SER M. whofe Prophefying, it seems, had the fame II. Power and Influence upon Saul and his Mef

fengers, who came to apprehend David, as we read it had upon Saul himself before, at the Hill of God. After this again we read in the Second Book of Kings of feveral other fuch Schools in the Days of Elijah, and of his Succeffor Elifba: As in the Second Chapter, for inftance, we have exprefs Mention made of the Sons of the Prophets that were at Bethel, 2 Kings ii. 3, 5. and of others that were at Jericho In the Fourth Chapter we have an Account of Elisha's coming to Gilgal, and of the Sons of the Prophets that were there fitting before him, c. iv. 38. And in the Fifth again we read of fome Sons of the Prophets who belonged to Mount Ephraim, c. v. 22. Neither do we meet with them in Ifrael only, where perhaps Providence had chiefly placed them, in order to preserve the Purity of God's Worship, during the Defection of the Ten Tribes; but fudah alfo was very probably not without them: Because, laftly, in the 22d Chapter of the fame Book, (in our own Translation at leaft, and agreeably with the Paraphrafe of Jonathan) there is Mention made of a College, where a Prophetess dwelt at Jerufalem, Ch. xxii. 14. So that it seems

every

II.

as if they were dispersed through all the Ci- SER M ties of the Ifraelites, that they might be where at Hand to inftruct, or encourage, or reprove the People. And it is certain, that the whole Kingdom was fo well fupplied with them in the Reign of Ahab, that one good Man alone (Obadiah by Name) had an Opportunity of hiding an Hundred of them at once, by Fifty in a Cave, from the Perfecution of Jezebel, 1 Kings xviii. 4, 13. and that, after she had cut off and flew the main. Body of them.

From the Places above cited, it will be easy to confirm what I have but barely hinted in the Opening of this Head: viz. that the Sons of the Prophets were their Difciples or Scholars. For they are mentioned we fee as fo numerous and frequent, that they could not be their Sons by Nature or Birth; but were only fo called upon the Account of their being brought up under their Tutelage and Care: A Relation that has been always indifferently expreffed either by Father and Son, or by Mafter and Difciple. Accordingly, when one afks, Who is the Father of the Prophets at the Hill of God? 1 Sam. x. 12. He is understood to mean, Who is their Inftructor or Teacher ? And when Elisha, whom I shall

fhew

II.

SERM. fhew to have been only the Difciple of Elijah, faw his Mafter taken from him, he called out to him in his Exclamation, My Father, My: Father, 2 Kings ii. 12. In the fame Senfe we find our Saviour long afterwards calls his Difciples his Children, Mark x. 24. and St. Paul claims the Title of Father over the Corinthians, becaufe in Chrift Jefus, be had begotten them through the Gospel; 1 Cor. iv. 14, 156 whom therefore he ftiles his beloved Sons; as immediately afterwards he also calls his Difciple Timothy, his beloved and faithful Son in the Lord, ver. 17. And in conformity hereunto, both the Chaldee Paraphrase, and the Syriack Verfion, in the Places above-mentioned, render what we tranflate the Sons of the Prophets, by the Prophets Difciples.

And indeed the whole Account that I shall give of these Prophets will be one continued Confirmation of this Exposition of that Phrase. However, fince I am upon it, I fhall first take Notice of two Places in particular, which seem most clearly to point out this Relation. The first is, where we have Mention of a Company of Prophets at Naioth in Ramah, and Samuel ftanding as appointed over them, 1 Sam. xix. 20. or, as Jonathan renders it, Samuel ftanding, as teaching over them, the other is,

where

where there is an Account of Elisha's return- SERM.

ing to Gilgal, and of the Sons of the Prophets fitting before him, 2 Kings iv. 38. I think it is not to be doubted, but that the Sons of the Prophets and a Company of Prophets are only two Terms ufed to denote the fame Order of Men: And that Samuel, ftanding as appointed, or teaching, over the one, and the fitting of the other before Elisha, have alfo the fame Meaning belonging to each of them; viz. that Samuel and Elisha were as Governor's, Tutors and Inftructors to their refpective Pupils. It is certain, that both Terms exactly correfpond to the Method then used in the inftructing of Difciples; which was for the Mafter to fit in an Eminence above, and the Disciples upon a lower Form at his Feet: In allufion to which, when the Sons of the Prophets at Bethel and Jericho would give Notice to Elisha of the Design of the LORD to remove Elijah from him, they express it by taking away his Master from his Head, 2 Kings ii. 3,.5. And when St. Paul gives the Jews an Account of his Education, he tells them he was brought up at the Feet of Gamaliel, Acts xxii. 3.

Having thus fettled the Relation between the Prophets and their Sons, and fhewed that VOL. I.

E

the

I.;

II.

SER M. the one were the Pupils or Difciples of the other; let us in the next Place inquire into the Methods of their Education, and in what Studies and Exercifes they were employed.

And here first it may be proper to begin with the Places of their Habitation: For it feems they did not purfus their Studies, each one separately by himself, at his own private Dwelling; but, for the Benefit and Advantage of publick Exercife and Discipline, united together into Societies and Communities, each of which had convenient Colleges for their Abode, where they lived under the Government of fome noted Prophet, who was appointed, it is poffible, by a Divine Election, to be their Prefident or Head. For thus the Sons of the Prophets (at Gilgal, as it is fuppofed) lived with Elisha; and grew fo numerous under fo eminent a Master, as that the Place where they dwelt being at last too ftrait for them, they were forced to defire Elifba's Leave for the enlarging their Buildings, 2 Kings vi. 1, 2. Accordingly, with his Approbation and Confent, they lay a new Foundation upon the Banks of Jordan: A Place fingled out for the fame Reason, which, I fuppofe, moved the Prophets before-mentioned to fix their Refidence at the Hill of

God,