4,0 6 Of the Miracles .wrought in r .!. IL which a Man never learned thefe are things, which the they be not rn their Na- ture, yet in fuch Circumftances as thefe, they are fupernarutal. I fay, that a Supernatural Effe&, is that which is above any natural Power that we know of to produce ; by which I do not mean, that Mi acles are always an immediate Effe&k of the Divine Power, and confequently that God along can work them. For Angels good or bad may do fuch things, as excecu any natural Power known to us, and fuch as we cannot diltinguilñ by any certain Marks and Chara- &ers from chofe Effetts which are wrought by the immediate Power of God ; and if we cannot diftinguifh them, they are equally Miracles to us. When the Angel flew 185000 in the Camp of the Affyrians in one Night, this ought in all reafon -to be reckoned a Miracle; and yet this, tho' done by the Command of God, an Angel might do by his own Power and Strength; for they excell in ffrength : but what limitations to fet.to their Power, we cannot tell, only it is finite ; fo that ex- , cepting thofe things, which the Scripture bath peculiarly appropriated to God, we cannot fay what it is that an Angel cannot do. The Came may be fail concerning evil Angels. The Devil may work wonders, or alli t his Inftruments to work them So Pharaoh's Magicians wrought feverai Miracles by the power of the Devil, and did Come of the very fame things that Mofes and Aaron did, either really or in appearance, and it is all one whether. For he, who to MensSenfes, turns a Rod into a Serpent, works as great a Miracle CO me, as lie who really does it ; and if I am not to believe a thing to be a Miracle, when tomy Senfes it appears to be wrought, I am never to believe any, unle&s I could makeCome difference between thofe Miracles which are real, and chofe that only appear to be wrought ; for if we know not how to diftinguifh them, they are to us all one as if they were real: but if they may be dilfinguifb'd, then there will be need of another Miracle, to Phew which are real and which not; .and the fame Qieftion and Doubt will arife about that Miracle, and fowithout end. So that I do not fee what is gained by faying, that Pharaoh's Magicians did only delude Mens Senfes, but did not turn their Rods really into Serpents, as Aaron did his ; becaufe this may be laid on one fide, as well as on the other : for to the dtanders by there was no difference, but the one feemed to the Senfes of the Be- holders, to be as real as the other ; and the Text makes no difference, but lays, The Magicians did in like manner ; for they cart down every Man his Rod, and they became Serpents, only Aaron's had this advantage, that his Rod [wallowed up their Rods : but themain difference was here, 'Mofes and Aaron wrought fuch Miracles, as . the Magicians could not work, neither really, nor in appearance : for when Aaron by fmiting the Duft with his Rod, had turned it into Lice, it is faid that the Ma- gicians attempted to do fo with :heir Enchantments, butcouldnot and then they yielded and acknowledged that it was the Finger of God. And if theyhad not been thus plainly overcome, but could to all appearance of fenfe, have done ail thofe things which Mofes and Aaron did, it-might juftlyhave been difputed which had been the true Prophets. So that the Devil and his lnftrurhents may work Miracles. Mofes plainly fup- pofeth that a fade Prophet, who comes to (educe, the People to Idolatry, may work a true Sign or Wonder. Dent. 53. 1, a' If therearife among you a Prophet, or a Dreamer of Dreams, and giveth thee aSign or a Wonder ; andthe Sign or the Wonder come to pats, whereof he fpake unto thee, Piing, Let us go after other Gods. And our bleffed Saviour exprefly foretells. Matth. 2.4, That falfe Chrifls andfalle Pro- phets jhald arifeafter his Death, and Any great Signs and Wonders. From all which it is evident, that it is not of the Drente of a Miracle, (as many have thought) that it bean immediate Effeec of the Divine Power. It is fufficient, that it exceed any natural Power that we know of to produce it. And if fuch Ef- felts be not to be efteemed Miracles, a Miracle would lignifie nothing ; becaufe no Man could know when it is wrought, not diftinguifh it from thofe EffeCts which appear to be Miraculous, but are not. This is theftrß Property or Condition cif a Miracle, that it be Supernatural, that is, fuch an Effel3 as exceeds any natural Power that we know of to produce it. But then, a. There
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