The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-10-10

gent consciousness, or that they
were ignorant Of what they utter
ed, or that the Spirit made use OF
them merely as organs, or as un-
conscians-agents, to utter his truth
They everywhere speak and act as
men who understood what they
said, and did not rave as madmen.
The apostle Paul afirms in man
ncr which leaves no room to doubt,
and which cannot be mistaken,
that the prophets were free, con-
sclouS agents, and that they had
control over their own minds, Il
Corinthians xiv. 50, "the spirits Of
the prophets are subject to the
prophcts;' and, on the ground Of
this, he requires those who were
under the prophetic inspiration, to
observe due order, and to utter
their sentiments in such manner
as not to produce confusion and
irregu|arity in the churches, l Cor
xiv. 90, 81, SO, 10. How could he
reprove their disorder and conru-
sion, if they had no control over
the operations Of their own minds,
and if they We're not conscious Of
what they WIRE uttering?
Thus we see, that either by the
communication Of divine wisdom,
Il direct revelation, or overpower-
ing influence, eXcrted by the in
dwelling Spirit Of God, every line
Of the Scriptures, may, with the
greatest sobricty Of Judgment, be
said to be inspired.
The apostles We're the subjects
Of such q divine inspiration as en-
abled them to speak with other
topguesa' & here inspiration related
y s4sss.r ~ isAa-asa,,,St. : > -t : fss, ,ss2
directly to language. 1t Is the
opinion Of most writer's, that, in
some instances, inspired men had
not in their own minds a clear un-
derstanding Of the things which
they spoke or wrote. One instance
Of this, commonly referred to, is
the case of Daniel, who beard and
repeated what the angel saiG,
though he did not understand it,
D~n. Xii. 10y This has also
been thought to be in some meas
ure the case with the prophets re-
ferred TO by Peter, Il Peter i. 10
129 And is there not reason to
think this may have been the case
with many Of the prophetic repre-
scntations contained in the Psalms:
and many of the symbolic rites OF
the Mosaic institute? Various mat
ters are found in the Old Testa-
ment, which were not intended SO
much for the benefit Of the writers,
or their contemporaries, as Tor the
benefit of future ages. And this
might have been sufficient reason
why they should be left without a
clear understanding Of the things
which they wrote. In such cases
if the opinion above stated
is correct, inspired men were led tc
make use of expressions the mean
ing of which they did not fully un
derstand. And according to thi
view, it would seem that the teach
ing Of the Spirit which they en-
joyed, must have related rather t.
the words than to the sense. Wha
is Scripture? Is it divine trutI
conceived in the mind, or divln
truth written? In Hebrews i. l,
is said, that "God spake to til
fathers by the prophets" Doe
this afford any proof that the d
) vine guidance which the prophet
enjoyed related exclusively to tn
) conceptions Of their own minds
: and had no respect to the manne
| in which they communicated thos
conceptions? Must we not rathc
Y think the meaning to be, that &c
!. influenced the prophets to utter
f make known important truths
S And how could they do this, e,
: cept by the use of proper words.
sn .Toh nrintinU done at th