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the Great Invisible Cause. There have been suprising effects among men, not immediately or mediately produced by the Deity, which have carried the appearance of miracles; but these are resolvable into natural causes, and have been deemed supernatural through mistake, or delusion.

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Undoubted miracles are therefore the seal of heaven; and are immediate and striking proofs of the divine co-operation. It is likewise evident that they indirectly and ultimately prove the truth of the doctrines delivered by a prophet who thus demonstrates his commission from above. It is only taking another step in the argument, and saying; The miracles wrought by the prophet shew that he is sent from God but God is a God of truth; and therefore the words spoken by his messenger, as such, must be And there is almost as little reason to question the fidelity of the messenger as the veracity of God. It cannot be supposed that God, who knows his instruments, would impart miraculous powers to a founder of a religion capable of perverting the truths which he was commissioned to deliver: and such as were delegated by the Great Author of our religion, were chosen by the infallible Spirit of God to answer the several ends for which they were called, and would instantly have been deprived of the supernatural

true.

Matt. xv. 31.

We may see what were the natural effects of miracles, John ii. 23. iii. 2. Mark i. 27. Luke vii. 16. viii. 25. and p. p. Mark vi. 51. Luke ix. 43. John ix. 30. x. 21. xii. 11. Matt. xii. 23. Acts viii. 6, 13. The emperor of China said to the missionaries, Do some miracle that may warrant the truth of your religion, and I will pass my word for the sincerity of our faith. Le Compte, p. 419, 8vo. Engl. Trans. • See Mr. Farmer's most excellent Dissertation

on Miracles, particularly c. v.

AS A DIVINE INSTRUCTOR.

power communicated to them, if they had attempted an undue use of it. They could do nothing against the truth; but for the truth. This was a general maxim in the age of miracles; and we must likewise observe, that if any, who partook of the spirit during that period, had attempted to propagate a falsehood as a revealed truth, they would have a extinguished the heavenly light, and, in cases of sufficient importance, a prophet, assisted by the spirit and power of God, would have refuted, and, perhaps, judicially punished them. It must also be further suggested on this subject, that doctrines advanced by a heavenly teacher will always prove themselves to be worthy of God, and suitable to the nature or peculiar circumstances of those who are required to admit them as a divine law.

The most probable account of the duration of miracles after our Lord's time is, that, as the apostles alone had the high privilege of conferring spiritual gifts, among which was the power of working miracles, these gradually ceased, as that generation became extinct to which the apostles had communicated this power.

Miracles are as capable of being supported by proper testimony as any other actions of which men are eye witnesses. To say that we will not believe them, because we have not seen them ourselves, is making our own personal experience the test of all possible facts: it is saying that, because there is an

2 Cor. xiii. 8.

See Benson's Life of Christ, c. vi. sect. vi.

ordinary and established course of nature, this cannot be set aside by the Omnipotent Being who first arranged it, though for moral and religious purposes, the greatest and the most worthy of his benevolent interposition which can be conceived.

The miracles of Christ were publicly appealed to by his Apostles a few days after his ascension; they are transmitted down to us by eye witnesses, and contemporary writers, in well authenticated books; and they are supported by the most credible testimony, that of a number of plain honest men, who sacrificed all worldly advantages, and life itself, in attestation of what they advanced. And we are to consider in these witnesses their competency to judge of the facts, their integrity, and their benevolence to mankind; not their learning, station, or opulence. Upon the whole, the miracles of Jesus prove St. John's conclusion, THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.

*Acts ii. 22.

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John xx. 31.

SECTION III.

WHY OUR LORD SOMETIMES CONCEALED HIS MESSIAHSHIP, AND THE MIGHTY WORKS WHICH PROVED IT.

A CANDID and attentive reader of the gospels will be convinced that our Lord's Messiahship was sufficiently promulged to the Jews; and that the display of his miracles, one great proof of his prophetic character, was sufficiently illustrious to create attention and conviction.

When the angel Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist, he foretold to Zacharias that his son should be "great before the Lord; and should go before him in the power and spirit of Elias."

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When the same angel was sent to Mary, he described her promised son in the following terms: "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall

< reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." shall come upon thee, and the

"The Holy Spirit power of the Most

High shall overshadow thee: therefore also the holy

a Luke i. 15, 17.

bib. 32, 3.

• His spiritual kingdom on earth shall last as long as the world itself, and for ever in heaven. Prophecy seems to point out a very glorious manifestation of this kingdom here below. Dan. ii. 44. vii. 14, 27. Rom. xi. 12, 15, 25, 26. Rev. xi. 15. xx. 4. xxi. 10, 23, 24.

child who shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

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Mary herself was inspired with this language: "He hath holpen his servant Israel, that he might remember his mercy (as he spake unto our fathers) to Abraham and to his seed, for ever." And Zacharias represented God as "visiting and redeeming his people, according to the oath which he sware unto Abraham."

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When the angel appeared to Joseph, an intimation was given that Jesus should be a king: "Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins."

Immediately after Jesus's birth at Bethlehem, an angel used very express terms to the shepherds, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is CHRIST the Lord."

It was revealed to Simeon that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's CHRIST : and accordingly Simeon called him God's salvation; a light to lighten the Gentiles; and the glory of Israel, on account of his birth and appearance among that people.

At the same time Anna, a prophetess, spake of the child Jesus to all those who looked for * redemption in Jerusalem.

When the Magi came to Jerusalem, and asked, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"

d Luke i. 35.

f ib. 68, 73. · Matt. i. 21. Locke's Reasonableness of Christianity, p. 50. 8vo. 1736. b Luke ii. 11.

⚫ ib. 54, 5.

iib. 26, 30, 32.

kib. 38.

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