562 The Parable of the Vol. IB Fenger from the dead. And our Saviour brings in Abraham delivering himfelf ve- ry pofitively in this matter, and therefore we may prefume it to be our Saviour's own Senfe, and may rely upon it for a Truth ; which however at firft fight it may not be fo evident, yet I hope in the progrefs of this Difcourfe to make it fuf- ficiently clear. But before I undertake that, I (hall premife a Caution or two to prevent all Miftake in this matter. Firjf, That we are not to underftand thefe Words too ftri&ly and rigoroufly, as if the thing were limply and in it felf impoffible, that a Man who is not con- vinced by hearing or reading Mofes and the Prophets, should be broughttoRepen- tance any other way. For it is very poffible in the Nature ofthe thing, yea and likely enough, that a Man who is not convinced by calm Evidence and Perfwa- lion, may yet be very much wrought upon by a firange and amazing Accident ; and if one, whom he had known when he was alive, fhould appear to him from the dead, and declare the certainty of a future State, and the condition of things in another world, there is little doubt to be made, but that this would more rouze and awaken him to confider his Danger, than all the Threatnings of God's Word ; and 'tis verypoffïble, that by the Concurrence of God's Grace, this might prove an effeáual Means to convince fuch a Man, and to bring him toRepen- tance. And yet for all this, it is not probable upon the whole matter, and if all Circumftances be duly confider'd, that this fhould generally have a permanent effect upon Men, fo as throughly to reclaim fuch Perlons as do obftirately re- lift the Light and Counfels of God's Word. Secondly, Another Caution I would give is this, That we are not to underfland there Words fo, as to weaken the forceof that Argument from Miracles for the Proofand Confirmation of.a Divine Do&rive ; as if our Saviour intended to infi- nuate, that Miracles are not a proper and fufficient Argument to convince Men. For our Saviour does not here oppofe Mofes and the Prophets to a miraculous Teftimony ; but he advanceth the publick Evidence and Teftimony which Mofes and theProphets had above the evidence ofa,fingle and private Miracle ; for Mo- fes acid the Prophets had/their Confirmation from Miracles; and Miracles are the great Evidenceand Atteftation which God hath: always given to the Divinity of any Perlon or Doctrine; and therefore Abraham cannot be thought to (peak any thing to the Prejudice of Miracles, when he fays, If they hear not Mofes and the Prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, the' one rofe from the dead. Nay fo far is he from that, that this reafoning of his is rather for the Advantage ofMiracles. For Mofes and the Prophets had the Confirmation of many and great, of publick and unqueftionable Miracles; a credible Relation whereof was conveyed down to after Ages. So that if rational Means of Conviction were the thing defired, it was not likely that thofe, who were not perfuaded by Mofes and the Prophets, which were acknowledgedby themfeives to have had the Confirmation offo ma- ny undoubted Miracles, fhould in reafon be convinced by a private and tingle Miracle. Thefe Confiderations being premifed by way ofCaution, I come now to make out the Truth of what is here afferted in the Text. And for the full clearing of this matter, Ifhall fpeak to thefe two Propofitions. Firg, That it is unreafonable toexpeét that God fhould do more for the Con- viâionof Men, than to afford them a {landingRevelation of his Mind and Will; fuch as that of the holy Scriptures is. And if fo, then, Secondly, That upon the whole matter it is very improbable, that thofe who reject this publick Revelation of God, fhould be efeétually convinced, tho' one fhould fpeak to them from the dead. Firft, That it is unreafonable to expect that God fhould do more for the Con- victionof IvFen, than to afford them a ftanding Revelation of his Mind and Will; fuch as that of the Holy Scriptures is. This is firongly impli'd in Abraham's firft Anfwer, They have Mofes and the Prophets, let them hear them; as if he had faid, having fuch Means of Conviction fo near at hand, why fhould they delire and expect any other ? his in this cafe of the Scriptures, as in that ofGod's Pro- 'vidence;
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