* Yet I must desire you well to observe, thirdly, That my will, or choice, or desire, had no place either in this, or any case of this kind, that has ever fallen under my notice. Five minutes before I had no thought of this. I expected nothing less. I was willing to wait for a gradual recovery, in the ordinary use of outward means. I did not look for any other cure, till the moment before I found it. And it is my belief, that the case was always the same, with regard to the most _real and undoubted miracles_. I believe God never interposed his miraculous power, but according to his own sovereign will: not according to the will of man; neither of him by whom he wrought, nor of any other man whatsoever. The wisdom as well as the power are his: nor can I find, that ever, from the beginning of the world, he lodged this power in any mere man, to be used whenever that man saw good. Suppose therefore, there was a man now on earth, who did work _real and undoubted miracles_; I would ask, by whose power doth he work these? And at whose pleasure? His own, or God’s? Not his own; but God’s. But if so, then your demand is not made on man, but on God. I cannot say it is modest, thus to challenge God; or well suiting the relation of a creature to his Creator.
2. However, I cannot but think, there have been already so many plain interpositions of divine power, as will shortly leave you without excuse, if you either deny or despise them. We desire no favour, but the justice that diligent enquiry may be made concerning them. We are ready to name the persons on whom that power was shewn, which belongeth to none but God; (not one or two, or ten or twelve only) to point out their places of abode: and we engage they shall answer every pertinent question, fairly and directly; and, if required, shall give all those answers upon oath, before any who are impowered so to receive them. It is our particular request, that the circumstances which went before, which accompanied, and which followed after, the facts under consideration, may be thoroughly examined, and punctually noted down. Let but this be done (and is it not highly needful it should? at least, by those who would form an exact judgment) and we have no fear, that any reasonable man should scruple to say, _This hath God wrought_!
As there have been already so many instances of this kind, far beyond what we had dared to ask or think, I cannot take upon me to say, whether or no it will please God to add to their number. I have not herein _known the mind of the Lord_, neither am I _his counsellor_. He may, or he may not; I cannot affirm or deny. I have no light, and I have no desire either way. _It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good._ I desire only to be as clay in his hand.
* 3. But what if there were now to be wrought ever so many _real and undoubted miracles_? (I suppose you mean by _undoubted_, such as being sufficiently attested, ought not to be doubted of.) Why, this, you say, _would put the controversy on a short foot, and be an effectual proof of the truth of your pretences_. By no means. As common as this assertion is, there is none upon earth more false. Suppose a teacher were now, on this very day, to work _real_ and _undoubted miracles_: this would extremely little _shorten the controversy_ between him and the greater part of his opposers. For all this would not force them to believe; but many would still stand just where they did before: seeing men may _harden their hearts_ against miracles, as well as against arguments.
So men have done, from the beginning of the world: even against such signal, glorious miracles, against such interpositions of the power of God, as may not be again till the consummation of all things. Permit me to remind you only of a few instances; and to observe, that the argument holds _a fortiori_: for who will ever be impowered of God again, to work _such_ miracles as these were? Did _Pharaoh_ look on all that _Moses_ and _Aaron_ wrought, as an _effectual proof of the truth of their pretences_? Even when _the Lord made the sea to be dry-land, and the waters were divided_: when _the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall, on the right and on the left_? Exodus xiv. 21, 22. Nay;
The wounded dragon rag’d in vain; And fierce the utmost plague to brave, Madly he dar’d the parted main, And sunk beneath th’ o’erwhelming wave.