Scriptures feem to countinance fuch an Opinion?

B. The Scriptures shall not only feem to countenance fuch an Opinion, but they shall fay it downright, before I be lieve it. Shall the Scriptures tell me, that Jefus proved himself the Chrift, the holy One of God, by Miracles? and shall the Scriptures also tell me, that Devils and Wick ed Men fhall work Miracles to prove that Jefus was not Chrift, nor fent of God? who will believe it? They do moft honour, and most right, to the Scriptures, who clear them beft from Contradictions and Absurdities, and Confequences that would o

verthrow their own Authority. And for this caufe, I will understand this Paffage to the Theffalonians, in any other fenfe, than fuch a one as would defeat the whole purpose of the Gospel. For, if by lying Wonders we must mean true Miracles, then shall Antichrift do as much for the support of a Lye, and Wickedness, as the true Chrift did for Truth and Virtue, nay, he shall do the very fame.

A. No, the Miracles of falfe Chrifts and falfe Prophets, fhall not be fo great, nor ma. ny, as those of our Lord.

B. Who told you fo? or what reason have you to think fo? will they differ in kind,

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kind, or in degree and meafure I have, before, given you my Opinion, touching the greatness and the multitude of Miracles, and will not repeat it here: Let it fuffice to fay, that much muft not be built on thofe Diftinctions of greater and lefs, more and fewer, for they will not bear much weight. Miracle appears greater than another, because of its greater Confequences, and because it affects our outward Senfes more; but it really requires no lefs Power to make a Butterfly, than an Army of Eagles: Nor lefs to restore Sight to four Blind, than to fourscore or a hundred.

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Our Saviour wrought

wrought a hundred Miracles, and Mofes fifty, (let me fuppofe that number for Examples fake) is the Gospel therefore fo much truer than the Law?

A. But will you not allow that Simon Magus did fome Miracles?

B. I will not deny Miracles to have been wrought by Men, that were neither Jews nor Chriftians; but I deny that any were ever wrought to prove that Mofes was an Impoftor, or to prove that Jefus was not the Chrift. I fhall, if you defire it, find time to give account, why it might please God to work Miracles by feveral Men, out

of the Pale of the Church, for several wife and good purposes; but I maintain, at prefent, that he hath fuffered none to be wrought, in direct Oppofition to the truth of either Law or Gofpel. As for what you fay of Simon Magus, to whom all the People of Samaria gave heed from the leaft to the greateft, faying, this Man is the great Power of GodI verily believe he wrought no true Miracles; because he was himself converted and bap tiz'd, and continued with Philip, and wondred, beholding the Miracles and Signs which were done, Acts vill. 13. And I think if he could have wrought Miracles himself, before he

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