The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-29
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John xig.1i.
That the Jews In general did not nc-
|knowledge Jesus TO DC REID prophet. sent
of God, vtuiihstandingalIfhr miracles he
performed, is easily proved bs numerous
passages IN the gospel. ard sone Of Them J
give here, ne fellows. sizx
iste AfterJesss bad east nut the devils,
and had permitted them 20 enter into the
herd of swine,a tire ieho.z city came ont 10
meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they
hesought bnn that be woad depart cvt Of
Their COSTS HIatesiii. 50, Mark v. IL,
Lake vii. 81. Ifthey believed him TO be
true prophet Ills probable they would
rather have besought him 30 dwell amongst
item, than TO depart from them.
I'd. When Jesus healed the man with
the withered hand, "tiie rharisees, went
ont, and held council against him, how
they might destroy him. Matt. xii. IL,
Mark iii. @, LUX vi. IL. Would they has e
done so, IL that miraclehad convinced them
iie was a prophet, aud sent Of God
Sd. Again, when Jesus healed a blind
and dumb man, who was possessed of a
devil, the pharisees said, this fellow doth
not cast out devils, but BY Beeizebub. the
prince Of The devils.n Matt. xii. "a, Mark
iii. %, Luke XII. IS. Here the pharisees
were SO far from acknowledging the disine
mission of Jesus, on account of this mira
culous cure, that they even ascribed il 10
the power If the deril.
Now, Notwithstanding all the miracles
which Jesus performed before the Jews,
Which are very numerous, which you can
SIZE for yourself, in the four gospels, as a
plain and positive proof, that they, in gene
raj, did not believe on Jesus, nor acknow-
ledge him as a rea! prophet, and disinely
commissioned it is expressly said, John
xii. 81, /" Bot though he had done so many
miracles before them, get they beheped not
on him"
IL is true, indeed, that there are various
passages to be found in the gospel, which
inform us, that great multitudes followed
aud caressed him after they had seen his
miracles but il is very evident from our
Lords own declaration concerning such per
Sous, that they followed him, not so much
from any conviction of his divine mission,
wrought in their minds by the miracles
which he performed, as from a principle Of
low aud gross seusuality (; for he says in
plain terms, verify, verify, | say unto
you, We seek me, not because ye saap the ma
racies, but because ye did eat Of tie ioaves,
and were Sued." John vi. se.
Agreeable thereto, it is observed, in John
ii. %, "a, that although "many believed ia
his name when they saw the miracles
which he did, jesus did not commit him
self unto them, because he kaeao all men I"
plainly implying, that the faith which was
founded merely on miracles, is not the true
and genuine faith which the Lord wishes to
establish, because it resides only in the ex-
ternal man, and eaters not into the internal,
so as to form the rational christian.
| conclude this long letter, hoping there
has been enough said to satisfy you that
the working OF miracles is not the only
and best evidence, in convincing the under
standing, in proof of divine mission
National evidence being far ssperior, parti-
cularly when drawn from the fountain of
all truth, which you may be better conwin-
ced of, should you give those Theological
works of Baron Swedenborg above recon-
mended to you, candid reading, you will
then find that they carry an internal evil
'dcnce OF their truth in themselves. BY
divine permission, the remaining part of
yourletter shall be answered, provided my
communications will be received and pub
lished in the Virginian.
FROM your friend in the gospel of Jesus
Christ, TO whom be glory and dominion in
all ages. JOHN /. CABELL.
Bedford County, Rural Retreat,
July -, ls23-67.
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