Besides, amongst those that wrought miracles, most of them prophesied long before. According to the Bible chronology, Isaiah wrought no miracle till about fifty years after he began to prophesy. God had spoken to the world above two thousand years before we read of any prophet working miracles. Yet he required obedience to his word before as well as after."

P. Did not the apostles make their conversions by the power of miracles?

1

D. Very false again: "It is written, with other tongues will I speak to this people, yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. We read, they believed not his wonders: Killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent: And always resisted the Holy Ghost.4 Of Christ it is said, though he had done so many miracles before them, yet, they believed not. Stephen wrought great miracles; yet they stoned him to death. Many signs were wrought by the apostles; yet the high priests and elders beat them, and charged them not to teach any more in the name of Jesus. So far were men from being converted by the power of miracles. Miracles alone never converted one sinner, nor would miracles convert you, or any that love the world, and hate the things that are of God. Miracles cannot open the eyes, soften the heart, or purge the conscience; yet they have their great and glo

11 Cor. xiv. 21. xxiii. 37. 4 Acts vii. vi. 8. 7 Chap. vii. 59, iv. 16-18.

2 Psalm 1xxviii. 32. 51, 52. 5 Joh. xii. 37. 8 Chap. ii. 43. v. 12.

3 Matt. 6 Acts 9 Acts

rious use, whenever God sees fit to grant them; but it must be a power above all miracles that alone can save a sinner from the error of his way. If they believe not the scriptures, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. In the apostles' days, the church of Christ was in its height of light, power, and holiness; and had the miraculous operations of the Holy Ghost more abundantly poured out. After the death of the apostles they were fewer and not so stupendous, and from that time they gradually decreased; yet christianity still continued to extend itself far and wide, notwithstanding all the opposition of the learned and powerful. And, with regard to latter times, nothing has been more signal than the several revivals of pure religion, with respect to reformation from popery, in all parts of corrupted Christendom. For wherever the power of God attends the preaching of his word, there the most obdurate are cut to the heart; where that power is not felt, there men remain as before, notwithstanding thousands of miracles are wrought. And whoever is sent of God to preach his word, to them he gives this testimony of his presence and approbation, though not often the power of miracles."

P. So you would allow any kind of people to preach, whether they can give proof of their authority or not?

D. No: I would not. "I allow of none who are dead in trespasses and sin to preach. To

1 James v. 20.

2 Luke xvi. 31.

the ungodly saith God, what hast thou to do to preach my laws. I would have none preach who do not believe the scripture; or who subscribe what they do not think is true: none who are so obstinate that they will not be convinced, though they are convinced."

"To finish this head: when our Lord, speaking of those that should believe in him, said, greater works than these shall he do; this was not greater miracles, but works above all signs and wonders, the turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. Christ preached about three years, and his converts seemed to be about five hundred. After Peter's first sermon the number was increased to above three thousand:5 Thus our Lord's words were fulfilled. For as the homily saith, "To justify a sinner, to new create him from a wicked person to a righteous man, is a greater act than to make such a new heaven and earth as is already made.

"Whatever preaching converts the heart, changes the life, and brings men to the true knowledge of Christ through the obedience of faith, is from God. This is a rule that cannot fail; it is firm as the pillars of heaven: He only that made the world, can turn a sinner from the power of Satan to himself. Wherever this is found, there the power of God is made manifest; and wherever this almighty power is exerted, there is the testimony of divine favour and ap

1 Psalm 1. 16. 2 John xiv. 12. 3 Luke i. 17. 4 Acts i. 15. 1 Cor. xv. 6. 5 Acts ii. 41. 6 Hom.

for Rogat. week, part i. See also page 12, 24. 7 Romans xvi. 26. 8 Acts xxvi. 18.

probation. The highest apostle could do no more of himself than the lowest worm of the earth. Whoever then is the instrument of any measure of the same work, that was wrought by apostles, is in his measure the same as an apostle, and has the same power of the Almighty with him. It is the sole work of God; he sends by whom he will send; and whoever is an instrument in his hand, he only is truly sent from above. And he that despiseth, despiseth not man but God."

"Let the learned, blind, and authorised Pulpits go forth and see what they can do. They do go forth, and can do nothing. They bring forth no fruit; convert no sinners, the distinguishing mark of those who stand not in God's council. Behold (saith God) they ran, but I did not send them. But such as you despise, hath God chosen, that he might show the wonders of his grace. Instances of these are so many and so undeniable before our eyes, that nothing less than judicial blindness can make us disbelieve. If any, therefore, will not see, God will judge him for his perverseness. Such are always the first to discern evil, even where there is none; but the last to embrace the truth, though confirmed by a thousand evidences."

I leave it now to your choice, either to deny the scripture, work miracles, or acknowledge that your argument is false. If you do the last, then you grant all I contend for, and allow there

1 John xv. 5. 1 Cor. iii. 7. iv. 8. 3 Jer. xxiii. 21, 22.

2 Luke x. 16. 1 Thes

may be inspiration where there is no power to work miracles.

P. So you would have us, be like the apostles, and first christians; and to infer from their receiving the Holy Ghost, that we are to receive it likewise.

D. Most certainly I'would have you abide by the doctrine you profess, the articles you subscribe, and above all, to believe the holy scripture. And, "I do indeed infer, from what I find there, that all vain jangling, and contradiction of God's word, is to be laid aside: and that the weak reason, blindness, and ignorance of man is to submit to the truth of Christ. I have already told you, that I do not contend for extraordinary gifts, healing the sick, raising the dead. But if you deny the ordinary privilege, of receiving the sanctifying influences of the spirit of God, then you must either maintain that in our days, we come into the world with less sin than the apostles and first christians;that we have more power by nature to cleanse ourselves than they had; that there are two ways to heaven, one for them, and another for us; or own that no man can be possessed of grace, or have the least title to glory, without having the same spirit which was given to the apostles."

"I marvel to see you so afraid of becoming a follower of them, who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. Have you forgotten the deplorable mark of the lascivious scoffer, and sensual? They have not the spirit." 22 Pet. iii. 3.

1 Heb. vi. 12.

2