SERM. with fuch as we receive only by Inspi-
VIII. ration; yet 'tis for the Sake of the
Latter of thefe, that Miracles must be

done, not at all on the Account of the
Former. So that Reason, being no
Competent Judge of thofe Doctrines, to
the Confirmation of which Miracles aré
fpecially adapted, cannot (I fay) by ex-
amining into the Nature of fuch Doc-
trines, determine that a Proof of them
by Miracles is needlefs.

Hitherto I have only confidered the General Nature of Miracles, as they are Acts of Supernatural Power, neceffarily attendant on Revealed Doc&trines, in order to promote their Reception. I proceed now, in the last place, to fhew, how well they are fuited to this Purpose, by reason of fome Peculiar Characters and Properties that belong to them. For, Firft, They are extremely fit to awaken Men's Attention. Secondly, They are the shorteft and moft Expeditious way of Proof.→ And, Thirdly, They are an Argument of the moft Univerfal Force and Efficacy, equally

equally reaching all Capacities and Un- SERM, derstandings. VIII, 1. In order to the Propagation of a New Doârine, the first thing requifite is, To create Attention, and rouze the Minds of Men, poffeffed with Prejudices, immerfed in Pleasures, or Bufiness, into an impartial Confideration of what is propofed. And this is best effected by Miracles; which being strange and unusual Events, cannot fail of drawing Mens Eyes towards the Doer of them, and of commanding their Attention and Observance. Curiofity is the first Step towards Conviction; and when once Men are poffeffed with a due Regard for the Meffenger, they will be fure to listen carefully to the Meffage he brings. The Fathers of the Eastern Miffion knew this well, and being therefore deftitute of the Power of Miracles; which might excite Men to enquire after their Opinions, and infuse a Reverence for their Persons, endeavoured to make up this Disadvantage another way, and gain Admiffion into the Pre

fence

SERM. fence of the Princes and great Men of VIII. the Eaft, by fome Curious and Surprizing Works of Art. And having in this manner raised an Opinion of themselves firft, they preached the Gospel with some Degree of Succefs afterwards: Their Performances in Mechanicks and Aftronomy being instead of Miracles to them, by which they procured a favourable Hearing of the Doctrines they afterwards delivered.

2. 'Tis another great Advantage which belongs to Miracles, that they are the shortest and most expeditious Way of Proof. All other Ways of evincing the Divine Original of any Doctrine (fuppofing there were any fuch) muft needs be long and laborious; fuch as it will take up much Time fully to explain and clear; and fuch therefore, as must operate but flowly, and can make no great Advances, in any one Man's Life, towards converting the World. For Inftance, fuppofe the Truth and Credibility of a Revealed Doctrine could be made out, by fhewing its Connection

with, and Dependence upon; other SERM. Truths, and by a regular Deduction of VIII. it, through a long Train of Confequences, from known and avowed Principles of Reason; yet would this be a very tedious and irksome Task, and would in a long Time gain but a little Ground upon an opinionative and difputing World. Had this been the Method made use of to propagate Christianity at first, how would the Course of it have been retarded? How impoffible had it been for the Apoftles to have obeyed their great Mafter's Commands, and to have preached the Gospel to all Nations? At this rate, it is probable, that, instead of traverfing the feveral Parts of the Earth, and reducing Multitudes of every Nation and Climate to the Obedience of Chrift, they had stuck in that very Spot, where they first entered upon their Ministry, and begun and finished all their Labours within the fhort Limits of Palestine. But by the Help of Miracles, they were enabled effectually to discharge their high Office: These

upon

SERM. These were Engines fitted and proporti VIII. oned to the Work affigned to them. One Dead Man raised, or Blind Man reftored to Sight, brought over Thousands to the Faith, who faw the thing done; and ten Thousands came in afterwards, the Report of it. Other kinds of Proofs were fitted only leisurely to loosen the Knots, which the Difputers of this World tied, in order to give the Apoftles Disturbance in the Execution of their Ministry. But Miracles, like the Hero's Sword, divided these Entanglings at a Stroke, and at once made their way through them.

3. The Third and laft Advantage of this Way of Proof is, its Univerfal Force and Efficacy, as being equally adapted to all Capacities and Understandings.Rational and Difcurfive Methods are fit only to be made ufe of upon Philofophers, Men of deep Reason, and improved Minds; the generality of Mankind would be utterly infenfible of their Force. The Lower, that is, the far greater Part of the World, are too much

taken