Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, nei- ther shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will 1 SERMON I. On Miracles. JOHN III. 2. No man can do these miracles that thou doeft, except God be with him. M I. IRACLES, being proposed in SERM. the gospel, as evidences of the truth of our holy religion, it is well worth our trouble to make a strict enquiry into their nature and circumstances, that we may be able to give a reason of the hope that is in us. To be inquisitive about what has the appearance of a Revelation from God, is a pious Difposition. Thus the ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus, whose words I have read, being a good man, was defirous to know the Will of God; and having serioufly attended to the wonderful works of our Saviour, and examined them, according to what he knew of that Will, he found juft B I. SERM.just grounds to be convinced that they were wrought by an extraordinary, or divine power, and therefore, that God must be with him, and approve of his doctrine: No man, faid he, can do these miracles that thou doeft, except God be with bim. He had the advantage of living at the time, and in the Country, where these things were done; and had opportunity himself often to observe, and confider them. And as he saw that they exceeded all human ability, and were contrary to the common course of things, though perfectly confiftent with the moral perfections and nature of God, he justly concluded that God must be assisting to them, or at least some powerful agent commiffioned by him. In difcoursing on this subject, I shall II. Shew that though they may be III. |