Wesley Corpus

5. Yet I do not know that God hath any way precluded himself from thus exerting his sovereign power, from working miracles in any kind or degree, in any age, to the end of the world. I do not recollect any scripture wherein we are taught, that miracles were to be confined within the limits either of the apostolic or the Cyprianic age ; or of any period of time, longer or shorter, even till the restitution of all things. I have not observed, either in the Old Testament or the New, any intimation at all of this kind. St Paul says, indeed, once, concerning two of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, (so, I think, that text is usually understood,) "Whether there be prophecies,.they shall fail, whether there be tongues, they shall oease." But he does not say, either that these or any other miracles shall cease, (ill faith and hope shall cease also ; till they all be swallowed up in the vision of God, and love be all in all. I presume you will allow there is one kind of miracles (loosely speak- ' ing) which are not ceased; namely, rtpara •]^svS:ig, "lying wonders,** diabolical miracles, or works beyond th*) virtue of natural causes, wrought by the power of evil spirits. Nor can you easily conceive that these Mill cease, as long as the father of lies is the prince of this worid. And why should you think that the God of truth is less active than him, or that he will not have his miracles also 1 only, not as man wiUs, neither when he wills ; but according to his own excellent wisdom and greatness. 6. But even if it were supposed that God does now work beyond the operation of merely natural causes, yet what impression would this make upon you, in the disposition your mind is now in ? Suppose the trial were repeated, were made again to-morrow. One informs you the next day, " While a clergyman was preaching yesterday, where I was, a man came who had been long ill of an incurable distemper. Prayer was made for him, and he was restored to perfect health." Suppose, now, that this were real fact : perhaps you would scarce' FABTHUt IXPLAIKID. 310