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tions only, as denote infinite Power and Maje-. fty. For thefe make him known and diftinguifh'd from all things befides, as far as he is capable of being known, and diftinguifh'd by Senfe. It is not therefore to be admired, that fuch great and extraordinary Circumftances have attended or ufher'd in this way of GOD's revealing himself or Laws to Mankind. When Application is made to the Senfe, and a Man is this way to be inftructed in the Divine Will, fomething is to be feen or heard that is Miraculous, that clearly imports to the Understanding, from whence this Inftruction or Revelation proceeds, that will denote it to be Divine.

B. I prefume you diftinguifh this way of GOD's revealing himself to Mofes, from that, which confifts in Calls and Voices. For that you fay is the lowest way of Divine Revelation, but the Scripture fays, the way of GOD's revealing himself to Mofes, was the higheft.

A. I do fo, only both were Addreffes to the Senfe, but that to Mofes, had the Confirmation of more Senses than one, and even thefe Calls and Voices, if deftitute of other Confirmations, (which I believe they feldom were) must yet upon fome Accounts or other, appear Miraculous. But of this more hereafter.

B. But, I pray, will nothing prove the Divinity of any Revelation, but fuch fenfible and terrible Displays of Power and Majefty?

A. Doubtlefs many; but of thefe we are not at present Difcourfing: You remember the Method we propofed at the beginning. Here we are confidering one great Atteftation that commonly hath attended True and Divine Revelation, or Infpiration, and hath clear'd up to the Prophet's Understanding, the Truth and Certainty of it. B. These

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B. These were great and miraculous Exertions of Power. Pleafe to go on in this Inftance of Mofes.

A. Next fucceeded a Declaration of GOD Almighty's own Being, that Mofes might underftand who it was that appear'd to him, or from whence this Vifion proceeded; and that was, That he was the firft great Caufe or Being, on whom all things waited and depended; That had often reveal'd himself to the Patriarchs, his Fore-fathers, in the fame, or fome other extraordinary ways, and was peculiarly and eminently the Hope, Defence, or GOD of Ifrael.

B. Very Solemn.

A. Then follows the Divine Meffage it felf, or the End for which GOD had thus reveal'd himself: But we will wave the Confideration of this at present.'

B. I hope you will not omit this altogether; for I remember in many fenfible Authors, how 'much the Matter or Contents of Revelation is infifted upon, and prefs'd as a Teft of its Truth or Falfehood.

A. Not without good Reafon, as we fhall fee hereafter. Now we would not induce Perplexity on us, by admitting other things before we have dispatch'd this before us; the Underftanding, in my Opinion, difcovering and judging beft and cleareft of one fingle thing at once.

B. No doubt.

A. After this Vifion, and the Almighty's declaring himself who he was, and for what he had appeared, we do not find Mofes in the leaft fcrupling the Truth of the Revelation; but one thing he fcruples to his Maker with great Judg

ment.

B. Pray what might that be?

a

Miracles

37 A. In regard the purpofe of his Meffage was Sometimes to Address himself to the Children of Ifracl, in Power of the Name of GOD, that he had appear'd to conferr'd him, and fent him, and would make him an In-on fuck, as ftrument of their deliverance out of Egypt, and God revea the heavy Oppreffion and Slavery they groandled himself under, and of the Accomplishment of the Pro-farther mifes made to their Fore-Fathers; altho' he be- Proof of liev'd all this himfelf, that had feen the Vifion ;their reyet why, or how fhould his Brethren, the Jews, ceiving. believe it, that had not feen, or known any spirations, thing of the Matter?

B. Truly, a very Wife Scruple.

to, as a

Divine In

for Revela

A. You fee what immediately follows, a Power of working Miracles conferr'd on him, or indeed more properly as a Proof and Teftimony, that he was the very Being he had declar'd himfelf, and that he was his Meffenger, he works Miracles before his Eyes. Upon this Qb¬ jection of Mofes, that his Brethren would be unapt to credit his Divine Miffion and Authority, the Lord faid unto him, What is that in thine Hand? And he faid a Rod; be faid, Caft it on the Grounds and be caft it on the Ground, and it became a Serpent; and Mofes fled from before it (a). And the Lord faid unto Mofes, put forth thy Hand, and take it by the Tail; and he put forth his Hand and caught it, and it became a Rod in his Hand And the Lord faid furthermore unto him, put now thy Hand into thy BoSom, and be put his Hand into his Bofom, and when be took it out, behold, his Hand was leprous as fnow; and he faid, put thy Hand into thy bosom again; and be put his Hand into his Bofom again, and plucked it out of his Bofom, and behold, it was turned again as bis other Flesh. If Mofes could be fuppofed before under any fufpicion of a Delufion, how could

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(a) Exodus 4.

tions.

it remain now after fuch clear and uncontefted Miracles wrought before his Eyes?

B. Enough furely to convince Mofes, or any other Man, that it was GOD difcourfed with him, and appointed him to this high Imployment: For what but GOD could do fuch Wonders as thefe are? And as 70 lof

A. And this is ftill to the Point a means Conviction, that Mofes receiv'd Divine Revelations. For what is a good Argument, that a Man has an immediate and extraordinary Intercourfe with Heaven, and is especially intended to convince others of it, cannot but prove as good an Argument to a Man's felf of his being Divinely enlighten'd or taught.

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B. Where a Qualification of working Miracles is bestow'd, upon the Reflections of a Man's Reafon it carries this evident Senfe and Conftruction with it, as if the Almighty should thus befpeak a Man; Thou doubt'ft now of thine own Infpiration, whether GOD really appears to thee, or whether it may not be all meer Fancy and Delufion, but thou fhalt have the Divine Arm attending thee; upon thy bare Word, or lifting up thy Rod, thou fhalt do things vaftly furpaffing the Power of Art or Nature, and thou find'ft thou doft it according to my Promife, and yet canft thou call this Delufion?

A. You rightly conceive, where this Power of Miracles attends a Man, there can be no Fancy nor Delufion in the Cafe, unless a Man can be fuppofed under a conftant Delufion; and not only he, but all others, or as many as fee his Miracles, which would be a ftrange Delufion indeed.

- CubozAnd

And this Power of working Miracles hath very often attended extraordinary Revelation; because generally the Matter or Contents of this extraordinary Revelation or Inspiration, hath not only concern'd the Perfons thus Infpir'd to know and believe, but others likewife; and becaufe Mofes and our Bleffed Saviour, particularly, and beyond all other Prophets, receiv'd Divine and Heavenly Inftructions, not only of Private Concernment to themselves, but of General Good and Importance to the World. Hence Miracles were in the highest degree, neceffary to their Characters, and accordingly were beftow'd on them. For this Power of Miracles (as I fhall fhew you under the Second Head) remaining in the Perfons Infpirid, on Divinely Commiffion'd, was not fo much for their own Sakes, for their own Satisfaction and Convicti on, as the Satisfaction and Conviction of others, to whom they were to Addrefs themfelves, and deliver thefe Divine Truths or Revelations : Yet for all this, as you rightly apprehend, did not this Power of Miracles, when conterr'd on Men, ceafe to be a moft pregnant Evidence to themselves, as well as others, of their own Infpiration?

"

B. This is moft certain. But thus it hath not been always in Fact. We read of divers that have been truly Infpired, or to whom GOD hath truly revealed himself, who have not been accompanied with this Power of Miracles.

A. Then the matter of their Infpirations or Revelations have been of more private Concerntru 2016 ment; they have not been intended by GOD, to Publish any new Laws or Doctrines to the World, fuch as all Men have been bound to be-zɔi lieve and practife. In that Cafe we allow Mint yn Bracles iuuieceffary. So your admir'd Prophetefs

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A. BA