(2) Failure of Predictions. The same pun ishment is to be inflicted on him who speaks in the name of the true God, but whose predictions are not accomplished. These enactments established a peculiar right of the prophets. He who prophe sied in the name of the true God was, even when he foretold calamity, entitled to he tolerated, un til it happened that a prediction of his failed of accomplishment. He might then be imprisoned, but could not be put to death, as instanced in Jeremiah (xxvi :8-t6), who is apprehended and arraigned, but acquitted: 'Then said the princes and the people unto the priests and the prophets, This man is not worthy to die, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.' Ahab is by false prophets encouraged to attack Ramoth gilead, but Micaiah prophesied him no good; on which the king becomes angry, and orders the prophet to be confined (1 Kings xxii:1-27) : 'Take Micaialt and put him in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.' Isilicaialt answers (verse 28) 'If thou return at all in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.' Until the safe return of the king, Micaiah is to remain in prison; after that, he shall be put to death. The prophet agrees to it, and the king goes up to Ramoth-gilead, but is slain in the battle.
(3) In Accordance with Law. From the above two criteria of a true prophet flows the third, that his addresses must be in strict accord ance with the law. Whoever departs from it can not be a true prophet, for it is impossible that the Lord should contradict himself.
(4) No Prosperity without Repentance. In the above is also founded the fourth criterion, that a true prophet must not promise prosperity without repentance; and that he is a false prophet, 'of the deceit of his own heart, who does not re prove the sins of the people. and who does not inculcate on them the doctrines of Divine justice and retribution.' In addition to these negative criteria, there were positive ones to procure authority to true prophets. First of all, it must be assumed that the prophets themselves received, along with the divine revelations, assurance that these were really divine. Any true communion with the Holy Spirit affords the assurance of its divine nature; and the prophets could, therefore, satisfy them selves of their divine mission. There was noth ing to mislead and delude them in this respect, for temporal goods were not bestowed upon them with the gift of prophesying. Their own native disposition was often much averse to this calling, and could be only conquered by the Lord forcibly impelling them, as appears from Jer. xx:8, g; 'Since I spake, the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily. Then
I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name: but his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing. and I could not stay.' Now, when the prophets themselves were convinced of their divine mission, they could in various ways prove it to others, whom they were called on to enlighten.
6. True Prophets Distinguished. (1) Evi dence of the Spirit. To those who had any sense of truth, the Spirit of God gave evidence that the prophecies were divinely inspired.
(2) Personal Conviction. The prophets them selves titter their firm conviction that they act and speak by divine authority, not of their own accord (comp. Jer. XXVI :12, etc.). Their pious life bore testimony to their being worthy of a nearer communion with God. and defended them from the suspicion of intentional deception; their sobriety of mind distinguished them from all fa natics, and defended them from the suspicion of self-delusion; their fortitude in suffering for truth proved that they had their commission from no human authority.
(3) Fulfillment. Part of the predictions of the prophets referred to proximate events, and their accomplishment was divine evidence of their divine origin. Whoever had been once favored with such a testimonial, his authority was estab lished for his whole life, as instanced in Samuel. Of him it is said (I Sam. Hi:19) : 'The Lord was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground (i. e. fulfilled them) ; and all Israel knew (from this) that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.' Of the divine mission of Isaiah no doubt could be entertained after, for instance, his prophecies of the overthrow of Sen nacherib before Jerusalem had been fulfilled. The credentials of the divine mission of Ezekiel were certified when his prediction was accomplished, that Zedekiah should be brought to Babylon, but should not see it, for the king was made prisoner and blinded (Ezek. xii :12, 13) ; they were further confirmed by the fulfillment of his prediction con cerning the destruction of the city (Ezek. xxiv). Jeremiah's claims were authenticated by the ful fillment of his prediction that Shallum, the son of Josiah king of Judah, should die in his prison, and see his native country no more (Jer. xxii: II, 12).
(4) Attested by Miracles. Sometimes the divine mission of the prophets was also proved by miracles, but this occurred only at important crises, when the existence of the kingdom of Is rael was in jeopardy, as in the age of Elijah and Elisha.