1870] CHRISTIANITY AND SUPERNATURAL 131 



prophecy does not merely follow history, but strictly 

 rather precedes history. For, though every new step in 

 prophecy is dependent on a divine manifestation, that 

 manifestation is not properly absorbed into human 

 history till interpreted in prophecy. This consideration 

 might, I think, be profitably worked out in reference to 

 the peculiar nature of revelation in the pre-Mosaic dis 

 pensations. 



It need hardly be said that the conception of inspira 

 tion just developed is by no means identical with the 

 ecclesiastical notion of inspiration. Nor does this inspira 

 tion necessarily present itself as exclusive of that generally 

 received. For even writers like Dr. Bannerman are forced 

 to distinguish revelation and inspiration, and all that we 

 have yet said falls (so far as our theory can at all fall under 

 the forms of one so diverse) under the former of these 

 heads. 



So long, however, as revelation is treated as a revelation 

 of doctrines, the infallible communication of truth may 

 be distinguished, but cannot be separated, from a pro 

 vision for the infallible transmission of the truth. That 

 prophets or apostles were miraculously enabled to com 

 municate divine truths to men would be quite a valueless 

 fact to us did we not know that these saving truths have 

 been authentically handed down to us. The process of 

 revelation is itself incomplete till the fleeting word is 

 fixed in the abiding letter, for only then does the truth 

 gain complete objectivity even for the prophet himself. 



On our view the state of things is quite different. 

 The true objectivity of the revelation is secured in the 

 divine manifestation, while inspiration brings this objective 

 datum into real union with man s consciousness. This 

 done, the revelation is already a power in the world ; 

 an historical fact not to be got rid of. So far as the 

 generation which was in contact with the divine mani 

 festation is concerned no further supernatural step is 

 necessary to give the revelation its full force. But the 



