The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

2. Our Saviour came to alter the Religion of the Jews that had been confirmed by many illustrious Miracles, therefore to assure them that he was Authorised from Heaven, he wrought such and so many, that for their greatness, clearness and number exceeded all that were done before his coming. Our Saviour tells the Jews, If I had not done among them the Works which none other man did, they had not had sin: that is, in rejecting him. For if he had exercised only a Power like unto that of Moses and the Prophets, in his Miraculous Actions, they had been obliged to have honoured him as one of their rank, but not to have attributed an incomparable Dignity to him. But he did those which neither Moses nor the Prophets had performed, and in those that had been done, Christ excelled them in the manner of doing them. This the Jews could not contradict, and from hence their infidelity was made culpable.

2. Our Saviour came to alter the Religion of the Jews that had been confirmed by many illustrious Miracles, therefore to assure them that he was Authoris'd from Heaven, he wrought such and so many, that for their greatness, clearness and number exceeded all that were done before his coming. Our Saviour tells the Jews, If I had not done among them the Works which none other man did, they had not had sin: that is, in rejecting him. For if he had exercised only a Power like unto that of Moses and the Prophets, in his Miraculous Actions, they had been obliged to have honoured him as one of their rank, but not to have attributed an incomparable Dignity to him. But he did those which neither Moses nor the Prophets had performed, and in those that had been done, Christ excell'd them in the manner of doing them. This the Jews could not contradict, and from hence their infidelity was made culpable.

Secondly, Miracles were necessary to convince the Gentiles. 1. For the Gospel forbids the various Religions among them, and commands all to worship ⟨p. 420⟩God alone in Jesus Christ, so that without a sensible demonstration, that that was the way wherein He would be served, their prejudices had been invincible. 2. The Gospel propounds Threatenings and Promises that regard a future state, where no living Eye can see their effects, so that without an extraordinary confirmation, it was not likely that men should yield a firm assent to them. If it be said, Our Saviour did his Miracles only in Judea, where very few of the Gentiles saw his Person or Works. I answer, His Miracles were primarily designed for the conviction of the Jews, and in a secondary intention to disarm Infidelity among the Gentiles. Therefore the Testimony of them was conveyed by those who were Eye-witnesses, and most worthy of credit, and who did many great wonders in the Name of Christ, to verify the report of his famous Miracles, and declare his Power and Divinity. Of this more afterwards.