AmistaketosupposethatprophecycangiveknowledgeofphenomenaCertaintyofprophecybasedon:
1Vividnessofimagination，2ASign，3GoodnessoftheProphet。
Variationofprophecywiththetemperamentandopinionsoftheindividual。
CHAPTERIII-OftheVocationoftheHebrews，andwhethertheGiftofProphecywaspeculiartothem。
HappinessofHebrewsdidnotconsistintheinferiorityoftheGentile。
Norinphilosophicknowledgeorvirtue。
Butintheirconductofaffairsofstateandescapefrompoliticaldangers。
EventhisDistinctiondidnotexistinthetimeofAbraham。
TestimonyfromtheOldTestamentitselftotheshareoftheGentilesinthelawandfavourofGod。
ExplanationofapparentdiscrepancyoftheEpistletotheRomans。
AnswertotheargumentsfortheeternalelectionoftheJews。
CHAPTERIV-OftheDivineLaw。
Lawseitherdependonnaturalnecessityoronhumandecree。Theexistenceofthelatternotinconsistentwiththeformerclassoflaws。
Divinelawakindoflawfoundedonhumandecree:
calledDivinefromitsobject。
Divinelaw:
1universal；
2independentofthetruthofanyhistoricalnarrative；
3independentofritesandceremonies；
4itsownreward。
ReasondoesnotpresentGodasalaw-giverformen。
Suchaconceptionaproofofignorance-inAdam-intheIsraelites-
inChristians。
TestimonyoftheScripturesinfavourofreasonandtherationalviewoftheDivine。
CHAPTERV-OftheCeremonialLaw。
CeremoniallawoftheOldTestamentnopartoftheDivineuniversallaw，butpartialandtemporary。TestimonyoftheprophetsthemselvestothisTestimonyoftheNewTestament。
HowtheceremoniallawtendedtopreservetheHebrewkingdom。
Christianritesonasimilarfooting。
WhatpartoftheScripturenarrativesisoneboundtobelieve?
AuthorsEndnotestotheTreatise。
ATheologico-PoliticalTreatisePart1-ChaptersItoV
PREFACE。
1Menwouldneverbesuperstitious，iftheycouldgovernalltheircircumstancesbysetrules，oriftheywerealwaysfavouredbyfortune:butbeingfrequentlydrivenintostraitswhererulesareuseless，andbeingoftenkeptfluctuatingpitiablybetweenhopeandfearbytheuncertaintyoffortune'sgreedilycovetedfavours，theyareconsequently，forthemostpart，verypronetocredulity。2Thehumanmindisreadilyswayedthiswayorthatintimesofdoubt，especiallywhenhopeandfeararestrugglingforthemastery，thoughusuallyitisboastful，over-confident，andvain。
3ThisasageneralfactIsupposeeveryoneknows，thoughfew，Ibelieve，knowtheirownnature；noonecanhavelivedintheworldwithoutobservingthatmostpeople，wheninprosperity，aresoover-brimmingwithwisdomhoweverinexperiencedtheymaybe，thattheytakeeveryofferofadviceasapersonalinsult，whereasinadversitytheyknownotwheretoturn，butbegandprayforcounselfromeverypasser-by。4Noplanisthentoofutile，tooabsurd，ortoofatuousfortheiradoption；themostfrivolouscauseswillraisethemtohope，orplungethemintodespair-ifanythinghappensduringtheirfrightwhichremindsthemofsomepastgoodorill，theythinkitportendsahappyorunhappyissue，andthereforethoughitmayhaveprovedabortiveahundredtimesbeforestyleitaluckyorunluckyomen。
5AnythingwhichexcitestheirastonishmenttheybelievetobeaportentsignifyingtheangerofthegodsoroftheSupremeBeing，and，mistakingsuperstitionforreligion，accountitimpiousnottoaverttheevilwithprayerandsacrifice。6Signsandwondersofthissorttheyconjureupperpetually，tillonemightthinkNatureasmadasthemselves，theyinterprethersofantastically。
7Thusitisbroughtprominentlybeforeus，thatsuperstition'schiefvictimsarethosepersonswhogreedilycovettemporaladvantages；theyitis，whoespeciallywhentheyareindanger，andcannothelpthemselvesarewontwithPrayersandwomanishtearstoimplorehelpfromGod:upbraidingReasonasblind，becauseshecannotshowasurepathtotheshadowstheypursue，andrejectinghumanwisdomasvain；butbelievingthephantomsofimagination，dreams，andotherchildishabsurdities，tobetheveryoraclesofHeaven。8AsthoughGodhadturnedawayfromthewise，andwrittenHisdecrees，notinthemindofmanbutintheentrailsofbeasts，orleftthemtobeproclaimedbytheinspirationandinstinctoffools，madmen，andbirds。Suchistheunreasontowhichterrorcandrivemankind!
9Superstition，then，isengendered，preserved，andfosteredbyfear。Ifanyonedesireanexample，lethimtakeAlexander，whoonlybegansuperstitiouslytoseekguidancefromseers，whenhefirstlearnttofearfortuneinthepassesofSysisCurtius，v。4；whereasafterhehadconqueredDariusheconsultedprophetsnomore，tillasecondtimefrightenedbyreverses。10WhentheScythianswereprovokingabattle，theBactrianshaddeserted，andhehimselfwaslyingsickofhiswounds，"heoncemoreturnedtosuperstition，themockeryofhumanwisdom，andbadeAristander，towhomheconfidedhiscredulity，inquiretheissueofaffairswithsacrificedvictims。"11Verynumerousexamplesofalikenaturemightbecited，clearlyshowingthefact，thatonlywhileunderthedominionoffeardomenfallapreytosuperstition；
thatalltheportentseverinvestedwiththereverenceofmisguidedreligionaremerephantomsofdejectedandfearfulminds；andlastly，thatprophetshavemostpoweramongthepeople，andaremostformidabletorulers，preciselyatthosetimeswhenthestateisinmostperil。12Ithinkthisissufficientlyplaintoall，andwillthereforesaynomoreonthesubject。
13Theoriginofsuperstitionabovegivenaffordsusaclearreasonforthefact，thatitcomestoallmennaturally，thoughsomereferitsrisetoadimnotionofGod，universaltomankind，andalsotendstoshow，thatitisnolessinconsistentandvariablethanothermentalhallucinationsandemotionalimpulses，andfurtherthatitcanonlybemaintainedbyhope，hatred，anger，anddeceit；sinceitsprings，notfromreason，butsolelyfromthemorepowerfulphasesofemotion。14Furthermore，wemayreadilyunderstandhowdifficultitis，tomaintaininthesamecoursemenpronetoeveryformofcredulity。15For，asthemassofmankindremainsalwaysataboutthesamepitchofmisery，itneverassentslongtoanyoneremedy，butisalwaysbestpleasedbyanoveltywhichhasnotyetprovedillusive。
16Thiselementofinconsistencyhasbeenthecauseofmanyterriblewarsandrevolutions；for，asCurtiuswellsayslib。iv。chap。10:"Themobhasnorulermorepotentthansuperstition，"andiseasilyled，onthepleaofreligion，atonemomenttoadoreitskingsasgods，andanontoexecrateandabjurethemashumanity'scommonbane。17Immensepainshavethereforebeentakentocounteractthisevilbyinvestingreligion，whethertrueorfalse，withsuchpompandceremony，thatitmay，risesuperiortoeveryshock，andbealwaysobservedwithstudiousreverencebythewholepeople-
asystemwhichhasbeenbroughttogreatperfectionbytheTurks，fortheyconsiderevencontroversyimpious，andsoclogmen'smindswithdogmaticformulas，thattheyleavenoroomforsoundreason，notevenenoughtodoubtwith。
18Butif，indespoticstatecraft，thesupremeandessentialmysterybetohoodwinkthesubjects，andtomaskthefear，whichkeepsthemclown，withthespeciousgarbofreligion，sothatmenmayfightasbravelyforslaveryasforsafety，andcountitnotshamebuthighesthonourtorisktheirbloodandtheirlivesforthevaingloryofatyrant；yetinafreestatenomoremischievousexpedientcouldbeplannedorattempted。19Whollyrepugnanttothegeneralfreedomaresuchdevicesasenthrallingmen'smindswithprejudices，forcingtheirjudgment，oremployinganyoftheweaponsofquasi-religioussedition；indeed，suchseditionsonlyspringup，whenlawentersthedomainofspeculativethought，andopinionsareputontrialandcondemnedonthesamefootingascrimes，whilethosewhodefendandfollowthemaresacrificed，nottopublicsafety，buttotheiropponents'
hatredandcruelty。20Ifdeedsonlycouldbemadethegroundsofcriminalcharges，andwordswerealwaysallowedtopassfree，suchseditionswouldbedivestedofeverysemblanceofjustification，andwouldbeseparatedfrommerecontroversiesbyahardandfastline。
20Now，seeingthatwehavetherarehappinessoflivinginarepublic，whereeveryone'sjudgmentisfreeandunshackled，whereeachmayworshipGodashisconsciencedictates，andwherefreedomisesteemedbeforeallthingsdearandprecious，IhavebelievedthatIshouldbeundertakingnoungratefulorunprofitabletask，indemonstratingthatnotonlycansuchfreedombegrantedwithoutprejudicetothepublicpeace，butalso，thatwithoutsuchfreedom，pietycannotflourishnorthepublicpeacebesecure。
21SuchisthechiefconclusionIseektoestablishinthistreatise；but，inordertoreachit，Imustfirstpointoutthemisconceptionswhich，likescarsofourformerbondage，stilldisfigureournotionofreligion，andmustexposethefalseviewsaboutthecivilauthoritywhichmanyhavemostimpudentlyadvocated，endeavouringtoturnthemindofthepeople，stillpronetoheathensuperstition，awayfromitslegitimaterulers，andsobringusagainintoslavery。22AstotheorderofmytreatiseIwillspeakpresently，butfirstIwillrecountthecauseswhichledmetowrite。
23Ihaveoftenwondered，thatpersonswhomakeaboastofprofessingtheChristianreligion，namely，love，joy，peace，temperance，andcharitytoallmen，shouldquarrelwithsuchrancorousanimosity，anddisplaydailytowardsoneanothersuchbitterhatred，thatthis，ratherthanthevirtuestheyclaim，isthereadiestcriterionoftheirfaith。24Mattershavelongsincecometosuchapass，thatonecanonlypronounceamanChristian，Turk，Jew，orHeathen，byhisgeneralappearanceandattire，byhisfrequentingthisorthatplaceofworship，oremployingthephraseologyofaparticularsect-asformanneroflife，itisinallcasesthesame。25
Inquiryintothecauseofthisanomalyleadsmeunhesitatinglytoascribeittothefact，thattheministriesoftheChurchareregardedbythemassesmerelyasdignities，herofficesaspostsofemolument-inshort，popularreligionmaybesummedupasrespectforecclesiastics。26Thespreadofthismisconceptioninflamedeveryworthlessfellowwithanintensedesiretoenterholyorders，andthustheloveofdiffusingGod'sreligiondegeneratedintosordidavariceandambition。27Everychurchbecameatheatre，whereorators，insteadofchurchteachers，harangued，caringnottoinstructthepeople，butstrivingtoattractadmiration，tobringopponentstopublicscorn，andtopreachonlynoveltiesandparadoxes，suchaswouldtickletheearsoftheircongregation。28Thisstateofthingsnecessarilystirredupanamountofcontroversy
envy，andhatred，whichnolapseoftimecouldappease；sothatwecanscarcelywonderthatoftheoldreligionnothingsurvivesbutitsoutwardformseventhese，inthemouthofthemultitude，seemratheradulationthanadorationoftheDeity，andthatfaithhasbecomeamerecompoundofcredulityandprejudices-aye，prejudicestoo，whichdegrademanfromrationalbeingtobeast，whichcompletelystiflethepowerofjudgmentbetweentrueandfalse，whichseem，infact，carefullyfosteredforthepurposeofextinguishingthelastsparkofreason!29Piety，greatGod!andreligionarebecomeatissueofridiculousmysteries；men，whoflatlydespisereason，whorejectandturnawayfromunderstandingasnaturallycorrupt，these，Isay，theseofallmen，arethought，0liemosthorrible!topossesslightfromonHigh。30
Verily，iftheyhadbutonesparkoflightfromonHigh，theywouldnotinsolentlyrave，butwouldlearntoworshipGodmorewisely，andwouldbeasmarkedamongtheirfellowsformercyastheynowareformalice；iftheywereconcernedfortheiropponents'souls，insteadoffortheirownreputations，theywouldnolongerfiercelypersecute，butratherbefilledwithpityandcompassion。
31Furthermore，ifanyDivinelightwereinthem，itwouldappearfromtheirdoctrine。32IgrantthattheyarenevertiredofprofessingtheirwonderattheprofoundmysteriesofHolyWrit；stillIcannotdiscoverthattheyteachanythingbutspeculationsofPlatonistsandAristotelians，towhichinordertosavetheircreditforChristianitytheyhavemadeHolyWritconform；notcontenttoravewiththeGreeksthemselves，theywanttomaketheprophetsravealso；showingconclusively，thatnevereveninsleephavetheycaughtaglimpseofScripture'sDivinenature。33Theveryvehemenceoftheiradmirationforthemysteriesplainlyattests，thattheirbeliefintheBibleisaformalassentratherthanalivingfaith:andthefactismadestillmoreapparentbytheirlayingdownbeforehand，asafoundationforthestudyandtrueinterpretationofScripture，theprinciplethatitisineverypassagetrueanddivine。34SuchadoctrineshouldbereachedonlyafterstrictscrutinyandthoroughcomprehensionoftheSacredBookswhichwouldteachitmuchbetter，fortheystandinneednohumanfactions，andnotbesetuponthethreshold，asitwere，ofinquiry。
35AsIponderedoverthefactsthatthelightofreasonisnotonlydespised，butbymanyevenexecratedasasourceofimpiety，thathumancommentariesareacceptedasdivinerecords，andthatcredulityisextolledasfaith；asImarkedthefiercecontroversiesofphilosophersraginginChurchandState，thesourceofbitterhatredanddissension，thereadyinstrumentsofseditionandotherillsinnumerable，IdeterminedtoexaminetheBibleafreshinacareful，impartial，andunfetteredspirit，makingnoassumptionsconcerningit，andattributingtoitnodoctrines，whichIdonotfindclearlythereinsetdown。36WiththeseprecautionsIconstructedamethodofScripturalinterpretation，andthusequippedproceededtoinquire-whatisprophecy?37InwhatsensedidGodrevealhimselftotheprophets，andwhyweretheseparticularmen-chosenbyhim?38WasitonaccountofthesublimityoftheirthoughtsabouttheDeityandnature，orwasitsolelyonaccountoftheirpiety?39Thesequestionsbeinganswered，Iwaseasilyabletoconclude，thattheauthorityoftheprophetshasweightonlyinmattersofmorality，andthattheirspeculativedoctrinesaffectuslittle。
40NextIinquired，whytheHebrewswerecalledGod'schosenpeople，anddiscoveringthatitwasonlybecauseGodhadchosenforthemacertainstripofterritory，wheretheymightlivepeaceablyandatease，IlearntthattheLawrevealedbyGodtoMoseswasmerelythelawoftheindividualHebrewstate，thereforethatitwasbindingonnonebutHebrews，andnotevenonHebrewsafterthedownfalloftheirnation。41Further，inordertoascertain，whetheritcouldbeconcludedfromScripture，thatthehumanunderstandingstandingisnaturallycorrupt，IinquiredwhethertheUniversalReligion，theDivineLawrevealedthroughtheProphetsandApostlestothewholehumanrace，differsfromthatwhichistaughtbythelightofnaturalreason，whethermiraclescantakeplaceinviolationofthelawsofnature，andifso，whethertheyimplytheexistenceofGodmoresurelyandclearlythanevents，whichweunderstandplainlyanddistinctlythroughtheirimmediatenaturalcauses。
42Now，asinthewholecourseofmyinvestigationIfoundnothingtaughtexpresslybyScripture，whichdoesnotagreewithourunderstanding，orwhichisrepugnantthereto，andasIsawthattheprophetstaughtnothing，whichisnotverysimpleandeasilytobegraspedbyall，andfurther，thattheyclothedtheirleachinginthestyle，andconfirmeditwiththereasons，whichwouldmostdeeplymovethemindofthemassestodevotiontowardsGod，Ibecamethoroughlyconvinced，thattheBibleleavesreasonabsolutelyfree，thatithasnothingincommonwithphilosophy，infact，thatRevelationandPhilosophystandondifferentfootings。Inordertosetthisforthcategoricallyandexhaustthewholequestion，IpointoutthewayinwhichtheBibleshouldbeinterpreted，andshowthatallofspiritualquestionsshouldbesoughtfromitalone，andnotfromtheobjectsofordinaryknowledge。43ThenceIpassontoindicatethefalsenotions，whichhavefromthefactthatthemultitude-everpronetosuperstition，andcaringmorefortheshredsofantiquityforeternaltruths-payshomagetotheBooksoftheBible，ratherthantotheWordofGod。44IshowthattheWordofGodhasnotbeenrevealedasacertainnumberofbooks，wasdisplayedtotheprophetsasasimpleideaofthemind，namely，obediencetoGodinsinglenessofheart，andinthepracticeofjusticeandcharity；andIfurtherpointout，thatthisdoctrineissetforthinScriptureinaccordancewiththeopinionsandunderstandingsofthose，amongwhomtheApostlesandProphetspreached，totheendthatmenmightreceiveitwillingly，andwiththeirwholeheart。
45Havingthuslaidbarethebasesofbelief，IdrawtheconclusionthatRevelationhasobedienceforitssoleobject，therefore，inpurposenolessthaninfoundationandmethod，standsentirelyalooffromordinaryknowledge；eachhasitsseparateprovince，neithercanbecalledthehandmaidoftheother。
46Furthermore，asmen'shabitsofminddiffer，sothatsomemorereadilyembraceoneformoffaith，someanother，forwhatmovesonetopraymaymoveanotheronlytoscoff，Iconclude，inaccordancewithwhathasgonebefore，thateveryoneshouldbefreetochooseforhimselfthefoundationsofhiscreed，andthatfaithshouldbejudgedonlybyitsfruits；eachwouldthenobeyGodfreelywithhiswholeheart，whilenothingwouldbepubliclyhonouredsavejusticeandcharity。
47HavingthusdrawnattentiontothelibertyconcededtoeveryonebytherevealedlawofGod，Ipassontoanotherpartofmysubject，andprovethatthissamelibertycanandshouldbeaccordedwithsafetytothestateandthemagisterialauthority-infact，thatitcannotbewithheldwithoutgreatdangertopeaceanddetrimenttothecommunity。
48Inordertoestablishmypoint，Istartfromthenaturalrightsoftheindividual，whichareco-extensivewithhisdesiresandpower，andfromthefactthatnooneisboundtoliveasanotherpleases，butistheguardianofhisownliberty。49Ishowthattheserightscanonlybetransferredtothosewhomwedeputetodefendus，whoacquirewiththedutiesofdefencethepoweroforderingourlives，andIthenceinferthatrulerspossessrightsonlylimitedbytheirpower，thattheyarethesoleguardiansofjusticeandliberty，andthattheirsubjectsshouldactinallthingsastheydictate:nevertheless，sincenoonecansoutterlyabdicatehisownpowerofself-defenceastoceasetobeaman，Iconcludethatnoonecanbedeprivedofhisnaturalrightsabsolutely，butthatsubjects，eitherbytacitagreement，orbysocialcontract，retainacertainnumber，whichcannotbetakenfromthemwithoutgreatdangertothestate。
50FromtheseconsiderationsIpassontotheHebrewState，whichI
describeatsomelength，inordertotracethemannerinwhichReligionacquiredtheforceoflaw，andtotouchonothernoteworthypoints。51I
thenprove，thattheholdersofsovereignpowerarethedepositoriesandinterpretersofreligiousnolessthanofcivilordinances，andthattheyalonehavetherighttodecidewhatisjustorunjust，piousorimpious；
lastly，Iconcludebyshowing，thattheybestretainthisrightandsecuresafetytotheirstatebyallowingeverymantothinkwhathelikes，andsaywhathethinks。
52Such，PhilosophicalReader，arethequestionsIsubmittoyournotice，countingonyourapproval，forthesubjectmatterofthewholebookandoftheseveralchaptersisimportantandprofitable。53Iwouldsaymore，butIdonotwantmyprefacetoextendtoavolume，especiallyasIknowthatitsleadingpropositionsaretoPhilosophersbutcommonplaces。54TotherestofmankindIcarenottocommendmytreatise，forIcannotexpectthatitcontainsanythingtopleasethem:Iknowhowdeeplyrootedaretheprejudicesembracedunderthenameofreligion；Iamawarethatinthemindofthemassessuperstitionisnolessdeeplyrootedthanfear；Irecognizethattheirconstancyismereobstinacy，andthattheyareledtopraiseorblamebyimpulseratherthanreason。55Thereforethemultitude，andthoseoflikepassionswiththemultitude，Iasknottoreadmybook；nay，Iwouldratherthattheyshouldutterlyneglectit，thanthattheyshouldmisinterpretitaftertheirwont。56Theywouldgainnogoodthemselves，andmightproveastumbling-blocktoothers，whosephilosophyishamperedbythebeliefthatReasonisamerehandmaidtoTheology，andwhomIseekinthisworkespeciallytobenefit。57Butastherewillbemanywhohaveneithertheleisure，nor，perhaps，theinclinationtoreadthroughallI
havewritten，Ifeelboundhere，asattheendofmytreatise，todeclarethatIhavewrittennothing，whichIdonotmostwillinglysubmittotheexaminationandjudgmentofmycountry'srulers，andthatIamreadytoretractanything，whichtheyshalldecidetoberepugnanttothelawsorprejudicialtothepublicgood。58IknowthatIamamanand，asaman，liabletoerror，butagainsterrorIhavetakenscrupulouscare，andstriventokeepinentireaccordancewiththelawsofmycountry，withloyalty，andwithmorality。
CHAPTERI-OfProphecy1Prophecy，orrevelationissureknowledgerevealedbyGodtoman。2A
prophetisonewhointerpretstherevelationsofGod{insights}tothosewhoareunabletoattaintosureknowledgeofthemattersrevealed，andthereforecanonlyapprehendthembysimplefaith。
3TheHebrewwordforprophetis"naw-vee'"，Strong:5030，[Endnote1]
i。e。speakerorinterpreter，butinScriptureitsmeaningisrestrictedtointerpreterofGod，aswemaylearnfromExodusvii:1，whereGodsaystoMoses，"See，IhavemadetheeagodtoPharaoh，andAaronthybrothershallbethyprophet；"implyingthat，sinceininterpretingMoses'wordstoPharaoh，Aaronactedthepartofaprophet，MoseswouldbetoPharaohasagod，orintheattitudeofagod。
4ProphetsIwilltreatofinthenextchapter，andatpresentconsiderprophecy。
5Nowitisevident，fromthedefinitionabovegiven，thatprophecyreallyincludesordinaryknowledge；fortheknowledgewhichweacquirebyournaturalfacultiesdependsonknowledgeofGodandHiseternallaws；butordinaryknowledgeiscommontoallmenasmen，andrestsonfoundationswhichallshare，whereasthemultitudealwaysstrainsafterraritiesandexceptions，andthinkslittleofthegiftsofnature；sothat，whenprophecyistalkedof，ordinaryknowledgeisnotsupposedtobeincluded。
6NeverthelessithasasmuchrightasanyothertobecalledDivine，forGod'snature，insofaraswesharetherein，andGod'slaws，dictateittous；nordoesitsufferfromthattowhichwegivethepreeminence，exceptinsofarasthelattertranscendsitslimitsandcannotbeaccountedforbynaturallawstakeninthemselves。7Inrespecttothecertaintyitinvolves，andthesourcefromwhichitisderived，i。e。God，ordinary，knowledgeisnowhitinferiortoprophetic，unlessindeedwebelieve，orratherdream，thattheprophetshadhumanbodiesbutsuperhumanminds，andthereforethattheirsensationsandconsciousnesswereentirelydifferentfromourown。
8But，althoughordinaryknowledgeisDivine，itsprofessorscannotbecalledprophets[Endnote2]，fortheyteachwhattherestofmankindcouldperceiveandapprehend，notmerelybysimplefaith，butassurelyandhonourablyasthemselves。
9SeeingthenthatourmindsubjectivelycontainsinitselfandpartakesofthenatureofGod，andsolelyfromthiscauseisenabledtoformnotionsexplainingnaturalphenomenaandinculcatingmorality，itfollowsthatwemayrightlyassertthenatureofthehumanmindinsofarasitisthusconceivedtobeaprimarycauseofDivinerevelation。10Allthatweclearlyanddistinctlyunderstandisdictatedtous，asIhavejustpointedout，bytheideaandnatureofGod；notindeedthroughwords，butinawayfarmoreexcellentandagreeingperfectlywiththenatureofthemind，asallwhohaveenjoyedintellectualcertaintywilldoubtlessattest。11
Here，however，mychiefpurposeistospeakofmattershavingreferencetoScripture，sothesefewwordsonthelightofreasonwillsuffice。
12Iwillnowpassonto，andtreatmorefully，theotherwaysandmeansbywhichGodmakesrevelationstomankind，bothofthatwhichtranscendsordinaryknowledge，andofthatwithinitsscope；forthereisnoreasonwhyGodshouldnotemployothermeanstocommunicatewhatweknowalreadybythepowerofreason。
13OurconclusionsonthesubjectmustbedrawnsolelyfromScripture；forwhatcanweaffirmaboutmatterstranscendingourknowledgeexceptwhatistoldusbythewordsorwritingsofprophets?14Andsincethereare，sofarasIknow，noprophetsnowalive，wehavenoalternativebuttoreadthebooksofprophetsdeparted，takingcarethewhilenottoreasonfrommetaphorortoascribeanythingtoourauthorswhichtheydonotthemselvesdistinctlystate。15ImustfurtherpremisethattheJewsnevermakeanymentionoraccountofsecondary，orparticularcauses，butinaspiritofreligion，piety，andwhatiscommonlycalledgodliness，referallthingsdirectlytotheDeity。16Forinstanceiftheymakemoneybyatransaction，theysayGodgaveittothem；iftheydesireanything，theysayGodhasdisposedtheirheartstowardsit；iftheythinkanything，theysayGodtoldthem。17HencewemustnotsupposethateverythingisprophecyorrevelationwhichisdescribedinScriptureastoldbyGodtoanyone，butonlysuchthingsasareexpresslyannouncedasprophecyorrevelation，orareplainlypointedtoassuchbythecontext。
18AperusalofthesacredbookswillshowusthatallGod'srevelationstotheprophetsweremadethroughwordsorappearances，oracombinationofthetwo。19Thesewordsandappearanceswereoftwokinds；1-realwhenexternaltothemindoftheprophetwhoheardorsawthem，2-imaginarywhentheimaginationoftheprophetwasinastatewhichledhimdistinctlytosupposethatheheardorsawthem。
20WitharealvoiceGodrevealedtoMosesthelawswhichHewishedtobetransmittedtotheHebrews，aswemayseefromExodusxxv:22，whereGodsays，"AndthereIwillmeetwiththeeandIwillcommunewiththeefromthemercyseatwhichisbetweentheCherubim。"21Somesortofrealvoicemustnecessarilyhavebeenemployed，forMosesfoundGodreadytocommunewithhimatanytime。This，asIshallshortlyshow，istheonlyinstanceofarealvoice。
22Wemight，perhaps，supposethatthevoicewithwhichGodcalledSamuelwasreal，forin1Sam。iii:21，weread，"AndtheLordappearedagaininShiloh，fortheLordrevealedHimselftoSamuelinShilohbythewordoftheLord；"implyingthattheappearanceoftheLordconsistedinHismakingHimselfknowntoSamuelthroughavoice；inotherwords，thatSamuelheardtheLordspeaking。23ButwearecompelledtodistinguishbetweenthepropheciesofMosesandthoseofotherprophets，andthereforemustdecidethatthisvoicewasimaginary，aconclusionfurthersupportedbythevoice'sresemblancetothevoiceofEli，whichSamuelwasinthehabitofhearing，andthereforemighteasilyimagine；whenthricecalledbytheLord，SamuelsupposedittohavebeenEli。
24ThevoicewhichAbimelechheardwasimaginary，foritiswritten，Gen。xx:6，"AndGodsaiduntohiminadream。"25SothatthewillofGodwasmanifesttohim，notinwaking，butonly，insleep，thatis，whentheimaginationismostactiveanduncontrolled。26SomeoftheJewsbelievethattheactualwordsoftheDecaloguewerenotspokenbyGod，butthattheIsraelitesheardanoiseonly，withoutanydistinctwords，andduringitscontinuanceapprehendedtheTenCommandmentsbypureintuition；tothisopinionImyselfonceinclined，seeingthatthewordsoftheDecalogueinExodusaredifferentfromthewordsoftheDecalogueinDeuteronomy，forthediscrepancyseemedtoimplysinceGodonlyspokeoncethattheTenCommandmentswerenotintendedtoconveytheactualwordsoftheLord，butonlyHismeaning。27However，unlesswewoulddoviolencetoScripture，wemustcertainlyadmitthattheIsraelitesheardarealvoice，forScriptureexpresslysays，Deut。v:4，"Godspakewithyoufacetoface，"i。e。astwomenordinarilyinterchangeideasthroughtheinstrumentalityoftheirtwobodies；andthereforeitseemsmoreconsonantwithHolyWrittosupposethatGodreallydidcreateavoiceofsomekindwithwhichtheDecaloguewasrevealed。28ThediscrepancyofthetwoversionsistreatedofinChap。VIII。
29Yetnoteventhusisalldifficultyremoved，foritseemsscarcelyreasonabletoaffirmthatacreatedthing，dependingonGodinthesamemannerasothercreatedthings，wouldbeabletoexpressorexplainthenatureofGodeitherverballyorreallybymeansofitsindividualorganism:forinstance，bydeclaringinthefirstperson，"IamtheLordyourGod。"
30Certainlywhenanyonesayswithhismouth，"Iunderstand，"wedonotattributetheunderstandingtothemouth，buttothemindofthespeaker；
yetthisisbecausethemouthisthenaturalorganofamanspeaking，andthehearer，knowingwhatunderstandingis，easilycomprehends，byacomparisonwithhimself，thatthespeaker'smindismeant；butifweknewnothingofGodbeyondthemerenameandwishedtocommunewithHim，andbeassuredofHisexistence，IfailtoseehowourwishwouldbesatisfiedbythedeclarationofacreatedthingdependingonGodneithermorenorlessthanourselves，"IamtheLord。"31IfGodcontortedthelipsofMoses，or，IwillnotsayMoses，butsomebeast，tilltheypronouncedthewords，"IamtheLord，"shouldweapprehendtheLord'sexistencetherefrom?
32ScriptureseemsclearlytopointtothebeliefthatGodspokeHimself，havingdescendedfromheaventoMountSinaiforthepurpose-andnotonlythattheIsraelitesheardHimspeaking，butthattheirchiefmenbeheldHimEx:xxiv。33FurtherthelawofMoses，whichmightneitherbeaddedtonorcurtailed，andwhichwassetupasanationalstandardofright，nowhereprescribedthebeliefthatGodiswithoutbody，orevenwithoutformorfigure，butonlyordainedthattheJewsshouldbelieveinHisexistenceandworshipHimalone:itforbadethemtoinventorfashionanylikenessoftheDeity，butthiswastoinsurepurityofservice；because，neverhavingseenGod，theycouldnotbymeansofimagesrecallthelikenessofGod，butonlythelikenessofsomecreatedthingwhichmightthusgraduallytaketheplaceofGodastheobjectoftheiradoration。34Nevertheless，theBibleclearlyimpliesthatGodhasaform，andthatMoseswhenheheardGodspeakingwaspermittedtobeholdit，oratleastitshinderparts。
35Doubtlesssomemysterylurksinthisquestionwhichwewilldiscussmorefullybelow。36ForthepresentIwillcallattentiontothepassagesinScriptureindicatingthemeansbywhichGodhasrevealedHislawstoman。
37Revelationmaybethroughfiguresonly，asinIChron:xxii。，whereGoddisplayshisangertoDavidbymeansofanangelbearingasword，andalsointhestoryofBalaam。