this Exhortation, Labour not for the Meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlafling Life * Led by the Hopes that he would repeat the Multiplication of the Loaves, they came to him; they were therefore ftruck by this Miracle.

upon

1

The Apostles, through whose Hands this Miracle had paffed, were they alone insenfible of it? The Author infinuates this; but with what Authority? Because, being the Sea, and beaten by the Tempest, they were affrighted, and on beholding Jefus walking on the Sea, and coming towards them, they began to cry out, and redoubled their Astonishment when they faw the Wind ceafe immediately upon their Master's entering the Veffel. The Evangelist adds, it is true, that they confidered not what had paffed concerning the Loaves †. Not that they had not comprehended that this Multiplication was a great Prodigy of Power, but in their Perturbation they did not draw from this Prodigy the natural Confequence, that he who had performed it could walk upon and command the Sea.

CHAP. VII.

Why Jefus Chrift fometimes recommended Secrecy to those whom he cured.

T

HIS is a new Difficulty which, if you will believe our Author, wonderfully fupports his System.

66

Jefus recom"mended Secrecy to the Sick whom he "cured. One would have thought Jefus 66 was afraid his miraculous Virtue should "be known. A ftrange Way of making "it the Proof of his Miffion!" "But all "this, adds he, explains itself, when we "conceive that the Jews fearched for "that Proof, where Jefus did not chuse "it fhould be found."

Anf. I. These last Words suppose that the Jews, in our Lord's opinion, were guilty of a Piece of Sophiftry, in concluding from his Miracles to the Divinity of his Ministry; but this by no means agrees with his Reproach of them †, for not having believed in him notwithstanding his Miracles ; Nor with the defign of the Miracles, which was to convince them that Jefus was the

*Lett. p. 82.

+ Mat. xi. 20.

Meffiah

Meffiah; as the Evangelists inform us; and particularly St. John, Ch. xx. 31.

II. From the manner in which our Author expreffes himself, who would not think, that our LORD, during the whole Course of his Miniftry, was folely taken up in concealing from Mankind the Knowledge of his Miracles? But let the Reader recollect what I have faid in the foregoing Chapter, where I have fhewn that Jefus often performed Miracles before fo great a Number of Perfons, that they were public the Moment he performed them: In this Cafe did he enjoin Secrecy?

Did he enjoin Secrecy, when, far from taking Precautions to conceal his Miracles, he endeavoured to confirm them; and faid to those whom he had cured, Publish the great Things which God hath done for you

*

Did he enjoin Secrecy, when he said to his Apoftles, Go to the loft Sheep of the Houfe of Ifrael; declare that the Kingdom of God is at Hand: heal the Sick, cleanfe the Lepers, raife the Dead, caft out Devils?

In short, did he enjoin Secrecy when he himself performed Miracles in fight of his Enemies?

*Luke viii. 39.

+ Matt. x. 7. 8.

Nothing

Nothing therefore can be concluded from the Reserve he used upon fome Occafions, fince on a Thousand others he gave his Miracles the greatest Notoriety.

Shall we fufpect his Prohibition to the Leper to publish his Cure? But he enjoined him to go unto the Prieft, and prefent the offering which the Law in fuch Cafes prescribed; that the Priest himfelf, declaring the Leper cured, might thus certify the Miracle?

Had the Prieft been informed of this Miracle before-hand, his Hatred to the Gospel might have made him perhaps contest the Reality of the Cure. To prevent such an Artifice, Jefus commands the Leper to prefent his offering, that it might ferve for a Teftimony to him.

But will any one fay, Why did Jefus fometimes forbid those whom he had cured

to publish that Cure? I discover a very

natural Reason; but how little does it favour Mr. Rouleau's Syftem! Jesus fometimes veiled his miraculous Works, because, so far from not proving enough, they proved too much. I will explain myself.

Matt. viii. 2, 4.

+Ibid,

1

The

The Fame of his Works fo ftruck the Multitude, that the Croud which affembled round him, increased every Day *. In fo univerfal an Expectation of the Meffiah, it was to be feared that a Zeal less enlightened than ardent might have declared him King of the Jews, or that fome feditious Spirit, might take Advantage of the favourable Difpofition of the People towards him, to cause some Disturbance amongst them. Nay, this is evident from the Gofpel; which informs us, that the Jews had laid a Scheme to take him away by Force, and make him a King †.

But Jefus did not chufe to give umbrage to the Government. If he was condemned to death, it was not neceffary he should be fo, as a Rebel to Cefar. That fine Tefti-, mony was to be borne to his Innocence; I find no Fault in this Man.

Determined to feal with his Blood the Truth of his Religion, he would first prove his divine Mission, multiply the Witneffes of his Miracles, confirm the Faith of the Apoftles, give them Inftructions, and deftroy the prepoffeffion that the Meffiah

*Matt. viii. 2, 4. 4 Luke xxiii. 4.

↑ John vi. 15.

fhould