not be miraculous to me, properly speaking, unless they come within the Rule before fet down, and thwart the eftablish'd Course of Nature that is known to us. If you had seen the Angel convey Habbakkuk through the Air, and known he was an Angel, you would have gazed, and wondred mightily, but would not have thought the Angel wrought a Miracle, becaufe, for ought you knew, the natural Powers of Angels were fuch as would fuffice for that, or a greater purpose. But if you should fee a Man bear up another Man, and carry him through the Air, you would, I believe, conclude

the

the Action were miraculous, because you know, (as well as you know any thing) that Man is not endued with any fuch Powers. We know more of true Miracles, than of ftrange Accidents; and can, I imagine, give a better Account of them.

A. Well, but to perplex me more, we are told, that God to try our Faith, and to fee whether we will forfake a Doctrine confirm'd by true undoubted Miracles, may permit the Devil or wicked Men to work true undoubted Miracles alfo. This, Sir, is maintain❜d by as learned Men of all Ages, and all fides, as ever lived

fuch as

B. Hold,

B. Hold, Sir, I intreat you, of all love, do not choak me with your great Names and Authorities. As much of Revelation as you will, and as much of these great Men's Reason, as you can bring : But fince we have hitherto fpared all Names, either with, or against Us, let us go on, without offending either the Dead or Living. Can you bring me an Inftance, where God did ever permit a true undoubted Miracle to be wrought, by one that would feduce the People from Chritianity, on purpose to try their Faith?

A. I know of none; but if thefe Seducers did at any time work

work true Miracles, and would by them feduce from Christianity, the thing is the fame.

B. I grant it to be fomewhat like it. And what do they tell us we must do in fuch a Cafe as this? for, I affure you, 'tis a hard one.

A. Why, they tell us, that as the Jews were to reject all Miracles, how great foever, if the Scope and intent of those who wrought them, were to carry them from the Worfhip of the Only true God, to Idolatry-- So are the Christians to reject all Miracles how great and true foever, if they who work them, pretend to contradict the

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Worship of God through Jefus Chrift, and the Gospel he preached among Men. The Law of Mofes was the Standard by which the Jews were to judg of Miracles, and the Gospel is the Standard by which the Christians are to judg of the like.

B. This is but bringing us back again, to what we have difcourfed of before-We are it seems, to judge of Mi. racles by the Doctrine they would establish, and not of the Doctrine by the Miracles that would establish it; only this goes a little farther, and will not let us believe upon the Account of Miracles, altho' we allow them to be true. A. What