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SER M. Application of the whole at last, I propose for the Subject of my prefent Discourse.

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I. And FIRST I would obferve that here is a direct Intimation, that, even in the Ages of Inspiration, the Jews had fettled Colleges or Schools for the Education of Prophets, and to fit and difpofe them for the Reception of the Spirit. This I take to be fuggefted by the very firft Branch of Amos's Answer to Amaziah: I was no Prophet, (faith he) neither was I a Prophet's Son: a direct Implication that there were at that time in Ifrael not only Prophets but Prophets Sons. Now by the

Son of a Prophet, it is plain from other Pasfages of Scripture, which I fhall have Occa fion to mention by and by, is to be understood one, who, under the Care and Direction of a Prophet, was educated or trained up as a Disciple or Scholar: If then a Prophet's Son be a Prophet's Difciple; it is reasonable we fhould understand by a Prophet in the Text, not only one who was actually endued with the Spirit of Prophecy (without which, be fure, a Man could not be a Prophet;) but one who was also engaged as a Tutor or Instructor to others. So that both Terms together seem plainly to intimate, not only that there was a

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Succeffion of Prophets among the Jews; butS ERM. also that they had the Care of Students under them, whom they brought up in the Use of Religious Exercifes, fuch as might keep them in a fit Difpofition for the Prophetick Spirit, if God should fee Occafion to impart it to them.

And indeed if we look back into the ancient Records both of Jews and Gentiles, we shall find plain Footsteps remaining of great Preparations, which those Persons went through, who offered themselves as Candidates for the Spirit of Prophecy. As to the Heathens, who fought only after a Spirit of Divination, we are told of fome very folemn Ceremonies which they used, to fit themselves for the Influx of their imaginary Deities, and to call forth the Souls of dead Men into themfelves to enable them to prefage Things future and contingent *. The Heathens indeed are no proper Inftances of the Preparations that are neceffary to the receiving an Influx which is truly Divine: But fince it may be proved, that they used such Preparations, and fince most of the Rites, which were practised

* R. Albo. Maam. 3. c. 8. as cited by Smith in his Difcourfe of Prophecy c. 8. in bis Select Difcourfes p. 240.

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SER M. by the Heathens, were taken up in Imitation

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of the Rites which the true God had prefcribed to be obferved in the Worship of Himself; it may not unfairly be prefumed that those Preparations, which the Gentiles went through, to fit themselves for the receiving the Spirit of Divination, were in imitation or mimickry of fome preparatory Discipline, which the Jews obferved as neceffary to fit themselves for the Spirit of Prophecy.

Not that we want Proofs amongst the Jewish Writers themselves, as well too amongst the inspired ones as those that were not, of regular Colleges or Schools fet apart for training up Students to the Prophetick Office. Some of the Modern Jews indeed carry their Accounts of these Schools higher than they have any Authority to support them ; pretending to trace them to Abraham, and to Noah, to Seth, and to Adam *. It is true the Spirit of Prophecy might more or less refide among the Patriarchs and others from the earlieft Ages: And it has been inferred from the famous Prediction of Mofes, viz. The LORD

* Vide Jacob. Alting. de Republica Hebræorum, p. 12. & Abendana of the Schools among the Hebrews in his Dif courfes of the Ecclefiaftical and Civil Polity of the Jews, c. 5. p. 128. &c.

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thy God fhall raife up unto thee a Prophet from SER M. the midst of thee, of thy Brethren, like unto me, unto him fhall ye hearken; Deut. xviii. 1 5. It has been inferred, I say, from this Prediction, that the Prophetick Spirit was to be continually amongst them. It is certain indeed, those Words do principally and ultimately point at Chrift, to whom St. Peter applies them, Acts iii. 22. But they have also been understood by very learned Men, of a Succeffion of Prophets: Since without fuch Succeffion the Completion of them would have been no Security or Defence to the present Ifraelites against Enchanters and Diviners, as they infer from the Context it was defigned to be *. However, though the Gift and Spirit of Prophecy might be always amongst the Jews, yet the Inftance of a preparatory Exercife and Discipline to qualify them for it, does not appear fo ancient as the modern Jewish Writers are willing to believe.

But

*See Bishop Stillingfleet's Orig. Sacr. / 2. c. 4. §. 1. other learned and judicious Writers (with whom 1 agree) confine this Prophecy to our Saviour only, and will allow no Succeffion of Prophets to be intended; nor admit any Connexion between this Verfe and the foregoing Prohibition concerning the Heathen Diviners. See Mr. Bullock's Sermon at Norwich. And bis Argument from Prophecy defended, p. 220-273. See also Bishop Sherlock's fixth Difcourfe on Prophecy. p. 185, &c. And Dr. Berriman's eighth Boyle's Lecture. p. 219-241. However, nothing in this Difcourfe depends on the Truth, either of one Side or the other.

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The first Institution of Colleges and Schools for this Purpose was probably about the Time of Samuel, when the Priests began to be very degenerate, and Men thereby became estranged from the Worship of God. So that there then seemed a Neceffity for appointing fuch Schools for the better educating fuch as were defigned for Religious Offices. So much is certain, that the first mention we meet with of any fuch College is in the Tenth Chapter of the First Book of Samuel; where there is an Account of Saul's meeting, and joining himself to, a Company of Prophets at the Hill of God as they came down from the High-Place with Mufick before them, 1 Sam. x. 5, 10. What the Text expreffes by a Company of Prophets, moft Commentators, as well Jewish as Christian, agree to interpret of a Society of Students devoting themselves to a studious and religious Life under fome Prophet who prefided over them. Where and what this Hill of God was, is difputed by Interpreters: But the most probable Conjecture is, that it was in Gibeah of Benjamin, the Place where Saul's Father dwelt *; and that it was call

* It is plain from v. 11, 13, 14. that this happened towards the End of Saul's Journey, where his Uncle dwelt, and where he bimfelf was well known: And we also read in Ch. xiii. 2, 3. of Garifon of Philiftines, which was kept in Gibeah.

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