After So many proofs that Jefus Chrift is the promifed Meffiah, that he rose from the dead, and fitteth at the right hand of his Father; the miracles, which he performed during his life, need no examination, in order that they may be looked upon as certain. We undertake, nevertheless, to examine them independently of the preceding proofs, and to demonftrate that they are not only certain, but moreover that they are an incontestable proof of Jefus Chrift's being the promifed Meffiah, and the Son of God. 1. The turning of water into wine at the marriage in Cana: The mystery of that mutation. 2. The firft increase of loaves in the defart: Jefus Chrift's divinity demonftrated. The heavenly fuftenance figured by a miraculous food. 3. The f.cond increase of loaves, which is not only certain, VOL. III.

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but confirms many other preceding miracles. 4. Jefus Chrift walketh upon the waves, enables Peter to do the fame, ftills the fea, and the winds, abbreviates the apostle's labour, and couches under his miracles weighty truths. 5. The apostles awake Jefus Chrift in the midst of a furious tempeft, which ceafes at his command: perpetual protection promised to the church. 6. Deliverance of a man pof-· Jeffed with a legion of devils certainty of his being poffeffed, and their expulfion: truths attested by both: admirable proof of Jesus. Chrift's regard towards the leaft of his elect. 7. Why the poffeffed were fo numerous in the time of our Saviour and his apostles, and why fo frequent mention is made of their deliverance in the gospel.

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FTER what has been faid, there is no occafion we fhould give ourselves any trouble to prove the truth of the miracles performed by Jefus Chrift, part of which are related in the gofpel. The mafter muft, at least, be equal to his difciples. And fince the apostles caft out devils, heal diseases, raise the dead, impart the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, and perform all these marvellous operations only by invoking his almighty name ; it must be great folly to harbour the leaft doubt concerning the miracles which he himself performed in his life time.

Yet I fhall not be fatisfied with this, nor the preceding proofs: and I even consent, that the inquiry, we are now commencing, be made

with as much severity and rigor, as if Jesus CHAP. Christ now began to manifeft himself, and to 1. establish his church; and as if every thing which has hitherto been advanced, did not plainly convince us, that he is risen from the dead, and feated in the heavens upon the fame throne with his Father. I fhall pass by all the miracles, which have no connexion with circumstances capable of proving their certainty, and even of those I shall confine myself to a small number, in order to avoid prolixity.

ARTICLE I.

The turning of water into wine at the marriage of Cana The mystery of that mutation.

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Commence with the first public miracle attested by the difciples. St. John relates it in this manner : * There was a marriage "in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of

Jefus was there. And both Jefus was called, and his difciples, to the marriage. "And when they wanted wine, the mother "of Jefus faith unto him, they have no wine. "Jefus faith unto her, Woman, what have I "to do with thee? mine hour is not yet "come.. His mother faith unto the fervants, "Whatsoever he faith unto you, do it. And "there were set there fix. water-pots of stone, † John ii. 1.

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PART" after the manner of the purifying of the IV. "Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jefus faith unto them, Fill the water-pots "with water. And they filled them up to "the brim. And he faith unto them, Draw

out now, and bear unto the governor of the "feaft. And they bare it. When the ruler "of the feaft had tafted the water that was "made wine, and knew not whence it was, "(but the fervants which drew the water "knew) the governor of the feaft called the bridegroom, and faith unto him, Every

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man at the beginning doth fet forth good "wine; and when men have well drunk, "then that which is worse: but thou haft kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jefus in Cana of "Galilee, and manifefted forth his glory; "and his difciples believed on him.

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I have, in another place, animadverted on the truth of this hiftory, wherein Jefus Chrift fhould not have been made to answer his mother in a manner feemingly harsh, had it not been abfolutely neceffary to defcribe facts as they really happen'd; and on which, if reflections had been allowable, fome explanation of that feeming harshness fhould have been inferted, I obferve further at prefent, that after fuch an answer, it neither could be expected, that the bleffed virgin fhould look upon the miracle she required as certain; nor fhould fhe warn the fervants against hefitating to perform whatever her fon would command, when he did not feem inclinable to order any thing.

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In fine, it appeared no way probable, that CHAP. Jefus Chrift fhould command them to go fetch 1. water, when the wine failed; and all thefe fingular circumstances contribute to render the certainty of this truth more evident.

But waving these observations; how is it poffible to be sceptical on fuch a miracle? the fervants themselves draw out the water, and fill the water-pots up to the brim. It was then impoffible to intermix wine, nor can it be imagined, that there was any there. The wine proves excellent, then it is not counterfeited. It is much better than the first, therefore it is of a different fort. There is now plenty, and there was need of it. The master of the house, not knowing what Jesus had done, wondered that the bridegroom kept back the good wine, till the guests had loft their tafte, and were no longer capable of diftinguishing the goodness of the liquor. Perhaps the number of the guefts being greater than was expected, occafioned the deficiency of wine. The miracle becomes public, and confirms in the faith the new difciples of Jefus Chrift. Whofoever denies his affent to these proofs, must be an obftinate enemy to truth: he must disown, that God has the power of working miracles, who contests the certainty of this.

To this certainty a farther degree is still added, by the mystery couched under the fimplicity of the history. For it appears, that the letter is wrote for the fpirit, and that one miracle points out another. The incarnation of Jefus Chrift, and its confequence the new alli