They knew God ſpake to him ; yer did they know it no otlerviſe than by Traditzon, and the Revelation of the Will of God in the Law, and the Prophers. For Chriſt, rhey call him {87oy, ths fel. low; and ſay, They know not whence he was ; that is, They know of no Divine Authority that he bad; they were blinded through malice, and prejudice ; indeed they did know whence he was 7s ro his Human Nature, for they often made that the canſe of their {tumbling at him, That he was of Galz/ce, That his Father was a Carpenter, and his Mother called Ma:y. Bur they knew of no Di- vine Mifſion, or Authority that he had ; this they might have known alſo, for he did thoſe things which no Man ever did, nor could bz effected by any thing leſs than a Divine Power 3 bur ther tyes were blinded, and their Hearts were judicially hardn:d ; they itud!- ed to ſhut out the Light by which they ſhould have ſeen. and wou' not know whence he was»
30 The man anſwered, and faid unto them, Wiy herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not trum whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine cyes n. 2 The opening of the Eyes of the Blind, without tae application of means, rationally probable for the producing f1ich an Eftect, 97. by the application of means, which to all Human Reſon ſeemed 9i a quite contrary tendency ; and this Cure wrought upon one v.19 was not blind by fome accidental cauſe, bur-by fome defect in 4 rurs, who had been ſo from his Mothers Womb, was fo rmariei an Effect of the Divine Power, as this poor man was aitonitec at ir, rhat they ſhould nor underttand, that it was done by ſuch 3 59% er cicher immediately, or mediarely : eſpecially contidering 72 75 ph. CY concerning the Meſſras, Iſa. 35* 5, 6. To which, Chrit reire reth Fohn and his Diſciples for an Evidence of it, Mz. 1 1+ 5:
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: firmity» 2+ God is tinder no Covenant-Obſigation 16 hear Sinners ; T m_ challenge no ſuch favour upan the account of any Promile, __ God out of the aboundings of his Goodneſs may hear them, as hg Ahab and others, he may hear them as his Creatures crying - heir Miſery, though he hears them not as his Children; or uþon my count of any Covenant. 3. Az tothe ſenſe of this Maxim 1n - . cs ir ſcemeth to be particular, and ſpecial ; and the Words ws 2 be re[trained to that particular degree of favour here ſpok- _— God uſerh not fo honour notorious and flagitious Sinners, by n 2 them a power to work Miracles, by which they ſhould con- m _ thing which they ſay. This poor man bringerh this as an prion ts: vw-hy Chriſt ſhould not be ſuch a notorious Sinner as they ſpuke him, becauſe 1t was not Gods way to honour ſuch Perſons with his Preſence and Atliſtance to the doing of thoſe things which none c-u'd do, bur by a Divine Power commitred to them, Two things this Man aſſumeth, or raketh for granted. I. That no man can work, Miracles, without a Power oÞrained of God by Prayer, as we [ai 1t 04s 172 the caſe of Eliſha, 2 Kings 4. 33- 2. That what Chriſt 41d, he aid 4 4 man. The firlt is true, the ſecond was filſe He was not yer convinced of Chriſts Divine Nature. nor lookt upon him higher, than as a Propher ; one {-1r of God, to reveal the Will | of God, and to work great works in the World by Prayer; as ro which he affirms, thar if he were ſuch a Sinner as they clamour'd. | God would not hear him. Soas the Quettion, How far God may tear Sinner?, in giving them any thing they ak of him. ſeemeth not at all proper.to this place. though it be enough clear from other Scriprares, ſuch as Pſal. 66.18. and Iſa, 1.15. That non- thar live n a courſe of Sin can expect that God ſhould hear, or give an- {wer to their Prayers ; and tho' God may give into ſuch Sinners ſuch things as they ask him for, which are of a meer External eoncern, yer It i$nOt with reſpect to anyPromiſe which he hath made to them, bur out of the aboundings of his own Goodneſs. p But if a man fearerh God, and worketh Righteouſneſs, q him the Lord heareth, accepteth, and anſwereth. The ſecrets of the Lord are with them that fear tim, Plal. 25. 14+» Prov. 3. 32. : ' 32. Since the world began was it not heard, that any one ovened rhe eyes of one that was born blind 7,