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Introduction
The gift of prophecy was manifested in the Church during the
Jewish dispensation. If it disappeared for a few centuries, on account
of the corrupt state of the Church toward the close of that dispensa-
tion, it reappeared at its close to usher in the Messiah. Zacharias,
the father of John the baptist, “Was filled with the holy ghost, and
prophesied.” Simeon, a just and devout man who was “Waiting for
the consolation of Israel,” Came by the spirit into the temple, and
prophesied of Jesus as “A light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory
of thy people Israel”; And Anna, a prophetess, “Spake of him to
all them that looked for redemption in jerusalem.” And there was
no greater prophet than john the baptist, who was chosen of God to
introduce to Israel “The lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world.”
The Christian age commenced with the outpouring of the spirit,
and a great variety of spiritual gifts was manifested among the be-
lievers. These were so abundant that paul could say to the Corinthian
Church, “The manifestation of the spirit is given to
Every Man
to
profit withal”—To every man in the Church, not to every man in the
world, as many have applied it
.
Since the great apostasy, these gifts have rarely been manifested;
and this is probably the reason why professed Christians generally
believe that they were limited to the period of the Primitive Church.
But is it not on account of the errors and unbelief of the Church
that the gifts have ceased? And when the people of God shall
attain to primitive faith and practice, as they certainly will by the
proclamation of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,
will not “The latter rain” Again develop the gifts? Reasoning from
analogy we should expect it. Notwithstanding the
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Apostasies of the Jewish age, it opened and closed with special
manifestations of the spirit of God. And it is unreasonable to suppose
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