cannot well be deceived, if we will only believe our own eyes and observation. We actually see the completion of many of the prophecies in the state of men and things around us; and we have the prophecies themselves recorded in books, which books have been read in public assemblies these 1700 or 2000 years, have been dispersed into several countries, have been translated into several languages, and quoted and commented upon by different authors of different ages and nations, so that there is no room to suspect so much as a possibility of forgery or illusion." 4. Rules for understanding the prophecies. a view, directly or indirectly, to the kingdom of the Messiah. Is an empire, or kingdom, subverted or overthrown, that empire, or kingdom, is overthrown in subserviency to the glory of his kingdom and empire, which shall know neither bounds nor end, but whose limits shall be no other than the limits of the universe, and whose end no other than the days of eternity. Jesus Christ, then, is the only person that ever existed in whom all the prophecies meet as in a centre." In order, therefore, to oppose error and confront the infidel, we must study the prophecies not as independent of each other, but as connected: for "the argument from prophecy," In order to understand the pro- says bishop Hurd, "is not to be phecies, and to form a right judg-formed from the consideration of ment of the argument for the single prophecies, but from all truth of Christianity, we must not the prophecies taken together, and consider them singly and apart, considered as making one system; but as a grand whole, or a chain in which, from the mutual dereaching through several thousand years, delivered at different times, yet manifestly subservient to one and the same end. This end is no other than the establishment of the universal empire of truth and righteousness under the dominion of Jesus Christ. We are not, indeed, to suppose that each of the prophecies recorded in the Old Testamentexpressly points out and "Hence, though the evidence clearly characterizes Jesus Christ; be but small from the completion yet, taken as a whole, this grand of any one prophecy taken sepasystem refers to him; for the tes-rately, yet that evidence, being altimony of Jesus is the spirit of pro-ways something, the amount of phecy. "All the revolutions of the whole evidence resulting from Divine Providence have him for a great number of prophecies, all their scope and end. Is an em- relative to the same design, may pire, or kingdom, erected, that em- be considerable; like many scatpire, or kingdom, is erected with || tered rays, which, though each be pendence and connexion of its parts, preceding prophecies prepare and illustrate those which follow; and these, again, reflect light on the foregoing: just as in any philosophical system, that which shows the solidity of it is the harmony and correspondence of the whole, not the application of it in particular instances, weak in itself, yet, concentered ||preter of Prophecy. See also the into one point, shall form a strong works of Mede, Smith, Gill, Hallilight, and strike the sense very fax, Apthorp, and Faber, on the powerfully. Still more; this evi- subject. dence is not simply a growing evidence, but is indeed multiplied upfrom the number of reflected lights which the several component parts of such a system reci-ledge and piety. The ministers of on us, PROPHESYINGS, religious exercises of the clergy in the reign of queen Elizabeth, instituted for the purpose of promoting know procally throw upon each; till, at a particular division at a set time length, the conviction rise unto a met together in some church of a high degree of moral certainty." market or other large town, and Farther; in order to understand there each in their order explainthe prophecies, we must endeavour ed, according to their abilities, to find out the true subject of pro- some portion of scripture allotted phecy, that is, precisely what the to them before. This done, a prophets speak of, and the cha- moderator made his observations racters that are applied to that on what had been said, and desubject. The literal sense should termined the true sense of the be always kept in view, and a place, a certain space of time beknowledge of oriental customs at- ing fixed for dispatching the whole. tained. The beginning and end These institutions, like all others, of the prophetic sermons must be however, it seems, were abused, carefully observed. The time, as by irregularity, disputations, and near as possible, of the prediction divisions. Archbishop Grindal enshould be ascertained. An ac- deavoured to regulate the proquaintance with the method of phesyings, and cover them from salvation by Christ will greatly the objections that the court made assist us in this work. The mind against them, by enjoining the mimust be unprejudiced, and we nisters to observe decency and orshould be well acquainted with der, by forbidding them to meddle the scriptures at large. These with politics and church governrules, with dependance on the ment, and by prohibiting all nonDivine teaching, will assist us in conformist ministers and laymen understanding the prophecies. See from being speakers. The queen, Bishop Newton's Dissertations on however, was resolved to suppress the Prophecies; Bishop Sherlock's them; and having sent for the Use and Intent of Prophecy; Bishop archbishop, told him she was inHurd's Sermons on the Prophecies; formed that the rites and cereSir Isaac Newton's Observations on monies of the church were not the Prophecies of Daniel and the duly observed in these propheApocalypse; Gray's Key to the Old syings; that persons not lawfully Testament; Simson's Key to the called to be ministers'exercised in Prophecies; Illustrations of Pro- them; that the assemblies themphecy; Kett's History the Inter-selves were illegal, not being al missioned by God to declare his will and purposes to that people. See PROPHECY. False Prophets. See IMPOSTORS; Sons of the Prophets, an appellation given to young men who were educated in the schools or colleges under a proper master, who was commonly, if not always, an inspired prophet in the knowledge of religion, and in sacred music, and thus were qualified to be public preachers, 1st Sam. x. 1st Sam. xi. 2d Sam. xix. 2d Kings ii. lowed by public authority; that the laity neglected their secular affairs by repairing to these meetings, which filled their heads with notions, and might occasion dis-and Josephus's Hist. of the Jews. putes and seditions in the state; that it was good for the church to have but few preachers, three or four in a county being sufficient. She farther declared her dislike of the number of these exercises, and therefore commanded him peremptorily to put them down. The archbishop, however, instead of obeying the commands of his royal mistress, thought that she had made some infringement PROPITIATION, a sacrifice upon his office, and wrote the off red to God to assuage his wrath, queen a long and earnest letter, de- and render him propitious. Among claring that his conscience would the Jews, there were both ordinot suffer him to comply with her nary and public sacrifices, as hocommands. The queen was so locausts, &c., offered by way of inflamed with this letter, that the thanksgiving; and extraordinary archbishop was sequestered from ones, offered by persons guilty of his office, and he never afterwards any crime, by way of propitiation. recovered the queen's favour. The Romish church believe the Thus ended the prophesyings; mass to be a sacrifice of propitia"an useful institution," says tion for the living and the dead. Neale, "for promoting Christian The reformed churches allow of knowledge and piety, at a time no propitiation but that one offerwhen both were at a very low ebbed by Jesus on the cross, whereby in the nation. The queen put Divine justice is appeased, and our them down for no other reason sins forgiven, Rom. iii, 25. 1st John but because they enlightened the ii, 2. people's minds in the scripture, and encouraged their enquiries after truth; her majesty being always of opinion that knowledge and learning in the laity would only endanger their peaceable submission to her absolute will and pleasure." As it respects the unbloody propitiatory sacrifice of the mass above-mentioned, little need be said to confute such a doctrine. Indeed, it is owned in the church of Rome, that there is no other foundation for the belief of it than an unwritten tradition. There is PROPHET, a person who fore-no hint in the scripture of Christ's tels future events. It is particu- offering his body and blood to his larly applied to such inspired per- Father at his institution of the eusons among the Jews as were com-charist. It is also a manifest cou tradiction to St. Paul's doctrine, who teaches, that, without shedding of blood, there is no remission; therefore there can be no remission of sins in the mass. The sacrifice of Christ, according to the same apostle, is not to be repeated. A second oblation would be superfluous; consequently the pretended true and proper sacrifice of the mass must be superfluous and useless. the places of prayer of the Jews, PROTESTANT, a name first given in Germany to those who adhered to the doctrine of Luther, because, in 1529, they protested against a decree of the emperor Charles V, and the diet of Spires; declaring that they appealed to a general council. The same has also been given to those of the senti The propitiation made by Jesus Christ is that which atones for and covers our guilt, as the mercy-seat did the tables of the law; or it may be defined thus: "It is the averting the punishment due to any one, by undergoing the penalty in the room of the guilty." Thus Jesus Christ is called the pro-ments of Calvin; and is now become pitiation or atonement, as his complete righteousness appeases his Father, and satisfies his law and justice for all our transgressions. See ATONEMENT, and books under that article.. PROPORTION OF FAITH. See ANALOGY OF FAITH. a common denomination for all those of the reformed churches. See art. REFORMATION; Fell's four Letters on genuine Protestantism; Chillingworth's Religion of the Protestants; Robertson's Hist. of Charles V, vol. ii, p. 249, 250. PROVIDENCE, the superintendance and care which God'exer PROSELYTE, a new convert to some religion or religious sect.cises over creation. The arguments Among the Hebrews, proselytes were distinguished into two sorts: the first called proselytes of the gate, because suffered to live among them, and were those who observed the moral law only, and the rules imposed on the children of Noah; the second were called proselytes of justice, who engaged to receive circumcision, and the whole law of Moses, and enjoyed all the privileges of a native Hebrew. for the providence of God are generally drawn from the light of nature; the being of a God; the creation of the world; the wonderfully disposing and controlling the affairs and actions of men; from the absolute necessity of it; from the various blessings enjoyed by his creatures; the awful judgments that have been inflicted; and from the astonishing preserva.. tion of the Bible and the church through every age, notwithstand. ing the attempts of earth and hell against them. Providence has been "In what manner, indeed, Providence interposes in human af divided into immediate and medi- that nothing is too great or unate, ordinary and extraordinary, wieldy for his management, and common and special, universal and nothing so minute and inconsiderparticular. Immediate providence able as to be below his inspection is what is exercised by God him- and care. While he is guiding self, without the use of any in- the sun and moon in their course strument or second cause; mediate through the heavens; while in providence is what is exercised in this inferior world he is ruling the use of means; ordinary pro- among empires, stilling the ragings vidence is what is exercised in the of the waters and the tumults of the common course of means, and by people, he is at the same time the chain of second causes; extra-watching over the humble good ordinary is what is out of the com- man, who, in the obscurity of his mon way, as miraculous opera-cottage, is serving and worship. tions; common providence is what ping him." belongs to the whole world; special, what relates to the church; universal relates to the general up-fairs; by what means it influences holding and preserving all things; particular relates to individuals in every action and circumstance. This last, however, is denied by some. But, as a good writer observes, "the opinion entertained by some that the providence of God extends no farther than to a general superintendence of the laws of nature, without interposing in the particular concerns of individuals, is contrary both to reason and to scripture. It renders the government of the Almighty altogether loose and contingent, and would leave no ground for reposing any trust under its protection; for the majority of human affairs would then be allowed to fluctuate in a fortuitous course, without moving in any regular direc-operation remains unknown, the tion, and without tending to any one scope. The uniform doctrine of the sacred writings is, that throughout the universe nothing happens without God; that his hand is ever active, and his decree or permission intervenes in all; the thoughts and councils of men, and, notwithstanding the influence it exerts, leaves to them the freedom of choice, are subjects of dark and mysterious nature, and which have given occasion to many an intricate controversy. Let us remember, that the manner in which God influences the motion. of all the heavenly bodies, the nature of that secret power by which he is ever directing the sun and the moon, the planets, stars, and comets, in their course through the heavens, while they appear to move themselves in a free course, are matters no less inexplicable to us than the manner in which he influences the councils of men. But though the mode of Divine fact of an over-ruling influence is equally certain in the moral as it is in the natural world. In cases where the fact is clearly authenticated, we are not at liberty to call its truth in question, merely because we understand not the |