Was all this _an effectual proof of the truth of their pretences_, to the _Israelites_ themselves? It was not. _They were_ still _disobedient, at the sea; even at the red sea_! Was the giving them day by day _bread from heaven, an effectual proof_ to those _two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown_, who said, with _Dathan_ and _Abiram, Wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up._ Numbers xvi. 14. Nay, _when the ground clave asunder that was under them, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up_: (verse 32.) Neither was this an _effectual proof_ to those who saw it with their eyes, and heard the cry of those that went down into the pit: but the very next day they _murmured against_ Moses _and against_ Aaron, _saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord_! (verse 41.)
Was not the case generally the same with regard to the prophets that followed? Several of whom _stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire_, did many mighty works; yet their own people received them not. Yet _they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they_ were _slain with the sword_; they were _destitute_, _afflicted_, _tormented_! Utterly contrary to the commonly-received supposition, that the working _real undoubted miracles_, must bring all controversy to an end, and convince every gainsayer.
Let us come nearer yet. How stood the case between our Lord himself and his opposers? Did he not work _real and undoubted miracles_? And what was the effect? Still when _he came to his own, his own received him not_. Still _he was despised and rejected of men_. Still it was a challenge not to be answered, _Have any of the rulers, or of the pharisees believed on him_?――――After this, how can you imagine, that whoever works miracles, must convince _all men of the truth of his pretences_?
* I would just remind you of only one instance more. _There sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked._――――Here was so _undoubted a miracle_, that the people _lifted up their voices, saying――――The Gods are come down in the likeness of men_. But how long were even these convinced _of the truth of his pretences_? Only till _there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium_; and then they _stoned him_ (as they supposed) to death! _Acts_ xiv. 1, &c. So certain it is, that no miracles whatever, which were ever yet wrought in the world, were _effectual_ to _prove_ the most glaring truth, to those that hardened their hearts against it.
* 4. And it will equally hold in every age and nation. _If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced_ (of what they desire not to believe) _tho’ one rose from the dead_. Without a miracle, without one rising from the dead, ἐαν τις θέλει ποιεῖν· _if any man be willing to do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God_. But if he is not willing to do his will, he will never want an excuse, a plausible reason for rejecting it. Yea, tho’ ever so many miracles were wrought to confirm it. For let ever so much _light come into the world_, it will have no effect (such is the wise and just will of God) on those who _love darkness rather than light_? It will not convince those who do not simply desire to do the will of their Father which is in heaven: those who mind earthly things; who (if they do not continue in any gross outward sin, yet) love pleasure or ease; yet seek profit or power, preferment, or reputation. Nothing will ever be an effectual proof to these of the holy and acceptable will of God, unless first their proud hearts be humbled, their stubborn wills bowed down, and their desires brought, at least in some degree, into obedience to the law of Christ.
Hence altho’ it should please God to work a-new, all the wonders that ever were wrought on the earth, still these men, however _wise and prudent_ they may be in things relating to the present world, would fight against God and all his messengers, and that in spite of all these miracles. Mean while God will reveal his truth _unto babes_, unto those who are meek and lowly, whose desires are in heaven, who want to _know nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified_.――――These need no outward miracle, to shew them his will: they have a plain rule, the written word. And _the anointing which they have received of him, abideth in them, and teacheth them of all things_. (1 John ii. 27.) Thro’ this they are enabled to bring all doctrines _to the law and to the testimony_. And whatsoever is agreeable to this they receive, without waiting to see it attested by miracles. As on the other hand, whatever is contrary to this they reject: nor can any miracles move them to receive it.