64, Again, the Jews much insist on this, that all other prophets wrought miracles by the intervention of prayer, Moses alone with- out it, at his own pleasure. The rod, they say, was committed unto him as a kingly sceptre, to denote that authority whereunto the whole nature of things gave place. It is true, indeed, it is not re- corded that Moses prayed in words before every miracle that was wrought by him or in reference unto his ministry; but yet this is plain in story, that he wrought no mighty work but either upon his prayer, or some express command and direction from God in parti- cular; which everts the Judaical pretence of an abiding power remaining with him, enabling him to work miracles when and how he would. But this, which they falsely ascribe unto Moses, was emi- nently true of the Lord Jesus. Those thousands of miraculous works which he wrought were the arbitrary effects of a word of command, without any especial direction for every new work; arguing
416 JESUS OF NAZARETH [EXERC. XVII
the constant presence of an infinite power with him, exerted ac- cording to his will. ‘Come out of him,” “ Come out of the grave,” “T will, be thou clean,” “ Be opened,” and the like expressions, he used as signs and pledges thereof. Thus was it not with Moses, as the story manifests, yea, he himself greatly doubted of the greatest effect of the divine power put forth by him, when he smote the rock to bring forth water.
65. The nature of the miracles also wrought by the one and the other may be compared, and we shall see from thence on which side the pre-eminence will be found. For those wrought by Moses, or by God himself whilst he employed him in the service of giving the law and the delivery of the people, they were for the most part portentous prodigies, suited to fill men with wonder, astonishment, and fear Such were all the signs of the presence of God on Mount Sinai The effects also of most of them were evil and destructive, proceeding from wrath and indignation against sin and sinners. Such were all the mighty works wrought in Egypt, such those of the swallowing up of Dathan and Abiram in the wilderness. Those that tended unto the good and relief of mankind, as the bringing of water from the rock, were typical and occasional, And these kinds of works were suited unto that ministry of death and con- demnation which was committed unto him. But, on the other side, the mighty works of the Lord Jesus were evidently effects of good- ness as well as of power, and consisted in things useful and helpful unto mankind. Healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf, giving strength to the lame, casting out devils, feeding hungry multitudes, raising the dead, are things amiable and useful. And though terrible prodigies may more affect and astonish carnal minds, such as the Jews were filled with, yet works of grace and goodness do more allure those who attend unto the dictates of right reason. Evidences they were of a gracious ministry, tending unto salvation and peace in every kind, such as that of the Messiah was promised and foretold to be, As miracles, then, were the tokens of their several ministries, and be- spake the nature of them, those of the Lord Christ were exceed- ingly more excellent than those of Moses.
66. Furthermore, as Moses had not a power of working miracles constantly resident with him, which he might exert according unto his own will, so he was very far from being able to communicate any such power unto others. God, indeed, took of the spirit that was on him and gave it unto the elders that were to be joined with him in the government of the people, Num. xi. 25; but yet neither was there a power of working miracles going along with that spirit, but only ability for rule and government, nor yet was that commu- nication of it any act of Moses at all. But now our Lord Jesus, as
“SECT, 65-68.} THE ONLY TRUE AND PROMISED MESSIAH. 417
he had the divine power mentioned always with him, so he could give authority and power unto whom he pleased, to effect all such miraculous works as were any way necessary for the confirmation of their doctrine. Of this nature was the commission which he gave the twelve when he sent them forth, Matt. x. 8, “ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils,” as also that unto the seventy, Luke x. 17-19. Yea, he promised them (which also came to pass), that, by his power and presence with them, they should do greater things than those which they had seen him do, John xiv. 12; Mark xvi. 17,18. And this difference is so eminent that no- thing can be objected against it. This more evidently confirmed him to be the Messiah than all the mighty works which he wrought in his own person on the earth.
67. Again, All the miracles of Moses ended with his life. The Jews indeed, some of them, tell us a company of foolish stories about his death, which, as their manner is, they would fix on these words, Deut. xxxiv. 5, “ And Moses died 77 ‘BOy” “by the mouth” (or “word”) “of the Lorp;” as, namely, how he contended with mion ys, “the angel of death,” and drove him away with his rod, so that he could not die until God laid his mouth unto his, and so took out his soul from him. But these figments are shameful, and such as become none but themselves. However, these things ex- tended only unto his death; therewith ended his ministry and miracles. But now the greatest miracle of our Lord Jesus was wrought by him after the violent and cruel death which he under- went for our sakes; for he took his life again, and raised himself from the dead, John x. 17, 18. This being performed by him after the dissolution of his human nature, in the open, visible separation of his body and soul,—in which state it was utterly impossible that that nature should put forth any act toward the retrievement of its former condition,—manifested his existence in another superior na- ture, acting with power on the human in the same person. And this one miracle was a sufficient vindication of the truth which he had taught concerning himself,—namely, that he was the Messiah, the Son of God. And though any should question his being raised again from the dead by his own power, yet the evidence is uncontrollable that he was raised again by the power of God, without the applica- tion of the means and ministry of any other; whereby the holy and eternal God of truth entitled himself unto all that he had taught concerning his person and office whilst he was alive. And this leaves no room for hesitation in this matter; for this being granted, none will deny but that he was the Messiah; and what principles we proceed upon for the proof of it unto the Jews hath been before declared.