therefore they should hearken, and hear Him in all things whatsoever He should fay unto them.” But farther, their esteemed Prophet Ifaias had exprefly prophecied that the Meffias fhould work many miracles; amongst these too (what one would imagine could hardly have efcaped them upon this occafion) that He should open the eyes of the blind. Well, therefore, might this enlightened mendicant represent to his blinded Rulers the marvellous partiality of their conduct, in denying the authority of Chrift, who wrought fuch mighty works; at the fame time that the whole of their own Religion refted entirely upon the credit of the like works wrought by Mofes; and they were taught to expect that when the promifed Meffias came, He alfo fhould work miracles. In regard to which prevailing expectation at of the peotime we find very ple, whofe judgments were unprejudiced, this many when they faw the wonderful works which Jefus did, believed on Him; and alledged in juftification of their belief, "when Chrift cometh will he do more miracles than these that this man hath done ?" Thus much for the reafoning of the poor man in the text, upon his own particular cafe. In purfuance of whofe argument I shall take occafion to establish this general propofition,—that the nature and circumftances of the miracles performed by Jefus, are fuch as fully evidence the author of them to have come from God.-And in order to this I fhall, First, state the general notion of a Shall, then point out to you the dif tinguishing marks and properties Lastly, shall try the Miracles recorded of our Jefus by the foregoing Rules. 1. Now by a miracle I understand in general a wonderful and fupernatural effect, difcernible by the fenfes of those before whom it is wrought. In which defcription of a miracle, I obferve, the effect must be not only wonderful, but fupernatural. We are liable to have our admiration and astonishment raised by the artifices of deceitful men : Cheats and impoftors have in all ages availed themselves of ignorant and fuperftitious minds. But unless the fact be fuch as is above the natural efficacy of any human or visible agent, it cannot, strictly fpeaking, be called a miracle. Not that by the term fupernatural it is meant to exclude the efficiency of all created Beings whatsoever; as though every miraculous operation muft neceffarily be brought to pass by the immediate finger of the Almighty, without the interven tion of any fubordinate inftruments. He who alone worketh great marvels, and is alone able to alter the course of nature which himself established, may furely make use of miniftring Spirits, whether they be good or bad, to fulfil his will in exhibiting figns and wonders before the children of men. Of this the fcriptures themselves furnish us with fundry examples. Neither indeed is it for us to fay with what degrees of natural agency God may have originally endued those spiritual and invifible intelligences; who certainly excel in ftrength and knowledge far beyond our comprehenfion. Herein only we may reft affured, that they can never exert their abilities, how great foever, to counteract and confound the reason of mankind, but by his command or with his permiffion. For as God hath given unquestionable attestation to many Prophets and Holy Perfons; bearing them witness (as the Apostle Speaks) "both with figns and wonders, and and with diverfe miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghoft, according to his own will" So do we read of the Devil and his Agents being permitted to try good men, and to harden the wicked, by fhewing great figns and lying wonders. Again-To conftitute a miracle, it is required that the fact be obvious to our fenfes, as well as fupernatural in itself. By playing out of fight, and juggling in the dark, as hath been the foul practice of modern wonder-workers, the apprehenfion and judgment may be amused and beguiled, but not convinced. And without fenfible conviction, be the operation ever fo myfterious and unintelligible, it will produce no effect at all upon us, none at least of any long continuance. For miracles are always introduced by way of medium to prove fomewhat else; fomewhat too of which we cannot be afcertained by the ordinary rules of judging; for inftance, the authority |