BOOK V. ON THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. CHAPTER I. ON THE MIRACLES OF OUR LORD. 1. THE Mosaic economy was established and maintained by mighty signs and wonders, wrought in confirmation of the mission of Moses and of the prophets. The gospel dispensation was also introduced by numerous miraculous works. So numerous and beneficial were the miracles of Jesus, that the multitudes were astonished, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. His mode of performing his mighty works was peculiar to himself. While Moses and the prophets wrought miracles in the name of the God of Israel, and while the apostles performed them in the name of Jesus, he exerted miraculous power from himself, without reference to any other. He claimed the possession of all power in heaven and in earth; and in a manner accordant with the sovereign dominion of the Lord of the universe, he controlled by his word the raging of the sea, he stilled the roar of the tempest, he called the dead to life, he unstopped the ears of the deaf, he opened the eyes of the blind, he communicated health and vigour to the withered limb, and he restored to the possession of reason the distracted mind. It cannot be questioned that the real performance of these works as indubitably attests the validity of his claim to a divine character, and to be a divine messenger,-as the transcendent grandeur, the inimitable beauty, the endless variety, the perfect harmony and utility of the works of nature, prove the wisdom and goodness of that God in whom we live, and move, and have our being. 2. Restricting myself at present to a brief consideration of the nature, number, and design of the miracles which were wrought by our Lord, I observe, (I.) That he manifestly performed them for the noblest purpose. The end pursued was not worldly aggrandizement, either in regard to himself or his followers: no advantage of this nature was either sought for or obtained in consideration of his wonderful works. With a purity and dignity of character suited to his high claims, he lived apart from the fading glory and grandeur of the world. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man had not where to lay his head." He who commanded the elements, who suspended or reversed at pleasure the established constitution of nature, who generously healed all manner of diseases among the people, was himself in poverty, and declared that he came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. When he sent forth his disciples, and gave them power to work miracles, he prohibited them from receiving any compensation for the wonderful deeds which they were authorized to perform. "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils freely ye have received, freely give.” :: 3. As the end for which our Lord and his apostles wrought miracles was not selfish, so neither were the doctrines which these miracles were designed to support, calculated to flatter the prejudices and the passions of those to whom they were addressed. They neither soothed the superstitions of the populace, nor favoured the political schemes of the turbulent and ambitious. No persons of rank and power felt it to be their advantage to support They were their credit by their influence and authority. opposed to the fondly cherished expectations of the Jews, and they were repulsive to the pride, the impurity, and the vanity of the Gentiles. To the former, they proved a stumbling-block, and to the latter, foolishness. Their author was reproached as a Galilean; he was despised and rejected of men; and condemned to suffer an ignominious death. 4. The great design for which our Lord wrought miracles was beneficent and sublime: it was to attest by the seal of heaven his own divine mission, and consequently to prove the divine authority of the doctrines which he taught. These doctrines are worthy of the holiness and wisdom of God, commend themselves by their infinite excellency to the unprejudiced reason and conscience of every man, and convey relief for the wants, and answers to the urgent inquiries, of the human race. They give certain information concerning the character of God, and the immortal destination of man; the nature and origin of his moral ruin, and the perfection of the remedy provided by infinite wisdom and mercy, on principles honourable to the divine government; the relations which he sustains, the obligations and duties involved in these relations, and the powerful inducements to their performance. In a word, the design of Christ in working miracles was to prove the reality of that system of communication between God and mankind, established from the creation, that plan of redeeming mercy, which was obscurely exhibited at the dawn of divine revelation, which was gradually unfolded by the ministry of prophets during the antediluvian, the patriarchal, and the Mosaic dispensations, and which having been completed in the sacrifice of the Redeemer, and extending to the consummation of all things, is to stretch in its mighty results through the ages of eternity. This was a purpose, the greatest and the most beneficent that can be conceived, worthy of the special interposition of God, and in accordance with the holy and heavenly character of Christ. 5. (II.) The miracles which Jesus wrought corresponded in their nature to the benevolence and grandeur of this purpose. They were characterized by beneficence and greatness. In general they were performed in compliance with earnest entreaty; and in answering the solicitations addressed to him, Jesus showed his compassion and sensibility as well as his divine power. This compassion is shown in union with true greatness; and in some instances it is manifested like the goodness of the Creator surmounting the obstacles to its exercise. Though it is not necessary to illustrate this position, I cannot but notice the beautiful discovery of tenderness and compassion which took place in regard to the ruler, whose only daughter lay at the point of death, and expired before his arrival. The natural feeling of a parent, anxious for the recovery of an only child, leads him to prostrate himself at the feet of Jesus, and with importunate entreaty to implore his interposition. "He fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house; for he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a-dying. While he yet spoke, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him saying, Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, all wept and bewailed her ; but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway; and he commanded to give her meat." 6. A similar example of benevolence and greatness occurs in the case of the centurion, who came unto him beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. This person, a Gentile and a Roman, had by the excellency of his conduct endeared himself to the Jewish people. The elders of the Jews, the sacred historian informs us, came on this occasion to Jesus on his behalf, and besought him, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this; for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. The tender interest which this centurion felt in his servant, and his anxiety for his recovery, form amiable features in his character. Residing, as he seems to have done, at Capernaum, or in its immediate neighbourhood, he must have heard much of the miracles and doctrines of Christ; and having formed exalted conceptions of his power and dignity, he had hoped that, by his merciful interposition, the servant who was dear to him might be recovered from the painful and dangerous malady with which he was affected. With his views of the character of Christ, he was probably surprised by his kindness and condescension in complying so readily with his request; and sensible of personal unworthiness, and that his house, the abode of a Gentile, was unfit to receive a divine messenger, he even attempted to dissuade our Lord from making the visit. "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man go, and he goeth, and to another come, and he cometh; and to my servant do this, and he doeth it." 7. The faith which he thus discovered in the sacred character and mighty power of Christ, did homage to the reality of the evidence by which our Lord proved his divine mission; and, accordingly, Jesus expresses his approbation of that unwavering faith which, though it honoured him so highly, did not honour him more highly than was due. He tells the centurion, in consoling and encouraging terms, that his servant was healed. He said unto him, go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it |