Hence Some Persons Object, That, If They
Were Under The Guidance Of The Holy Spirit, They Would Sometimes
Premise, "Thus
Saith the Lord God," or make use of some expression
in the prophetic style; and as such a mode of
Prophesying is not
taken notice of by Merlin, and no mention is made of his sanctity,
devotion, or faith, many think that he spake by a Pythonic spirit.
To which I answer, that the spirit of prophecy was given not only
to the holy, but sometimes to unbelievers and Gentiles, to Baal, to
the sibyls, and even to bad people, as to Caiaphas and Bela. On
which occasion Origen says: "Do not wonder, if he whom ye have
mentioned declares that the Scribes and Pharisees and doctors
amongst the Jews prophesied concerning Christ; for Caiaphas said:
"It is expedient for us that one man die for the people:" but
asserts at the same time, that because he was high priest for that
year, he prophesied. Let no man therefore be lifted up, if he
prophesies, if he merits prescience; for prophecies shall fail,
tongues shall cease, knowledge shall vanish away; and now abideth,
faith, hope, and charity: these three; but the greatest of these
is Charity, which never faileth. But these bad men not only
prophesied, but sometimes performed great miracles, which others
could not accomplish. John the Baptist, who was so great a
personage, performed no miracle, as John the Evangelist testifies:
"And many came to Jesus and said, Because John wrought no signs,"
etc.
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