A Discourse Upon the Powers of the World to Come, Discourse · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. The Inferences from the whole Diſcourſe of Miracles; Tending to make Wiſe to Sobriety, concerning Them; and to all Holineſs and Heavenly Converſation; are Recollected and Preſented.
Inference 1. MIracles indeed from Divine Power are able to bear the ſevereſt Tryal and Examination, becauſe they give Evidence of themſelves to the whole Man; not always to the outward Senſe; For, as hath been before remarked, the Words of Chriſt are Works. Now Words of Great, and Supernatural Efficacy, are Miracles to, and before the ſenſe of Mind; but not to the Outward Senſe: So they were to the Woman of Samaria, Behold a Man (ſaith ſhe) that hath told me All that ever I did; Is not this the Meſſiah, or the Chriſt? John 4. 29. and the Samaritans ſaid to the Woman, We believe not for thy Words or ſaying, but we have heard him our ſelves, and know, that This is indeed the Chriſt, the Saviour of the World, v 42. And yet here was no Miraculous Appearance to the Outward Senſe; and ſo our Lord ſays, Bleſſed are They who ha…e believed, and yet have not ſeen. Now whatever produces Faith, is Miracle before the Mind; For it is the mighty Power of God that works in all them that believe; Even as Miracle before the Eye is ſenſible Miracle. Yet generally Miracles did commend Themſelves to both the Inward and the Outward Senſe; and ſo that their moſt obſtinate Oppoſers could not Reſiſt their Evidences. They could bear the ſevereſt Scrutiny, ſuſtain the uttermoſt Teſt and Tryal.
When the Enemies of Chriſt, of his Doctrine and Miraculous Power, at any Time ſate in Judgment on Chriſt, and his Miracles; They were Confounded and Amazed; They were forced to lay their hands upon their mouths, and to keep ſilence. This is the Excellency of the Miracles of the Goſpel; when the Juggles, and Cheats, and Tricks of the Devil, and of All Deceivers, may be eaſily found out, if they are but ſearch'd into; They muſt be ſwallowed in ſilence, and believed in the Dark, or they vaniſh: What an Abundance of the Popiſh Miracles have been Trac'd and Tracked, (Like their Story of Bell and the Dragon, that they Fathally put in their Scriptures, or Bible, the very ſemblance of their Miracles), to the Juggle and Cheat that lay under Them! But the Miracles of the World to come, and of the Kingdom of Chriſt, are the Greater, the more they are Eyed: They have no Enemies but Ignorance, Stupidity, and Ʋnbelief, or Counterfeit.
We have an Admirable Inſtance of this, John 9. in the Cure of the Blind Man; The Neighbours had it in queſtion, and were convinced firſt; the Phariſees emptied it from Veſſel to Veſſel; They Examin'd it at all Lights; the Man being Blind himſelf, his Parents were every way ſifted, and the Matter canvaſs'd; and all they could do, was to drop the Cauſe, as they ſay, and in their own defence to Excommunicate the Perſon on whom the Miracle was wrought: They caſt him out Juridically, v 34.
Again, We ſhall find the Jews ſitting in Judgment upon a Miracle wrought by the Apoſtles; And what was the Great Effect of it? Acts 4. 21. The people Glorified God, ſeeing the miracle of Healing that was done. The Apoſtles Peter and John, had by the power of Chriſt heal'd a man Lame from his mothers Womb, c. 3. v. 1, &c. Now They beholding the man which was healed, ſtanding with them, They could ſay nothing againſt it. Obſerve, They fain would have Remonſtrated unto it, but could ſay nothing againſt it; and the Reſult was, What ſhall we do with theſe men? For that indeed a Notable Miracle hath been done by them, v. 16. is manifeſt to all them that dwell in Jeruſalem, and we cannot deny it. So that here was the Great Excellency of the Miracles of Chriſt in his Time, and in the Time of the Apoſtles: There was ſuch Evident Matter of Fact, it could not be denied by Senſe in what pertain'd to Senſe, or by the Mind in what pertain'd to Mind.
Infrence 2. This Ponderous, and Tremendous Conſideration Riſes from hence; We ought to give the more Eayneſt Heed to the things that have been ſpoken, leſt at any time we ſhould let them ſlip; For if the Word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt, and Every Tranſgreſſion and Diſobedience, received a Juſt Recompence of Reward, How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo Great Salvation, &c. If the Salva…ion was ſo great, and God brought it in, and ſurrounded it on every ſide with Miracles, or Miraculous Power; Oh how ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great Salvation, ſo Almightily Teſtifyed?
I appeal to All, whether we do not Think, God dealt Righteouſly with Pharoah? whether he had not a great deal of Patience with him to ſhew him Miracle after Miracle, although he after Buried him in the Red Sea? and whether he did not deal Righteouſly with Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, that for Forty Years ſaw his Works, and yet did alway Err in their Hearts, and did not know the ways of God, though their Carcaſes Fell in the VVilderneſs? and whether ſeeing the Miracles of Chriſt, and yet Rejecting him, They Crucified him, and were delivered up to the Romans not many Years after; and are now ſcattered over the Face of the Earth; becauſe they ſinn'd with ſo high a hand againſt a Miraculous Power, ſo exalted before them.
Now if God bare ſo Great Witneſs to that very Goſpel, we have now confirm'd with Signs and VVonders, and divers Gifts of the Holy Spirit, How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great Salvation! Oh therefore let us look to it continually: If God hath been at ſo great Expence (as I may call it) in the manifeſtation of Himſelf, as to give us the Goſpel ſealed with ſuch a curious Needle-Work of Miracles, with ſuch a Rich Explication of the manifoid VViſdom of God; Oh, how ſhall we eſcape, if the Gospel-Faith, Repentance, Holineſs, be not found in us, which will convince us of Great Neglect of it!
If it be ſaid, what was Miracle undeniable to the Beholders, hath loſt the Force of Miracle to us, to whom it is gone out of Matter of Fact into Htſtorical Account, Tradition and Diſcourſe; I anſwer to this in a Third Inference.
Infer. 3. That which preſſes forward the Exhortation, and Anſwers the Objection, is; Let us conſider, and deeply weigh, that God ſealing any Doctrine with Miracles, declares the Intrinſick Value, and worth of that Doctrine, the Fitneſs of it, to bring Souls into the Kingdom of Chriſt: Miracles are only a ſenſible Declaration of the Intrinſick Excellency of the Doctrine; whether They are preſent, or abſent; The Excellency of Divine Truth is ſtill the ſame; For Miracles are never a Seal to a Blank. The Writing hath the Eſſence of the matter, whether the Seal be at every Line, or not: It is enough, It is once ſet: It needs not be ſet a new, every Time, It is Read: The Fine of Miracles once paſs'd, the Goſpel as a Deed of Uſes imports the Senſe, and Virtue of All, and carries it, and the Fine of Miracles, as I may call it, along with it, however, but once paſs'd. Miracles are no more neceſſary continually, than One Riſing on all Occaſions from the Dead. But the Divine Excellency, and Truth of the Doctrine is always the ſame: Chriſt coming, and ſpeaking Things of ſo Supreme Excellency, that never man ſpake like him, did alſo the works, that no man elſe ever did. Hence it is alike Infer'd; If I had not come and ſpoken, they had had no Sin, but now they have no Cloak for their ſin; and if I had not done among them the VVorks, no man ever did, they had had no ſin. Converſion therefore hath been without Miracles, and with Miracles; Not therefore by the Vertue of Miracles, which of themſelves raiſe no more than Wonder, without the Spirit of God working with the Truth of the Goſpel; and that without Miracles is moſt Efficacious. Miracle can do nothing without the principal Truth; even the Divine Spirit never works by Miracles without the Divine Doctrine; It continually works by that without Miracles; many, who themſelves wrought Miracles, ſhall yet have that dreadful Sentence upon them, I know you not, depart from me, you that work Iniquity. A man may have a Faith Removing mountains, and yet be nothing, Matt 7. 22. 23. 1 Cor. 13. 1. It is certain therefore, Conve…ſion follows not Miracles; But Miracles have and ſhall indeed Follow the mighty Power of Converting Grace, working with the Goſpel; as at the Time of Chriſts Appearance in the Offertures of his Kingdom when here upon Earth, and by the Apoſtles; ſo at the Glorious Appearance of his Kingdom; Great and many workings of Miracles; ſo great Converſions, many Converts; and therefore by the way, let me give this very Serious, and Practical Notion; It may be, we ſhould look upon our Selves, as Perſons highly Favoured of God; If we could Heal Diſeaſes, or do any thing that would look like Miracle; But it is not ſo great a Thing, as a Power to Touch Chriſt, and Believe in him; To Conquer the Luſts, and Corruptions of our own Hearts, and the Impurity of our own Spirits; The Faith that Touches Chriſt, and Draws Vertue from him, is a far more Excellent Faith▪ than that which can Remove Mountains, or Heal Diſeaſes. If we had a Power of Miracles, it would indeed amaze the World, with the View, and be a kind of Nine days Wonder, But it would Flatten upon the Hearts of Men by being daily; They would grow familiar with it, and Reſiſt it, as the Jews did, as Pharaoh did, If the Power of Converting Grace did not go along with it; But this Inward Power is all pure, perfect Spirit, and never fails; Tho Chriſt will ſay to many, that had Caſt out Devils, and did many wonderful works in his Name; I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of Iniquity; yet to them, who have by Faith Deriv'd from him Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, Victory over Sin, Vanity, Luſts, and Corruptions, over the World; that have Receiv'd Renovation, Mortification, Heavenlineſs of Heart: Chriſt will never Profeſs, I know you not, depart from me, you workers of Iniquity. Agreeably therefore to this, when the ſeventy Returned, and gave Account of their Succeſs, and Chriſt gave them Power to Tread on Serpents, and Scorpions, &c. Yet, ſaith he, In this Rejoyce not, but Rejoyce that your Names are written in Heaven.
Oh! what an Admirable Thing is True Grace, Faith, Repentance, Love, Hope, Obedience; How curious is the Inlay, and Variety, the Curious Needle VVork, like the Variety of Miracles in the Times of the Apoſtles, or as Solomon ſpeaks in his Song, there are all Spices, and Perfumes, all the Richeſt Perfumes, and Powders of the Merchant in the various Graces of the Spirit; of which the Diverſities of Miraculous Operations were but the outward Counter point; And therefore herein, we may underſtand the Supernatural Excellency of Grace, and Salvation by Chriſt; Even as we Acknowledg Miracle far above Nature; ſo the Salvation of the Goſpel being moſt Perfect Miracle is in every Thing above Nature; VVorks of Righteouſneſs we have done, is Nature; If we are ſav'd by them; It is then indeed no other than Nature; but if by the Free Grace of God. Pardoning, and Accepting through the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; This is Miracle; Works done by Free VVill is Nature; Works done by the Grace and Power of the Divine Spirit is Miracle: Oh! how great a Tryal is this of Doctrines; whatever enters into that VVorl… to come, whereof we ſpeak with Acceptanee, is Miracle; a part of that VVorld to Come: And though what we call Nature now, is indeed Grace from the Mediator; yet It is ſo mix'd with the Apoſtaſy, that if it is not ſublimated, Raiſed to the Height by Grace, it will ſubſide, ſink down to the very Bottom of the Apoſtaſy.
Laſtly, Miracles Rightly conſidered ſhew the Order, even the Primary Oorder of Grace: For as Miraculous Power was firſt in Motion, and Manifeſtation of it ſelf, ere there could be particular Application; and not only ſo, but there was a particular Approach of ſuch Grace ready to Work, which excited the Faith of the Perſon, that was to Receive the Benefit of the Miracle; and ſo the Miraculous Power Entred; where Miraculous Power had no Place, there Unbeleif prevail'd, and no mighty Works were, or could be done: Even ſo in all the Spiritual Miraculous Powers, The Grace given and Working Faith and Repentance, and Obedience firſt En…er, and then the Graces Themſelves: For Grace, even as Nature Fabricates, and Raiſes its own Habitation, or Reception, Even by it Self: So it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of God who ſheweth mercy; Yet it is our Duty to pray earneſtly for Grace in ourſelves, and others; even as it is our Duty to wait upon All Means, to wait eſpecially on Grace it ſelf.
Infer. 4. How admirable is the Gift and Grace of God, in Removing out of the World that Diverſity and Strangeneſs of Tongues; that both in different Words and Sounds, as well as different Pronunciations of the ſame Words, came in by a Miracle of Judgment on the Builders of Babel; and hath continued a certain Diagnoſtick, or Brand of the State of Confuſion, whoſe Baſe and Houſe is in the Land of Shinar, the Antichriſtian Babylonian Kingdom; moſt contrary to the Kingdom of Salem, and to the True Melchiſedec, Jeſus Christ, King of Righteouſneſs, King of Peace: Now therefore at his firſt Appearance in his Kingdom, and the Preaching of the Everlasting Goſpel by the APostles in an Offerture of it at that time, and a Pledg of what ſhall be; There was a very Illuſtrious Specimen of the Babeliſm, or Confuſion of Languages Removed: Yet it ſhall be much more illuſtrious at the utter Fa…l of Babylon, and its Kingdom; For then the Lord ſhall ſhall turn to the People univerſally a pure Language; They ſhall All ſpeak the Language of Canan: And this muſt needs be ſo, when the Everlaſting Goſpel ſhall be Preached to Every Tongue, and Language under Heaven; Then muſt there be either one Ʋniverſal Language ſpoken, and underſtood by All, to Preach it in; or elſe there muſt be an Immediate Paſſing out of one Language into Another, both in Speaking and Underſtanding; Either of which is moſt undeniably the Work of that Infinite Power, that made mans mouth, that gave it ſpeech, and then Activity of Reaſon, Turning every way, and guiding that Speech: This alone can Conciliate thoſe both Different Voices, Sounds, Accents, and manners of Pronunciation, that are found in Different Languages, or Tongues; and the Different Formings of the ſame Language; and Frame all into one Univerſal Character, or Sound and Expreſſion of Truth, of the Goſpel, moſt ſuitable to the Glory of that Ʋniverſal Monarch, King of Kings Lord of Lords. Then alſo ſhall all that Babeliſm, or Confuſion of Opinions, ſo proper to Babylon concerning the Truths of the Goſpel, be Reconcil'd into Speaking one Thing, being of the ſame Mind, and Judgmen, tand that perfectly, or to Perfection.
Infer. 5. And to conclude this Diſcourſe; Seeing the Meſſiah, the Second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, and his Kingdom, his World to come, and theſe Miraculous Powers, even to the bringing forth the New Heaven, and the New Earth, are always together; Oh that moved by the Bleſſed Spirit, who ſays, Come; and Joyning with the Bride, which ſays, Come: we alſo Hearing, and Sympathizing, or moved Alike, may ſay, Come. Oh let it be ſaid, Oh Zion, Thy King cometh. The Flock of Saints, the multitude of Them Come; The Lord our God ſhall come, and all the Saints with Thee: The Breaker ſhall come up before them. They have broken through, They have paſſed through the Gate, and are gone out by it: and their King ſhall paſs before them, the Lord, even Jehovah, on the Head of them, Mic. 2. 13. Even ſo Come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly.
And thus I have Finiſhed the Proof of the Return of Miracles, I ſhall in this following Diſcourſe Eſſay a Full, and Satisfactory Proof by the Sure Word of Prophecy; That The Return of Miracles ſhall be in the Succeſſion of the Kingdom of Chriſt 1697.