AllwhichwaysHeusedalsointheNewTestament。TotheVirginMary，byavisionofanangel；toJoseph，inadream；againtoPaul，inthewaytoDamascusinavisionofourSaviour；andtoPeterinthevisionofasheetletdownfromheavenwithdiversesortsoffleshofcleananduncleanbeasts；andinprison，byvisionofanangel；andtoalltheApostlesandwritersoftheNewTestament，bythegracesofHisSpirit；andtotheApostlesagain，atthechoosingofMatthiasintheplaceofJudasIscariot，bylot。
Seeingthenallprophecysupposethvisionordreamwhichtwo，whentheybenatural，arethesame，orsomeespecialgiftofGodsorarelyobservedinmankindastobeadmiredwhereobserved；andseeingaswellsuchgiftsasthemostextraordinarydreamsandvisionsmayproceedfromGod，notonlybyHissupernaturalandimmediate，butalsobyhisnaturaloperation，andbymediationofsecondcauses；thereisneedofreasonandjudgementtodiscernbetweennaturalandsupernaturalgifts，andbetweennaturalandsupernaturalvisionsordreams。Andconsequentlymenhadneedtobeverycircumspect，andwary，inobeyingthevoiceofmanthat，pretendinghimselftobeaprophet，requiresustoobeyGodinthatwaywhichheinGod’snametellethustobethewaytohappiness。Forhethatpretendstoteachmenthewayofsogreatfelicitypretendstogovernthem；thatistosay，ruleandreignoverthem；whichisathingthatallmennaturallydesire，andisthereforeworthytobesuspectedofambitionandimposture；andconsequentlyoughtbeexaminedandtriedbyeverymanbeforeheyieldthemobedience，unlesshehaveyieldeditthemalreadyintheinstitutionofaCommonwealth；aswhentheprophetisthecivilsovereign，orbythecivilsovereignauthorized。Andifthisexaminationofprophetsandspiritswerenotallowedtoeveryoneofthepeople，ithadbeentonopurposetosetoutthemarksbywhicheverymanmightbeabletodistinguishbetweenthosewhomtheyought，andthosewhomtheyoughtnottofollow。Seeingthereforesuchmarksaresetouttoknowaprophetby，*andtoknowaspiritby；*2andseeingthereissomuchprophesyingintheOldTestament，andsomuchpreachingintheNewTestamentagainstprophets，andsomuchgreateranumberordinarilyoffalseprophetsthanoftrue；everyoneistobewareofobeyingtheirdirectionsattheirownperil。Andfirst，thatthereweremanymorefalsethantrueprophetsappearsbythis，thatwhenAhabconsultedfourhundredprophets，theywereallfalseimpostors，butonlyoneMicaiah。*3AndalittlebeforethetimeoftheCaptivitytheprophetsweregenerallyliars。“Theprophets，“saiththeLordbyJeremiah，“prophesyliesinmyname。Isentthemnot，neitherhaveIcommandedthem，norspakeuntothem：theyprophesytoyouafalsevision，athingofnaught，andthedeceitoftheirheart。“*4InsomuchasGodcommandedthepeoplebythemouthoftheprophetJeremiahnottoobeythem。“ThussaiththeLordofHosts，hearkennotuntothewordsoftheprophetsthatprophesytoyou。Theymakeyouvain：theyspeakavisionoftheirownheart，andnotoutofthemouthoftheLord。“*5
SeeingthentherewasinthetimeoftheOldTestamentsuchquarrelsamongstthevisionaryprophets，onecontestingwithanother，andasking，“Whendepartedthespiritfromme，togotothee？“asbetweenMicaiahandtherestofthefourhundred；andsuchgivingofthelietooneanother，asinJeremiah，14。14，andsuchcontroversiesinthenewTestamentthisdayamongstthespiritualprophets：everymanthenwas，andnowis，boundtomakeuseofhisnaturalreasontoapplytoallprophecythoseruleswhichGodhathgivenustodiscernthetruefromthefalse。Ofwhichrules，intheOldTestament，onewasconformabledoctrinetothatwhichMosesthesovereignprophethadtaughtthem；andtheother，themiraculouspowerofforetellingwhatGodwouldbringtopass，asIhavealreadyshownoutofDeuteronomy，13。1，etc。AndintheNewTestamenttherewasbutoneonlymark，andthatwasthepreachingofthisdoctrinethatJesusistheChrist，thatis，theKingoftheJews，promisedintheOldTestament。Whosoeverdeniedthatarticle，hewasafalseprophet，whatsoevermiracleshemightseemtowork；andhethattaughtitwasatrueprophet。ForSt。John，speakingexpresslyofthemeanstoexaminespirits，whethertheybeofGodornot，afterhehadtoldthemthattherewouldarisefalseprophets，saiththus，“HerebyknowyetheSpiritofGod。EveryspiritthatconfesseththatJesusChristiscomeintheflesh，isofGod“；*thatis，isapprovedandallowedasaprophetofGod：notthatheisagodlyman，oroneoftheelectforthisthatheconfesseth，professeth，orpreachethJesustobetheChrist，butforthatheisaprophetavowed。ForGodsometimesspeakethbyprophetswhosepersonsHehathnotaccepted；asHedidbyBaalam，andasHeforetoldSaulofhisdeathbytheWitchofEndor。
Againinthenextverse，“EveryspiritthatconfessethnotthatJesusChristiscomeintheflesh，isnotofChrist。AndthisisthespiritofAntichrist。“Sothattheruleisperfectruleisperfectonbothsides：thatheisatrueprophetwhichpreacheththeMessiahalreadycome，inthepersonofJesus；andheafalseonethatdeniethhimcome，andlookethforhiminsomefutureimpostorthatshalltakeuponhimthathonourfalsely，whomtheApostlethereproperlycallethAntichrist。Everymanthereforeoughttoconsiderwhoisthesovereignprophet；thatistosay，whoitisthatisGod’svicegerentonearth，andhathnextunderGodtheauthorityofgoverningChristianmen；andtoobserveforarulethatdoctrinewhichinthenameofGodhehathcommandedtobetaught，andtherebytoexamineandtryoutthetruthofthosedoctrineswhichpretendedprophets，withmiracleorwithout，shallatanytimeadvance：andiftheyfinditcontrarytothatrule，todoastheydidthatcametoMosesandcomplainedthatthereweresomethatprophesiedinthecampwhoseauthoritysotodotheydoubtedof；andleavetothesovereign，astheydidtoMoses，toupholdortoforbidthem，asheshouldseecause；andifhedisavowthem，thennomoretoobeytheirvoice，orifheapprovethem，thentoobeythemasmentowhomGodhathgivenapartofthespiritoftheirsovereign。ForwhenChristianmentakenottheirChristiansovereignforGod’sprophet，theymusteithertaketheirowndreamsfortheprophecytheymeantobegovernedby，andthetumouroftheirownheartsfortheSpiritofGod；ortheymustsufferthemselvestobeleadbysomestrangeprince，orbysomeoftheirfellowsubjectsthatcanbewitchthembyslanderofthegovernmentintorebellion，withoutothermiracletoconfirmtheircallingthansometimesanextraordinarysuccessandimpunity；
andbythismeansdestroyingalllaws，bothdivineandhuman，reduceallorder，government，andsocietytothefirstchaosofviolenceandcivilwar。
BYMiraclesaresignifiedtheadmirableworksofGod：andthereforetheyarealsocalledwonders。AndbecausetheyareforthemostpartdoneforasignificationofHiscommandmentinsuchoccasionsas，withoutthem，menareapttodoubtfollowingtheirprivatenaturalreasoningwhatHehathcommanded，andwhatnot，theyarecommonly，inHolyScripture，calledsigns，inthesamesenseastheyarecalledbytheLatins，ostentaandportenta，fromshowingandforesignifyingthatwhichtheAlmightyisabouttobringtopass。
Tounderstandthereforewhatisamiracle，wemustfirstunderstandwhatworkstheyarewhichmenwonderatandcalladmirable。
Andtherebebuttwothingswhichmakemenwonderatanyevent：theoneisifitbestrange，thatistosay，suchasthelikeofithathneverorveryrarelybeenproduced；theotherisifwhenitisproduced，wecannotimagineittohavebeendonebynaturalmeans，butonlybytheimmediatehandofGod。Butwhenweseesomepossiblenaturalcauseofit，howrarelysoeverthelikehasbeendone；orifthelikehavebeenoftendone，howimpossiblesoeveritbetoimagineanaturalmeansthereof，wenomorewonder，noresteemitforamiracle。
Therefore，ifahorseorcowshouldspeak，itwereamiracle，becauseboththethingisstrangeandthenaturalcausedifficulttoimagine；soalsowereittoseeastrangedeviationofnatureintheproductionofsomenewshapeofalivingcreature。Butwhenaman，orotheranimal，engendershislike，thoughweknownomorehowthisisdonethantheother；yetbecauseitisusual，itisnomiracle。
Inlikemanner，ifamanbemetamorphosedintoastone，orintoapillar，itisamiracle，becausestrange；butifapieceofwoodbesochanged，becauseweseeitoftenitisnomiracle：andyetweknownomorebywhatoperationofGodtheoneisbroughttopassthantheother。
Thefirstrainbowthatwasseenintheworldwasamiracle，becausethefirst，andconsequentlystrange，andservedforasignfromGod，placedinheaventoassureHispeoplethereshouldbenomoreauniversaldestructionoftheworldbywater。Butatthisday，becausetheyarefrequent，theyarenotmiracles，neithertothemthatknowtheirnaturalcauses，nortothemwhoknowthemnot。Again，therebemanyrareworksproducedbytheartofman；yetwhenweknowtheyaredone，becausetherebyweknowalsothemeanshowtheyaredone，wecountthemnotformiracles，becausenotwroughtbytheimmediatehandofGod，butbymediationofhumanindustry。
Furthermore，seeingadmirationandwonderisconsequenttotheknowledgeandexperiencewherewithmenareendued，somemore，someless，itfolloweththatthesamethingmaybeamiracletoone，andnottoanother。Andthenceitisthatignorantandsuperstitiousmenmakegreatwondersofthoseworkswhichothermen，knowingtoproceedfromnaturewhichisnottheimmediate，buttheordinaryworkofGod，admirenotatall；aswheneclipsesofthesunandmoonhavebeentakenforsupernaturalworksbythecommonpeople，whenneverthelesstherewereotherscould，fromtheirnaturalcauses，haveforetoldtheveryhourtheyshouldarrive；or，aswhenaman，byconfederacyandsecretintelligence，gettingknowledgeoftheprivateactionsofanignorant，unwaryman，therebytellshimwhathehasdoneinformertime，itseemstohimamiraculousthing；butamongstwiseandcautelousmen，suchmiraclesasthosecannoteasilybedone。
Again，itbelongethtothenatureofamiraclethatitbewroughtfortheprocuringofcredittoGod’smessengers，ministers，andprophets，thattherebymenmayknowtheyarecalled，sent，andemployedbyGod，andtherebybethebetterinclinedtoobeythem。
Andtherefore，thoughthecreationoftheworld，andafterthatthedestructionofalllivingcreaturesintheuniversaldeluge，wereadmirableworks；yetbecausetheywerenotdonetoprocurecredittoanyprophetorotherministerofGod，theyusenottobecalledmiracles。Forhowadmirablesoeveranyworkbe，theadmirationconsistethnotinthatcouldbedone，becausemennaturallybelievetheAlmightycandoallthings，butbecauseHedoesitattheprayerorwordofaman。ButtheworksofGodinEgypt，bythehandofMoses，wereproperlymiracles，becausetheyweredonewithintentiontomakethepeopleofIsraelbelievethatMosescameuntothem，notoutofanydesignofhisowninterest，butassentfromGodThereforeafterGodhadcommandedhimtodelivertheIsraelitesfromtheEgyptianbondage，whenhesaid，“Theywillnotbelieveme，butwillsaytheLordhathnotappeareduntome，“*Godgavehimpowertoturntherodhehadinhishandintoaserpent，andagaintoreturnitintoarod；andbyputtinghishandintohisbosom，tomakeitleprous，andagainbypullingitouttomakeitwhole，tomakethechildrenofIsraelbelievethattheGodoftheirfathershadappeareduntohim：*2andifthatwerenotenough，Hegavehimpowertoturntheirwatersintoblood。Andwhenhehaddonethesemiraclesbeforethepeople，itissaidthat“theybelievedhim。“*3Nevertheless，forfearofPharaoh，theydurstnotyetobeyhim。ThereforetheotherworkswhichweredonetoplaguePharaohandtheEgyptianstendedalltomaketheIsraelitesbelieveinMoses，andproperlymiracles。InlikemannerifweconsiderallthemiraclesdonebythehandofMoses，andalltherestoftheprophetstilltheCaptivity，andthoseofourSaviourandhisApostlesafterwards，weshallfindtheirendwasalwaystobegetorconfirmbeliefthattheycamenotoftheirownmotion，butweresentbyGod。WemayfurtherobserveinScripturethattheendofmiracleswastobegetbelief，notuniversallyinallmen，electandreprobate，butintheelectonly；thatistosay，insuchasGodhaddeterminedshouldbecomeHissubjects。ForthosemiraculousplaguesofEgypthadnotforendtheconversionofPharaoh；forGodhadtoldMosesbeforethatHewouldhardentheheartofPharaoh，thatheshouldnotletthepeoplego：andwhenheletthemgoatlast，notthemiraclespersuadedhim，buttheplaguesforcedhimtoit。SoalsoofourSaviouritiswrittenthatHewroughtnotmanymiraclesinHisowncountry，becauseoftheirunbelief；*4andinsteadof，“Hewroughtnotmany，“itis，“Hecouldworknone。“*5Itwasnotbecausehewantedpower；which，tosay，wereblasphemyagainstGod；northattheendofmiracleswasnottoconvertincredulousmentoChrist；
fortheendofallthemiraclesofMoses，oftheprophets，ofourSaviourandofhisApostleswastoaddmentotheChurch；butitwasbecausetheendoftheirmiracleswastoaddtotheChurch，notallmen，butsuchasshouldbesaved；thatistosay，suchasGodhadelected。SeeingthereforeourSaviourwassentfromHisFather，HecouldnotuseHispowerintheconversionofthosewhomHisFatherhadrejected。Theythat，expoundingthisplaceofSt。Mark，saythatthisword，“Hecouldnot，“isputfor，“Hewouldnot，“doitwithoutexampleintheGreektonguewherewouldnotisputsometimesforcouldnot，inthingsinanimatethathavenowill；butcouldnot，forwouldnot，never，andtherebylayastumblingblockbeforeweakChristians，asifChristcoulddonomiraclesbutamongstthecredulous。