A27004:1489
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural evidence the being of God ... : the second part, of Christianity, proving by evidence supernatural and natural, the certain truth of the Christian belief ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; also an appendix defending the soul's immortality against the Somatists or Epicureans and other pseudo-philosophers.
London: printed by R. White for Fran. Titon, 1667
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A miracle (if God should permit it to be wrought in such a case) might be said to be controlled, either of these two ways: 1. If a man should work Miracles to contradict the certain light of Nature, or persuade men to that which is certainly false: 2. If men should do wonders as Jannes and Jam•res the Egyptian Sorcerers, which should be overtopped by greater wonders, as those of Moses, and as Simon Magus, and Elymas by Peter and Paul; In these cases God could not be said to deceive men, by his power or permission, when he giveth them a sufficient preservative. But these Miracles had no such control, but prevailed without any check from contradictory Truths or Miracles. Thus Christ performed his Promise, Joh. 14.12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto the Father.
A miracle (if God should permit it to be wrought in such a case) might be said to be controlled, either of these two wayes: 1. If a man should work Miracles to contradict the certain light of Nature, or perswade men to that which is certainly false: 2. If men should do wonders as Jannes and Jam•res the Egyptian Sorcerers, which should be overtopt by greater wonders, as those of Moses, and as Simon Magus, and Elymas by Peter and Paul; In these cases God could not be said to deceive men, by his power or permission, when he giveth them a sufficient preservative. But these Miracles had no such controll, but prevailed without any check from contradictory Truths or Miracles. Thus Christ performed his Promise, Joh. 14.12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I goe unto the Father.
§. 38. III. The third testimony of the Spirit to the truth of the Apostles witness, was the marvellous success of their doctrine to the sanctifying of souls; which as it could not be done without the power and Spirit of God, so neither would the righteous and merciful Governor of the World; have made a company of profligate liars and deceivers his instruments of doing this excellent work by cheats and falsehoods.