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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 82

4th.—Writings, Dreams, Trances, Visions

4th.—Writings, Dreams, Trances, Visions.

These were another important source of inspiration. Under this heading I would quote Exodus xxiv. 12, xxxii. 15-16, xxxiv. 1, which refer to the commandments written upon the stone by the finger of the Lord; and Daniel v. 5, 25 : "In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand (pray whose, and how do you know?) and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall," &c.

In regard to all these methods of communication, one would be apt to think that had the Jews been in possession of the Assembly's definition of God's character, and been guided by it, it would have helped them greatly to eschew false inspirations, and would have saved them and the world after them a world of bother.

Just consider for a moment the dilemma in which they profess to have been placed from the beginning. Satan, we are told, was evermore on the field. Some, if not many, of his emissaries or angels, who are legion, could on occasion work miracles, as witness Pharoah's magicians (Exodus vii. 11, 22). They turned pieces of inanimate wood into living serpents, turned rivers of water into blood, and (Exodus viii. 7) they brought up frogs all over the land, just as Moses did. If the spirit of evil had the power to work such astounding miracles he was fit for any personation. In I. Kings xxii. 21-22 we find a most notable case of a lying spirit being sent forth to deceive right and left: "And there came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord and said . . I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets, and he said, Go forth and do so ! Now, therefore, behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets." Jeremiah xxvii. 15 : "For I have not sent them, said the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name"; (xxix. 9) "For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name; I have not sent them, saith the Lord"; (xxviii. 15) "The Lord hath not sent thee, but thou makest this people to trust in a lie"; (xxiii. 16, 21) "Thus saith the Lord of hosts : harken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you . . they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied." Some notable cases worth turning up of mistaken identity, or inspiration barely "plenary" are given in Numbers xxv. 4, 8; Joshua x. 40; Judges iii. 15, 22, 24; Exodus iv. 24; Ezekiel iv. 12; Isaiah xxxvi. 12, the song of Solomon and parts of Jeremiah. Hence all the seers, false prophets, sorcerers, wizards, astrologers, soothsayers, et hoc genus omne, some at least moved by the inspiration of spirits of questionable fame, and each denouncing the other as a fraud. But there must have been a narrower limit to Satan's powers and opportunities than the Church has fixed. They have given him a long way too much tether. If it were true, which I do not believe, that the evil one, by myriad agencies, went about and still goes about, like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, page 14 clothing himself at times like an angel of light, invisible withal, and always undetectable, it would not be possible for mankind to hold their own against such subtle and terrible forces. How could any man tell the source of his inspirations, and know which to follow and which believe; how can the Church hold on to "plenary inspiration," or be certain of any inspiration, and at the same time confess that our spiritual adversary has had such resources and wide scope of action, and has all along been so busy, so unremitting in his efforts and so successful.? Remember, too, that there was open communion between finite beings in heaven and on earth all through the scripture ages.