Chap. V. AN TIE NT METAPHYSICS. 279 



genuine Theift, who believes in the Providence of God, and his 

 influence in the affairs of men, (not to fpeak of Chriftians)j muft, 

 I think, neceflarily believe. And, if fo, there can be no reafon for 

 doubting that thofe Superior Minds, whom it is mofl: likely that the 

 Supreme employs in fuch purpofcs, have an intercourfe with our 

 Minds, and do fometimes reveal to vis future events. 



If the reader is difpofed to allow this to be poflible, he furely will 

 not think it improbable that it fliould be in our Sleep, when the 

 Mind is not difturbed by the tumult of the Senfes, or the hurry and 

 buflle of the world. It is not, however, to every Mind, or upon 

 every flight occafion, that this revelation is made, but it is to a 

 Mind fcdate and compofed, and well prepared by religion and phi- 

 lofophy, as Synefius has obferved, for the Divine Illumination ; and 

 it is always to ferve feme good purpofe, refpecfling the perfon him- 

 felf, or others. 



The revelation is always in one of two ways : Either by fome 

 perfon, human or divine, who appears to us in our Dream, and 

 tells us that fuch a thing is to happen ; or by a Vifion, in which the 

 thing is reprefented to us as prefent. This vifion of the night very 

 much refembles thofe vlfions of the day which are called the Second 

 Sight : And they are not to be dlfl:inguillied from thofe trances in- 

 to which the Scripture tells us the holy men of old did fometimes 

 fall ; for fuch Trances I hold to have been no other than Dreams 

 while they were awake. 



There are, I know, very many, in this unbelieving age, who will 

 think that all I have faid, concerning Prophetic Dreams, is no better 

 than a Dream fuch as their own, I will, therefore, for the fake of 

 thofe who are not to be convinced by reafon and argument, which, 

 I believe, is the cafe of the moft of thofe who at prefent call them- 



felves 



