Miracles the most proper Way of proving the Divine Authority of any Religion. A SERMON Preached at Westminster-Abbey, On Whitsunday, 1716. MARK XVI. 20. And they went forth, and preached every where; the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. N thofe Words, which shut up the count of the Means by which the Preach 203 SERM. ing of the Apoftles became fo wonder VIII. fully Operative and Successful: It was not from any mighty Talent of Persuafion, any extraordinary Faculty of Reafoning with which they were endued; it was not, by any intrinfick Evidences of Truth, which the diftinguishing Doctrines they preached carried with them; nor by any other Method purely Human and Natural; but by a Divine Power and Affiftance, which accompanied them in every Step they took, and miraculously bleffed their Endeavours. The Lord worked with them, and confirmed the Word with Signs following. By Signs, in Holy Writ, are meant all fuch wonderful Operations, as it is above the Skill of Man to contrive, above the Power of any thing in Nature, any thing but the God of Nature himfelf, or fome Agent by him fpecially Commiffioned and Impowered, to perform. Such as fpeaking ftrange Languages on the fudden, (the Miracle of this Day,) curing inveterate Diseases, in an Inftant, by a Word only, giving Life τα to the Dead, or Eyes to one that was SERM. born blind. These things being done VIII. to fignify who are appointed by God, as the Meffengers of his Will to Men, are on that Account fitly termed Signs; and of these the Holy Scripture every where speaks, as the moft proper and full Evidences of a Divine Miffion and Authority. When Mofes was fent by God to the Children of Ifrael, he defires fome Credentials, by which it might appear, that God had fent him; and God, in Answer to his Requeft, arms him with the Power of Miracles: Caft thy Rod up- Exod. iv. on the Ground, fays he, and it shall be- 3,5. That they may believe that the Lord God of their Fathers bath appeared unto thee. come a Serpent. Our Saviour conftantly appeals to his Miracles, as to a clear and fufficient Proof of his Doctrine: The Works that job. 5 35. I do, fays he, They bear Witness of me: And he carries the Argument fo far, as to make the whole Guilt of Mens Inddelity turn fingly on this Article. If |