1. They were not mere. Signs, as the conversion of Moses Rod into a Serpent; nor destructive and punishing, as the Wonders in Egypt; but advantageous ⟨p. 421⟩and beneficial to men, the equal demonstrations of his Mercy and Power. He cured Diseases that were absolutely desperate, by the mere signification of his Will; As the Son of the Nobleman who was sick at Capernaum, 1when Himself was at Cana in Galilee: or by such visible means, that the Spectators might be fully convinced, that it was not the external application, but his sole Virtue & Divine Power that produced the effect; Thus by anointing with Clay and Spittle the Eyes of him that was born blind, who never had any natural possibility of seeing, he wrought an unparalleled Cure. It was never yet heard, 2that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. Therefore he that was healed, inferred from that, as a most pregnant proof, that our Saviour was from God. He raised the dead. This effect exceeds the power not only of Men, but of the Angels. 'Tis true, That one Angel destroyed in a night an hundred fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrian Army; but 'tis as true, that all the Angels together cannot raise from the dead one Man. 'Tis wholly the work of the Lord of Nature, who holds the Keys of Life and Death in his hands. 'Tis only his Light can dispel the darkness, his Voice can break the silence of the Grave. And 'tis observable, that our Saviour who sometimes concealed his miraculous works, and forbid the publishing of them, yet performed this kind before many Witnesses, that they might publish and verify it, as being most conclusive of his mission from God.3 He raised to life the Rulers Daughter, to the astonishment of all that were present to attend her Funeral. The Widows Son of Nain was carried without the Gates of the City to his Grave, Jesus stops the sad ⟨p. 422⟩train, and restores life to the young Man, and to his Mother something more dear than her life. And the more signally to triumph over Death,4 he pursued it to its fort, the obscurity of the Grave. Lazarus was buried four days, his Carcass was corrupted, Jesus calls him from the bottom of his Tomb with that powerful voice that created the World; The Dead answers and comes forth to the amazement of all that saw the Glory of God so clearly manifested.5 The Evangelist reports that the People afterward were as desirous to see Lazarus as Jesus.
1. They were not mere. Signs, as the conversion of Moses Rod into a Serpent; nor destructive and punishing, as the Wonders in Egypt; but advantageous ⟨p. 421⟩and beneficial to men, the equal demonstrations of his Mercy and Power. He cured Diseases that were absolutely desperate, by the mere signification of his Will; As the Son of the Nobleman who was sick at Capernaum, 1when Himself was at Cana in Galilee: or by such visible means, that the Spectators might be fully convinced, that it was not the external application, but his sole Vertue & Divine Power that produced the effect; Thus by anointing with Clay and Spittle the Eyes of him that was born blind, who never had any natural possibility of seeing, he wrought an unparalleld Cure. It was never yet heard, 2that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. Therefore he that was healed, inferr'd from that, as a most pregnant proof, that our Saviour was from God. He rais'd the dead. This effect exceeds the power not only of Men, but of the Angels. 'Tis true, That one Angel destroy'd in a night an hundred fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrian Army; but 'tis as true, that all the Angels together cannot raise from the dead one Man. 'Tis wholly the work of the Lord of Nature, who holds the Keys of Life and Death in his hands. 'Tis only his Light can dispel the darkness, his Voice can break the silence of the Grave. And 'tis observable, that our Saviour who sometimes conceal'd his miraculous works, and forbid the publishing of them, yet perform'd this kind before many Witnesses, that they might publish and verifie it, as being most conclusive of his mission from God.3 He raised to life the Rulers Daughter, to the astonishment of all that were present to attend her Funeral. The Widows Son of Naim was carried without the Gates of the City to his Grave, Jesus stops the sad ⟨p. 422⟩train, and restores life to the young Man, and to his Mother something more dear than her life. And the more signally to triumph over Death,4 he pursued it to its fort, the obscurity of the Grave. Lazarus was buried four dayes, his Carcase was corrupted, Jesus calls him from the bottom of his Tomb with that powerful voice that created the World; The Dead answers and comes forth to the amazement of all that saw the Glory of God so clearly manifested.
- 1John 4.46.
- 2John 9.
- 3Mar. 5.42.
- 4Luk. 7.15.
- 5Joh. 11.44.
