Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-08-22

en-, and these were his credentials. :. The
works which the Father hath given me
to finish, the same works that do, bear
witness of me that the Father hath sen,
me- Every unprecedented mind must
have felt The full force of this testimony,
and been constrained to confess, with Mic
|odemus, asWe know that thou art teach.
ercome from God: for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, except God
be with him. 'Fhe Pharisees, indeed,
with a few exceptions. adopted singular
hypothesis, TO account. for those .astonish-
ing results, the reality of which they
could not possibly doubt or deny, they
traced them TO Satanic influence HHeI
casteth out devils through Beelzebub the
prince Of the devils" And it is a fact
which shews the extreme difficulty the
early infdels, such as Porphyry, and
CELSIUS, and Julian, found in constructing
an argument against Christianity, that
they too were compelled to take, up so alb
sgrd a supposition representing the mir
acles of Christ as having been performed
by magic or internal agency. A simple
reference to the design and tendency of
the works themselves, and the character
Of their great Author, may suffice to re-
fute this preposterous and malignant CAL
jimmy. Modern sceptics have, indeed,
been ashamed to follow in this line of ar
gument, deeming it more safe and pru-
dent 10 call in question the reality of the
miracles, than to resort TO such mode Of
| IF ovplaipin m tban ovvay
When we contemplate the miracles of
Christ, the first thing that strikes US is
their number During the whole course
Of his personal ministry. he continues to
exercise his astonishing powers, and null
1titudes were permitted TO experience their
healing and salutary efficacy. If. onl y a
! few solitary wonders had been recorded,
some color of excuse might have been af-
forded to the objector. and the possibility
of collision or mistake more plausibly al
legged but when so many reaped the ben
eft, and so many more ,beheld the exer-
lion OF this miraculous energy, all rea-
sonable ground Of dislrust is at once re-
moved. These works were not attended
with any circumstances Of apparent mys-
terry, likely to excite suspicion: They
were performed in the broad light of day,
in places of general resort, and before the
public eye, so that no deception could pos
sibly be practised deception here would
involve miracle, no less than that which
The supposition is intended to displove.
Their simple grandeur is also worthy
of our notice. There was no DESTINATIONS
Il sltS n . n M 0G0
no attempt to heighten their effect. A
| word was sufficient. " He spake apd it
was done" Such stupendous miracles
had never before been witnessed. Uni
versal nature was subject to his control.
The .unruly elements, at his voice, were
hushed intogrepose; Internal spirits fled
at his rebuke |; and the grave itself yield
ed up its prey at his command. And yet
the wonders which the Savior wrou ght
were not designed 70 attract attention, and
to excite the feeling of surprise; there
was a motive of kindness in them all.
They were not like the miracles of Mos
es in the land Of Egypt-displays of aw-
HUI Justice, destructive in their tendency,
and appalling to the eye. They were
Icharaclerized by mercy. They. were the
miracles of incarnate love. They dis
played, in striking and beautiful man.
ner, the benignity of his nature, and the
tenderness of his heart his deep sympa-
thy with suffering humanity; his readl-
ness to relieve It's wretchedness, and to
mitigate its woe. He scattered blessings
around his path with profuse, unsparlng
I hand. Never did the cry of distress ap'
4 peal to him 10 vain. Never was the hum
bic suppliant sent empty away. There
was no varietyor depth of human sorrow
which he did not soften or remove.
But there is one point of'view in which
; the miracles of Christ have not, perhaps
been sufficiently regarded, allude to
their mathematical nature. They are tul
Of meaning; fraught with salutary in
siruction.-Thus, when he opened the
4 eyes Of the blind, it was an emblem o.
lthat spiritual illumination which he alone
has power to iInpart. Mankind are uni
versally sunk in a state of deep and de-
plorable ignorance; blind to their pres,
ent condition and their future destiny 10
} conscious of their guilt and OF their dan
, ger; and therefore unconcerned respect
6 ing the wayo escape. Buthe who gave
} sight to the bodily eye, can pourthe ilgh
{ of truth o1lhe benighted soul. and dissl
} pate that moral darkness in which tits IN
! volved. -, a re,,,g.,,sr II .
III When>to the deaf he restored the facul
!. Ity Of hearing, It was significant of that in
: fluence by which he inclines the reluctan
:; ear to listen to the warning and inviting
, tvoice. with which he speaks 10 us IN thu
: Gospel. Apart from that gracious infiu
! ence, man would continue deaf to all TN
: admonitions and entreaties, the threaten
? lings and the promises which are contain rltai,