The

derived from the New Testament1." Christian religion throws light upon the Jewish history, during a period of four thousand and accords with it down to the present years, hour. It gives a meaning to many of their otherwise inexplicable institutions. It explains rationally and satisfactorily a great mass of very obscure predictions. Now I would ask, did it do all this without any foundation in truth; were all its alleged accomplishments of prophecy, mere fanciful accommodations of unconnected events: would it not be more wonderful than any thing which it calls upon us to believe? For upon our supposition, all that is miraculous in the Scriptures is the work of God, and for a sufficient

and good purpose: but upon the contrary hypothesis, it is a most marvellous contrivance of men, and either for a bad purpose, or for no purpose at all. Between these two alternatives, as our choice has been long made, so may it long continue firm and unshaken! And may we by a frequent perusal of, and

'Elements of Christian Theology, vol. i. p. 19. Hey's Lectures, vol. i. p. 195.

diligent meditation upon the Holy Scriptures, in a sober frame of mind; unwarped by bigotry, and untinctured with fanaticism; daily encrease in faith, in hope, and in charity: and with the aid of Divine grace, enrich our

minds with that knowledge, which alone can make us wise unto salvation.

SERMON VIII.

JOHN ii. 11.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

THE services of our Church from advent till this time, naturally direct our minds to the consideration of the various prophecies, which had not only taught the Jews, but through them other surrounding nations also, to expect the

appearance in the world of a very extraordinary person, who should effect a great change in human affairs, and particularly with regard to religion. Accordingly, I have lately dwelt very much upon various topics, whose object has been to shew, that the argument in favour of Christianity from prophecy, is valid and conclusive: and is not liable to those objections, which have been

sometimes urged against it. We have since commemorated the birth of him, by whom we believe the predictions of the Old Testament were accomplished. And the Gospel for this day, from which I have taken my text, contains the ground upon which, and upon which only, we can be justified in retaining that belief. For it would not have been sufficient, that the time and place and circumstances of his birth should have corresponded with the general expectation, had he not been himself able to give further and decisive proof of his Messiahship. For as the mission of our Saviour was foretold by numerous prophecies, so was it established by numerous miracles—nay more, some of those very predictions could not without miracles have been completed. How otherwise could he have opened the eyes of the blind, and the ears of the deaf; and made the dumb to sing, and the lame to leap as an hart? If we ourselves were witnesses of such things as these, we must inevitably confess their Author to have superhuman power, and if they were done for a good purpose, we must also acknowledge that power to be divine, or at the least divinely commissioned.

The only question therefore will be, whether in point of fact, they were or were not performed? Now the Bible professes to contain two Revelations of religious truths to the world from the Almighty, or perhaps we should say, one Revelation consisting of two parts, the one preparatory, the other final, and both of them attested by the performance of miracles. If we assume the miracles to be true, it will follow that the religion founded upon them was true also. If we believe the religion to have been a Divine Revelation, we cannot doubt that the miracles were really performed. If therefore either of those propositions can be proved, it will establish every thing of which it concerns us to be convinced, upon those most momentous subjects. subjects. But I conceive that both of them admit of such proof as we may rely upon with perfect confidence.

With respect to miracles, every thing we see and do, is to us in one sense really miraculous. We can no more trace or comprehend the mode of their operation, than we can penetrate that of the first great Cause of all things. But by a miracle we mean only what is not according to common experience in any part