodmadebetweenMosesandotherprophets。*8TosayGodspakeorappearedasHeisinHisownnatureistodenyHisinfiniteness，invisibility，incomprehensibility。
Tosayhespakebyinspiration，orinfusionoftheHolySpirit，astheHolySpiritsignifieththeDeity，istomakeMosesequalwithChrist，inwhomonlytheGodhead，asSt。Paulspeaketh，dwellethbodily。*9Andlastly，tosayhespakebytheHolySpirit，asitsignifieththegracesorgiftsoftheHolySpirit，istoattributenothingtohimsupernatural。ForGoddisposethmentopiety，justice，mercy，truth，faith，andallmannerofvirtue，bothmoralandintellectual，bydoctrine，example，andbyseveraloccasions，naturalandordinary。
AndasthesewayscannotbeappliedtoGod，inHisspeakingtoMosesatMountSinai；soalsotheycannotbeappliedtoHiminHisspeakingtothehighpriestsfromthemercy-seat。ThereforeinwhatmannerGodspaketothosesovereignprophetsoftheOldTestament，whoseofficeitwastoenquireofHim，isnotintelligible。InthetimeoftheNewTestamenttherewasnosovereignprophetbutourSaviour，whowasbothGodthatspake，andtheprophettowhomHespake。
Tosubordinateprophetsofperpetualcalling，IfindnotanyplacethatprovethGodspaketothemsupernaturally，butonlyinsuchmannerasnaturallyHeinclinethmentopiety，tobelief，torighteousness，andtoothervirtuesallotherChristianmen。Whichway，thoughitconsistinconstitution，instruction，education，andtheoccasionsandinvitementsmenhavetoChristianvirtues，yetitistrulyattributedtotheoperationoftheSpiritofGod，orHolySpirit，whichweinourlanguagecalltheHolyGhost：forthereisnogoodinclinationthatisnotoftheoperationofGod。Buttheseoperationsarenotalwayssupernatural。Whenthereforeaprophetissaidtospeakinthespirit，orbytheSpiritofGod，wearetounderstandnomorebutthathespeaksaccordingtoGod’swill，declaredbythesupremeprophet。Forthemostcommonacceptationofthewordspiritisinthesignificationofaman’sintention，mind，ordisposition。
InthetimeofMoses，therewereseventymenbesideshimselfthatprophesiedinthecampoftheIsraelites。InwhatmannerGodspaketothemisdeclaredintheeleventhChapterofNumbers，verse25：“TheLordcamedowninacloud，andspakeuntoMoses，andtookofthespiritthatwasuponhim，andgaveittotheseventyelders。Anditcametopass，whenthespiritresteduponthem，theyprophesied，anddidnotcease。“Bywhichitismanifest，first，thattheirprophesyingtothepeoplewassubservientandsubordinatetotheprophesyingofMoses；forthatGodtookofthespiritofMosesputuponthem；sothattheyprophesiedasMoseswouldhavethem：otherwisetheyhadnotbeensufferedtoprophesyatall。FortherewasacomplaintmadeagainstthemtoMoses；*andJoshuawouldhaveMosestohaveforbiddenthem；whichhedidnot，butsaidtoJoshua“Benotjealousinmybehalf。“Secondly，thattheSpiritofGodinthatplacesignifiethnothingbutthemindanddispositiontoobeyandassistMosesintheadministrationofthegovernment。ForifitweremeanttheyhadthesubstantialSpiritofGod；thatis，thedivinenature，inspiredintothem，thentheyhaditinnolessmannerthanChristhimself，inwhomonlytheSpiritofGoddweltbodily。ItismeantthereforeofthegiftandgraceofGod，thatguidedthemtoco-operatewithMoses，fromwhomtheirspiritwasderived。AnditappeareththattheyweresuchasMoseshimselfshouldappointforeldersandofficersofthepeople：*2forthewordsare，“Gatheruntomeseventymen，whomthouknowesttobeeldersandofficersofthepeople“：
where，thouknowestisthesamewiththouappointest，orhastappointedtobesuch。ForwearetoldbeforethatMoses，followingthecounselofJethrohisfather-in-law，didappointjudgesandofficersoverthepeoplesuchasfearedGod；*3andofthesewerethoseseventywhomGod，byputtinguponthemMoses’spirit，inclinedtoaidMosesintheadministrationofthekingdom：andinthissensethespiritofGodissaidpresentlyupontheanointingofDavidtohavecomeuponDavid，andleftSaul；*4GodgivingHisgracestohimHechosetogovernHispeople，andtakingthemawayfromhimHerejected。SothatbythespiritismeantinclinationtoGod’sservice，andnotanysupernaturalrevelation。
Godspakealsomanytimesbytheeventoflots，whichwereorderedbysuchasHehadputinauthorityoverHispeople。SowereadthatGodmanifestedbythelotswhichSaulcausedtobedrawnthefaultthatJonathanhadcommittedineatingahoneycomb，contrarytotheoathtakenbythepeople。*AndGoddividedthelandofCanaanamongsttheIsraelitesbythe“lotsthatJoshuadidcastbeforetheLordinShiloh。“*2InthesamemanneritseemethtobethatGoddiscoveredthecrimeofAchan。*3AndthesearethewayswherebyGoddeclaredHiswillintheOldTestament。