will arise about that Miracle, and fo without end. So that I do not fee what is gained by faying, that Pharaoh's Magicians did only delude mens Senfes, but did not turn their Rods really in Serpents, as Aaron did his; because this may be faid on one fide, as well as on the other: for to the ftanders by there was no difference, but the one feemed to the Senfes of the beholders, to be as real as the other; and the Text makes no difference, but fays, The magicians did in like manner; for they caft down every man his rod, and they became Serpents, only Aaron's had this advantage,that his rod fwallowed up their rods: but the main difference was here, Mofes and Aaron wrought fuch Miracles, as the Magicians could not work, neither really, nor in appearance: for when Aaron by fmiting the duft with his Rod, had turned it into lice, it is faid that the Magicians attempted to do fo with their Enchantments, but could not, and then they yielded, and acknowledged that it was the finger of God. And if they had not been thus plainly overcome, but could to Sermon XI. all all appearance of fenfe, have done all Volume those things which Mofes and Aaron XII. did, it might juftly have been difputed which had been the true Prophets. So that the Devil and his inftruments may work Miracles. Mofes plainly supposeth that a falfe Prophet, who comes to feduce the People to Idolatry, may work a true fign or wonder, Deut. 13. I, 2. If there arife among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a fign or a wonder; and the fign or the wonder come to pafs, whereof he spake unto thee, Saying, Let us go after other gods. And our bleffed Saviour exprefly fortells, Matth. 24. That falfe Chrifts, and falfe Prophets shall arife after his death, and hem great figns and wonders. From all which it is evident, that it is not of the Effence of a Miracle, (as many have thought) that it be an immediate Effect of the Divine Power. It is fufficient, that it exceed any natural Power that we know of to produce it. And if fuch Effects be not to to be esteemed Miracles, a Miracle 2. There is another Condition alfo required to a Miracle, that it be an Effect evident and wonderful to Sense: for if we do not fee it, it is to us as if it were not, and can be no teftimony or proof of any thing, because it felf ftands in need of another Miracle to give Testimony to it, and to prove that it was wrought; and neither in Scripture, nor in profane Authors, nor in common ufe of Speech, is any thing call'd a Miracle, but what falls under the notice of our Senfes; a Miracle being nothing elfe but a thing wonderful to fenfe; and the very end and defign of it, is to be a fenfible proof and conviction to us of fome thing which we do not fee. And 1 XII. Volume And for want of this Condition, Transubstantiation, if it were true, would be no Miracle: it would indeed be very fupernatural, but for all that it would not be a Sign or Wonder; for a Sign or Wonder is always a fenfible thing, fomething that is wonderful and aftonishing to Senfe, otherwise it is no Sign or Wonder. That fuch a change as is pretended in Tranfubftantiation fhould really be wrought, and yet there fhould be no Sign and Appearance of it, is a thing very wonderful; but not to Senfe: for our Senfes perceive no change, the Bread and Wine to all our Senfes remaining just as they were before. Now that a thing fhould remain to all appearance juft as it was, hath nothing at all of wonder in it. We wonder indeed when we see a strange thing done but no Man wonders he fees nothing done. So that to fpeak the truth, Tranfubftantiation, if they will have it a Miracle, is fuch a Miracle, as any Man may work, that hath but confidence to face men down that he works and And and the fortune to be believed. however they of the Church of Rome are wont to magnifie their Priests, chiefly upon the account of this Miracle, which they fay they can work every day, and every hour, if they pleafe; yet I cannot understand, how it magnifies them fo much: for when this great work (as they call it) is done, there is nothing more appears to be done, than if there were no Miracie. Now fuch a Miracle, as to all appearance is no Miracle, I fee no reason why a Proteftant Minister may not work as often as he pleaseth, as well as they: Or if he can but have the Patience to let it alone, it will work it felf: for certainly nothing in the World is easier than to let a thing be as it is, and by fpeaking a few words over it, to make it juft what it was before. In fhort, a Miracle is a wonder to Senfe, and where a Man fees nothing that is ftrange done, there is no Miracle: for if he will call it a Miracle, when things remain juft as they were, and no fenfible change is made in them, every Man may every day work a thousand fuch Miracles. I come now in the II. Place, 4 1 |