CAP. I. Of the sundry names , by the which the Prophets have beene called .

I Thinke I shall doe a thing worthy the travell , if ( intending with the helpe of God to take in hand the exposition or laying open of the meaning of the twelve Prophets , which are called Small Prophets ) of a notable argument or matter I shall make also a notable beginning : and shall first set downe as certaine fore-notes , those things the which will bring light unto the whole discourse ensuing . And such they are as doe most especially appertaine unto the declaring of the office and order of the prophets , of the which albeit many have written many thinges most learnedly , chiefly Iohn Calvin in his fore-notes upon Isai , Calvin . Martyr . and Peter Martyr in his common places , the which are gathered together out of his workes : yet is there as I suppose , no law to the contrarie , but that I also may lay downe my shot as it were , for the common use and edifying of the Church , and now adde , if any thing of them be overpassed . For the which no man will blame me , especially when as I will now only deliver those things the which doe properly belong unto the manner of my purpose , Nay , to speake truly , are altogether requisite and necessarie therunto . And of these things intonding a most briefe rather then large discourse , I will especially begin with this point , Prophets . Prophesie . Prophesying . Of the sundry names or titles of Prophets . For these termes of Prophets , Prophesie , and Prophesying are founde not onely in Church-men or Church-writers : but also in prophane authours , both Greekes , as Plato his Phoedrus , Charmides , and other his workes : also in Aristotle his booke of the worlde : but also in Latine writers , as appeareth out of Festus Pompeius . Diviners . But M. Tullius calleth them every where Diviners : because of all men they come neerest unto the nature of God , and declare unto us his will and mind , being otherwise secret and hidden . But to the ende this whole discourse may be the more fitly and easily understood , Prophets have their name of Prophesie . first wee must intreate of the worde Prophet it selfe , and afterwardes of the thing meant by the worde , and shewe what it is . Now the name or worde Prophesie is it whereof Prophetes are named , the which excell and are indued therewithall . The Hebrewes ( to begin with them ) call a Prophet Nabia , Nabia . Nebuah . and Prophecie Nebuah ; because prophets are Messengers unto men of the answeres and decrees of God . For they receave the worde from God , the which afterwardes they deliver unto others . Whereupon the word Nib signifying a speech , Nib. hath great affinitie with the worde Nabiah a prophet . Yet others had rather fetch it from the verb Boa , because that prophets doe foretell things that happen and come afterwards to passe . Certes from whence soever the Hebrew word be derived or set , or with what worde soever it have affinitie or likenes , this with full consent and truly hath bin noted of the Hebrues , that the verb Naba , the which signifieth to prophesie , is wont to be formed in the passive voice Niphal , when as mention is made of the true prophets of God , The Hebrewes for the most part speaking of true and false prophets , use the verb signifying to prophesie , in sundry coniugations . because that word betokeneth that the same prophet was truly and indeed inspired by the spirite of God , and received from God and not from himselfe the prophesie , the which he afterwards delivereth unto men . But when they speake of false prophets , they use the selfe same verb in the coniugation Hithpael , because such prophets are not sent of God , but of themselves thrust forth themselves of their owne authority to prophesie .

Furthermore , the signification of the word Prophet and Prophesying , The large signification of the word prophet , & prophesying . is very large among the Hebricians . For it comprehendeth all those the which being moved with the spirit of God , either ordinarily or extraordinarily , either in prose or in verse doe set forth , tell , and declare the will of God , and the same either already knowen & written : or as yet hidden & unknown . So the Levites that were Singers are called Prophets , as appeareth in the beginning of the 1. Chron. 25. in these words : The finging Levites called prophets . So David and the captains of the armie separated for the ministery the sonnes of Asaph , & Heman , & Ieduthun , who should prophesie with harpes , viols , & cymbals , &c. Yea moreover the false prophets , who although they lie , False prophets termed prophets . yet professe that they will declare the will of God , are also tearmed Prophetes . Wherefore it commeth to passe , that Paul Titus 1.12 . Epimenides . ( speaking of Epimenides of Creta , a prophane man ) calleth him a prophet , because he did lively set forth the disposition & maners of the men of Creta , and was a most ancient poet , as Cicero teacheth in his first booke of Divination . And thus because the signification of a prophet and prophesying is most large ; the wordes of Paul be these : One of themselves , even one of their owne prophets said , The Cretians are alwayes lyars , evill beastes , slow-bellies . The Sibyllae . To be short , both Lactantius and sundry others doe call the Sibyllae of the Heathen , Prophetisses . A prophet called a Seer . The same Hebrewes also doe call a prophet Chozch , a Seer , because by the reuelation of God they doe foresee things to come , as in Samuel 1.9 . vers. 19. Hee that is now called a Prophet , was in the old time called a Seer . An Angel , or Messenger . And vers. 19. And Samuel answered Saul and saide , I am the Seer . They call him also Maleah , that is to say , an Angell or Messenger , because he bringeth unto us the commandements of God . Haggai 1.13 . Then spake Haggai the Lords Messenger in the Lords message unto the people , &c. The difference between an Angel and a prophet , according unto some . Although notwithstanding some thinke that this is the difference betweene a Prophet and an Angell , that an Angell or Messenger bringeth unto us not onely the charge and commandement of another : but also often times the very words and speech of the commaunder : but the Prophets , The confutation of the former difference . as these men will have it , delivered in their owne wordes the commandement , which they received from God . As if the selfe same spirite of God did not tell unto the Prophets the very wordes which they should use when as hee gave unto them the matter , the which they should declare , as Peter teacheth in his second Epistle chapt. 1. vers. 20 , 21. So that ye first knowe this , that no Prophesie in the scripture is of any private motion . For the Prophesie came not in the olde time by the will of man , but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy ghost . And after this maner doe the Hebrewes call the prophets .

Nowe the Greekes also doe terme them by sundry names . For these words Prophêtes , Hupophêtes , Mantis , Mesîtes , do often signify all one thing , as Iul. Poll. l. 1. Onomast . doth teach . Although notwithstanding he seemeth to be Prophêtes who doeth foresee a thing to come : A difference between these words Prophêtes , and Hupophêtes . but Hupophetes is he , who doth so far forth declare a thing tolde him by God , as it is tolde unto him at severall seasons . Therefore he taketh the speech of another , the which he reporteth againe at the selfe same instant in which it is tolde him . Whereupon Homer Iliad. 16. calleth them Hupophetai , who onely doe openly recite the oracle , or answer , which they have received from an other . Mesites is a Messenger betweene partie and partie , Mesites . such a one as Moses was , as hee witnesseth of himselfe , Deut. 5. vers. 3. when he saith , At that time I stoode beweene the Lord and you , to declare unto you the word of the Lord : for ye were afraid at the sight of the fire , and went not up into the mount , &c. And in the Galatians chap. 3. ver. 19 , 20. The law was ordeined by Angels in the hand of a Mediator . Now a Mediator is not a Mediator of one , &c. Hee is also called an Angel . Likewise the selfe same ( to wit , Prophetes ) are called Manteis , that is to say , Vates , and Chresmodoi , Other Greeke names whereby prophets are called . Chresmologoi , Chresmodotai , that is , Pronouncers and tellers of oracles , as Iulius Pollux writeth . But the Prophets of God are no where in the holy scripture called manteis & Chresmologoi , of which names I will speake hereafter .

Moreover the Latine writers also doe call Prophets by sundry names . The Latines call prophets by sundry names also . Isidorus lib. 7. Etymolog . chap. of Prophets writeth thus : Whome the Gentiles call Vates , or Sooth sayers , these our men call Prophets , because a farre off they doe tell and foreshew the trueth of things to come . Therefore these wordes Prophetae and Vates are with the Latines all one . Festus Pomp. Festus Pompeius a most diligent author and observer of the Latine tongue writeth thus : Iulius in Adrasto calleth prophets , praelates of Churches , and Interpreters of oracles . The wordes of Iulius Caesar in Adrasto , as Iosephus Scaliger the light of our age hath restored them , are these , Whom , the Prophets , which devoutly purifie the holy sacrifices , doe commaund to cover their heads with greene laurell . Now this C. Iulius Caesar was before the time of Cicero , whereby appeareth that the worde Prophets was in use among the olde Latines and profane writers . Prophets called Vates . The same are called Vates , whereof commeth the verbe vaticinari , Varros derivation of Vates , and ●aticinari . to Prophesie : although notwithstanding M. Varro doe derive the signification of the worde Vates from one thing , and Vaticinor from an other . Vates , saieth hee libr. 6. de Lingua Latina , they called the old poets à versibus viandis ; of binding of verses . For in them they did binde wordes unto certaine lawes and rules : whereupon the verses and oration of Poets is saide to be bounde . But the verbe vaticinari ( as hee writeth in the fifth of the same worke ) is so tearmed , because they which prophesie , doe it with a distraughted minde . This is the opinion of Varro . For ( as Tullie teacheth lib. 1. De Divinatione ) the Prophets which were knowen unto profane men did give foorth their oracles beeing stirred up with madnesse , or as it were , distraughtnesse . But I woulde say that these tearmes vates and vaticinari are derived of all one word , and that a greeke word , namely Mantis . Danaeus his derivation of the former wordes . For it was an easie matter of the Greeke worde mantis to make vatis : and of the worde vatis to make the verbe vaticinor , to prophesie . Furthermore they are called of the same profane authours , the Interpreters and Messengers of the goddes : and every where of M. Cicero Diviners , of whome afterwardes they make many sortes : as , Diviners by the entralles of beastes , Bird-prophets , Dreamers , oracle-tellers . But the Prophets of God are never called Diviners by the Latine Fathers and Ecclesiasticall or Church-writers , The prophets of God never called Diviners . because that name according unto the use and signification of the Latine tongue is proper unto profane and devilish divination . But these sundry sortes of divining are notably set foorth by Gaspar Peucer the best learned of all the Germanes ; if any man haue leysure and a minde to reade such things . And by so many names is one and the selfe same thing called . And now let us see what that is .

CAP. II. What Prophesie generally is ?

WE must first shewe what Prophesie generally is , and afterwardes come unto that signification thereof , the which is proper unto the Prophets of God , From whence these wordes prophesie , and prophet are derived . and is reteined and used of the godly in the expounding of holy matters only . When as Prophesie hath his name of the worde Prophet : and the same worde is derived and taken from the Greeke nowne Prophêtes : my when as this worde Prophêtes it selfe is derived from the Greeke verbe Prophêmi and prophanai , it may easily be gathered of the nature and signification of the worde , that Prophesie generally , is every kind of foretelling and foresh●wing of things to come extraordinarily , What prophesie generally is . from whence soever hee have it , which a farre off and before they come to passe doeth foretell that those things which are to come , shall come to passe . Therefore after what maner soever he doe foretell the same , whether he be well in his wit or out of his wit , as Lactantius speaketh in his first booke , that is , be taken with madnesse when hee pronounceth or uttereth them : or whether hee put them in writing and in bookes , or be content onely with the sound of wordes , that is , by mouth to speake them : or finally , whether a man foretell things to come onely either by some gesture , or beckening , or deed , or any externall meane , he is a Prophet , the worde being taken generally . For by divers wayes and by divers things did those of olde time , prophane men especially foretell things to come : as Pausanias in his sixth booke , Pausanias . which is the second of his Eliacorum , and libr. 9. doeth shewe . Finally , whosoever doe utter any foretelling voice , as Pollux speaketh , they generally may be named Prophets . Plato in Charmide seemeth to make a difference betweene those that are indeede Fore-shewers , whome hee calleth Prophets , Plato . and those which for ostentation or vaine glories sake doc fore-tell things to come , whome hee calleth Arrogants : yet in the same place hee generally defineth foretelling to be a knowledge of things to come : and a Foreteller to be one which knoweth all things to come : whom hee doth sever from him which knoweth things past and things present , who may be tearmed onely a Wise-man , or a man of a good memorie or remembrance , and not a Prophet and Foreteller . Of all which ensueth the thing , that we woulde have , that prophesie generally , is an extraordinarie knowledge and foretelling of things to come , by whomsoever the same is done , and after what manner soever it be declared and done . Nowe I haue added this worde Extraordinarie , Extraordinarie foretelling . because that often times thinges to come may be fore-tolde by ordinarie and naturall causes , For as Augustine teacheth lib. 4. Trinitat . cap. 7. Phisitions . Phisitions doe also observe certaine Prognosticates or fore-tokens in diseases , the which doe arise of accidentes , whereby they doe foretell what shall be the estate of the sicke partie , whome Cicero lib. 1. de Diviuat . calleth Wisemen , not Diviners , knowers of naturall causes , not Prophets . So Marriners doe knowe certaine signes and tokens of the tempest to come in the sea , and doe likewise foresee the same : Marriners . to be shorte , Christ himselfe when as Matth. 16. he saith unto the Scribes and Pharisees , When it is evening , Christ . ye say fayre weather : for the skie is redde , &c. teacheth , that fayre weather or foule may be foretolde by the face of the skie or ayre . But because these things are knowen as effectes lying in their causes , and the same naturall , they doe not at all appertaine unto prophesie and foretellings . For to prophesie or foretell , is to knowe and foreshewe things to come without their naturall causes , nay without any their causes at all . For the things that are gathered of their causes , the same are not properly said to be divined or foretolde : But they are foreshewed by their causes , wherein in possibilitie they are included , as the partes of a body that shall be afterwardes , doe lie in the seed .