germ. CLXVIII. Of the Faith or `?erftva/on, &c, 445 tipon this account Mofes forbids the Children of Ifrael to hearken to any Pro* phet that fhould come to feduce them to Idolatry 5 yea, tho' he fhould give a ngn or wonder, and the fign or wonder fhould cane to pafs, Deut. t 3. r, z, g, q. Now here lies the ffrength of the Reafon, Befaure he loath fpoken to turn you away from the Lordyour God, which brought you out of the Land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the Houfe of Bondage ; that is, becaufe he contradiets the great Revelation which God made of himfelf, and confirmed by fuch a fuccellion of fo many, and fo great Miracles ; the credit of which Revelation ought not in reafon to be calla in queflion upon the working ofa fingle and a private Wonder, which we could not diflinguifh from a Miracle. Upon the fame account St. Paul, Gal. r. 8. Pays, Tho' an Angel fromHeaven fhouldpreach any other Dairine than that whichhad been preachedunto them, he Amid' le accurfed 5 that is, after foclear and great con- firmation, as was given to the Gofpel, a contraryDo&rine, though it fhould come from an Angel, should be reje&cd as execrable. But you will fay, Suppofe fuels a Prophet as Mofes (peaks of here, fuch an Angel as Sr. Paul mentions, fhould work as many and as great Miracles as Mofes and Chrifl wrought, fhould we then believe them ? I Anfwer 5 This is not to be fuppos'd : for fuppofing the Providence of God in the World, it cannot be imagined that an equal Atteftation should be given to a falle Do&rine and a true. But that the greateft and moft unqueffionable Mira- cles are to carry it, is evident 5 becaufe this is all the Reafon why Mofes was to be creditedabove theMagicians, becaufe he wrought moreand greater Wonders than they did. Bat if it could be fuppos'd that any one could work as great Miracles for the Confirmation of Idolatry, as were wrought by way of Atteftation to the true Worfhip of God, then there would be no Difference, but what the Realms of the Thing makes 5 the Belief ofone God being more reafonable than many ; andnot to make an Image or fenfiblc Reprefentation of a Spirit, being more reafonable than to make one. But if this could be fuppofed, the natural Iffue and Confequence of it wouldbe Atlteifm , a Man would believe neither that nor the other, nor that there is any God at all. But a farther Account ofthe Nature and DifferenceofMiracles, T referee ro force * particular Difcourfes on that Subjetlt. At prefent, for the fuller Opening of this * tee sere Matter, it will be proper to Phew, Sloe, on s. That the Divine Authority both of the Do&rine ofMofes and Chrifi is refolv'd Heb.;;, 4. into Miracles. to sh18 2. What Affurance of Miracles is fufficient to perfivade Men to believe that Tellimony, for the Confirmation of which they are wrought. 3. What Affurance they give us, That the Scriptures are a Divine Reve. lation. But the Confideration of thefe I refer to the next Opportunity. SERMON C'LXVIII: Of the Faith or Perfwafion of a Divine Revelation. H E B. XI 6. But without Faith it isimpofble to Peale God. TV difcoutfing of the Faith or Perfwafion of a Divine Revelation, I propos'd the confidering thefe fovea things. 1. What The Fourth Sertnonon shir Text.
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