Object. 1- Ay ! but we have none now.
Ans. It is not necessary, because the same doctrine and rule is continued to us without change. That which is extraordinary must be proved by extraordinary means. Miracles wrought where there is no necessity are liable to suspicion. When Christ's doctrine was new, and the calling and function that he exercised in the church new, then were miracles wrought to confirm them. The Lord's manner hath always been, when he erects any new worship and service, to give testimony to it from heaven ; as trees newly set need watering, which afterwards we discontinue. Upon the delivery of any new law or truth to the world, natural and ordinary means of conviction are
' Qu. ' would lessen ' ? — Ed.
VeR. 17.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVIT. 443
wanting. None now pretendetli to be an extraordinary messenger from God ; the doctrine is ordinary, and the call ordinary, and why should we expect extraordinary confirmation ? The old sufficeth. And by the consent and experience of many ages, and its own reasonable- ness, Christianity hath gotten a just title to human belief, and there we must submit : John xx. 30, 31, ' And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this Ijook : but these were written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.' God hath given us the report and record of the old miracles, which is enough to beget faith in them that have a mind to believe rather than wrangle. We think it had been better if God had continued this sensible confirmation , but we must not give laws to heaven. Because we have so much light, and other induce- ments of faith, God will govern us by wisdom and not by power. It is true, men are less apprehensive of his wisdom than of the sensible efiects of his power ; but because we have otherwise confirmation sufficient, now doth God try us, whether we will turn atheists and antiscripturists, and upon light suspicion misbelieve.
Object 2. How shall we know that those miracles were done, since we saw them not ; we have but fame and report, which oftentimes is no friend to truth ?
Ans. We have the report of men that lived in that age, who were only fit witnesses in this case, and were persons of singular holiness and credit, and they were those that sealed it with their blood, and therefore their report is of as great authority and certainty as if we had seen them ourselves. And besides, the report is ancient, constant, not contradicted by the vigilant adversaries of that age with them, which would be a madness, if they were false and counterfeit, since they might so easily inquire into the truth of the report. Foreign histories testify that such things were done, though they seek to deprave the actions, as if done by the power of Satan. And hitherto the church hath maintained the truth of them against all opposers. But of this hereafter.
Use. To press us to reverence the word of God, since God hath owned it by miracles, and ' sealed up instruction,' as the expression is, Job xxxiii. 16; that is, ratified it by extraordinary dispensations. The apostle proveth that the despisers of the gospel will have a sorer judgment than the despisers of the law : Heb. ii. 2-4, ' For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?' The transgressors of the law, though they did not see God giving it upon the mount, were punished, and so will the disregarders of the gospel, though they did not see the miracles. It is better to believe than to make trial ; there are no atheists and antiscripturists in hell ; they feel the truth of what they would not fear. Nay, when God hath owned it, if you neglect it, or receive it carelessly, or do not study it, though you do not openly oppose, or secretly question the
444 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXVIII.
authority of it, if you neglect it, God will deal severely with you. Tlie miracles were then wrought, and the doctrine needeth not often confirmation.
Thirdly, The accomplishment of prophecies, threatenings, promises , as if God had made the word a rule of proceeding, and tlie whole government of the world were managed in a conformity to the scrip- tures, for his whole providence is but a comment upon it.
1. Prophecies. How have they always been accomplished, as set down in the word ? Isa. xli. 23, ' Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods.' A man may foretell things that depend on natural causes, as snow, rain, heat, cold, eclipses ; hut things merely contingent, depending upon the free grace of God, or free will of man, are foretold in the word ; as the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles are clearly spoken of and clearly accomplished. The scripture is not only an authentic register of what is past, hut an infallible prognostication of what is to come ; nothing good or bad befell but that which was foretold.