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ruler, No man could do fuch things as these, unless GOD were with him *.

Yet we do not affirm, that every true miracle is, according to our way of speaking and of judging, an equal difplay of fupernatural power. Our bleffed Saviour had manifested his glory by many mighty deeds, when he faid to the Jews, "The Father loveth the Son, and fheweth him all things that himself doeth; and he will fhew him Greater works than thefe, that ye may marvel'." The difciples, as it is teftified, believed on Jefus, when they had beheld the beginning of his miracles; but their faith increased, as they faw these wonders daily repeated. It was confirmed when disease forfook his prey, and still more when death gave

back his prifoners.

This foundation being laid, we may, without endangering the caufe which we defend, allow, that fome works, above the ordinary reach of man, have at times. been performed by thofe who came not with authority from heaven. But then we may be affured, both from natural reafon, and

X John iii. 2. z Ibid. ii. 11.

y Ibid. v. 20. comp. i. 51.

from

from past experience, that the just and faithful Governor of the world will not fuffer us to be led by ftrong delufion into dangerous error, if we do not firft abandon the love of the truth. For it fhould not be forgotten, that these lying wonders never were exhibited, unless when there was a true prophet prefent to confound the deceivers, or a written teft to try their pretenfions.

The magicians could fmite, but they could not heal; their rods became ferpents, but the rod of Aaron fwallowed them up. The plagues were upon Them, as well as the Egyptians; they could not stand before Mofes and Aaron; and were enforced to acknowledge the finger of God.

In the days of the Meffiah, when the legion of unclean fpirits, as we read in the Gofpels, entered into the herd of fwine, the effect which enfued might be confidered, perhaps, as bearing fome fimilitude of a miracle; but it was fuffered to take place, for far other purposes, than to countenance iniquity, or to ratify error. By this

2 Matt. viii. 28. &c. Mar. v. 1. Luke viii. 26.

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fingle inftance, our bleffed Redeemer was pleased to fhew the restless malevolence, but limited power, of those wicked spirits; their eagerness to affail the brute creation, when restrained from devouring nobler prey; yet their inability to injure the meaneft of God's creatures, without the fufferance of Him, who controuls all moral as well as natural agents, and upholds all things with his holy

arm.

Indeed, it seems not to have been without the particular providence of God, that the delufions of evil fpirits, and arts of wicked men, were, at the beginning of the gospel, fuffered to abound. Our Lord himself has informed us, that fome infirmities and difeases then happened to this end, that "the works of GOD might be made manifeft "" in the miraculous cure. We may suppose the same reason to hold in the present case. The adversary of mankind had great wrath, because he knew his time was fhort. But his rage tended only to his own deftruction; and the truth of the gospel, which prevailed over all the power of the enemy, became more confpicuous, than if it had had no dangers to encounter, nor foes to cope with; but

b John ix. 3. comp. xi. 4.

had

had every where been received with open arms, and a credulous faith.

Laftly, however, be it remembered, that whether oracles are delivered, or wonders wrought, on whatever ground is challenged the awful character of the meffenger of GOD; the internal evidence must always fupport external demonstration. He, who gave us reafon for our guide, condefcends to speak to us as endued with reason; darkened, indeed, and depraved, like our other faculties, yet ftill retaining principles, whereby to judge of propofitions that are offered to us, and capable of distinguishing truth from falsehood.

An implicit faith is what religion disdains: we are invited, nay commanded, to examine the credibility of what is propofed to us.

Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" "Try the fpirits whether they are of GOD"." "Prove all things; hold faft that which is good."

We know there is a GOD, and that he is holy, juft, and true. Whatever therefore

< Luke xii. 57. Comp. Matt. xvi. 3. di John iv. I.

1 Theff. v. 21.

H 3

comes

comes from Him, must be worthy of him; not only confiftent in all its parts, but, where former revelations have been made, agreeing with them likewife, adopting their ideas, unfolding their myfteries, carrying on the fame defign, tending to the fame end, the glory of GoD, and the instruction, improvement, and welfare of man.

Here, then, we have a teft, for the confutation of error, and illuftration of the truth; a criterion, to which the holy prophets appeal with fearless integrity, and to which all thofe, who ufurp the name, must submit their pretenfions. Does their doctrine bear the stamp and imprefs of heaven? Is it pure and spiritual, juft and good? fuitable to the nature and exigences of man, conformable to the adorable attributes of GOD, and agreeing with antecedent declarations of his will?

In the paffage before quoted from Moses, the Ifraelites were commanded, not to hearken to that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, even though the fign or wonder, given by him, came to pass; if he taught them to go

f See
p. 103.

after

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