who had an opportunity of observing those works, and whose eyes were not blinded with prejudice, and their hearts callous through the deceitfulness of sin, must have been prepared to join in the language of Nicodemus: "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."

From the general observations which have been advanced, we shall, in conclusion, deduce a few practical inferences.

1. In the first place, it is our bounder duty thankfully to receive the testimony of Jesus. Since his miracles, supported as we have endeavoured to shew, by the most satisfactory evidence, fully establish his Divine mission, and prove him to be what he professed himself to be,-the promised Messiah, and the faithful and true witness,-the instructions which he communicated cannot but be of the highest importance. The sum and substance of those instructions is, that he himself, the Son of Man, "came to seek and to save that which was lost;"-that " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Do we then feel our need of this merciful interposition? Do we feel convinced that without a special interest in what he has done and suffered for guilty sinners and for their salvation, we must inevitably and eternally perish? If not, we are strangers to the nature and extent of that misery which sin has entailed upon mankind, and can have no real concern about that deliverance

which has been provided, and which is freely offered to us in the Gospel. Then have we not received the testimony of Jesus Christ, though his wonderful works declare him to be the faithful and true witness, the rejection of whose doctrines must consign us to the everlasting wrath of God, and to the bitter pains of eternal death.

- But if, on the other hand, we are convinced of our natural guilt, of our actual transgressions, and of our consequent exposure to the Divine indignation; we shall then find the testimony of Jesus Christ on these solemn topics to be consonant with our own convictions. Thus shall we in some measure be prepared to receive the cheering testimony which he also bears concerning himself as the Saviour of sinners, and which it is our duty, no less than our privilege, to embrace, when we contemplate the indisputable credentials which his mighty works abundantly afford.

2. In the next place, we are encouraged by the consideration of our Lord's miracles, to rely with confidence on his power and love. He who performed those mighty works of which we have been speaking, can doubtless do every thing for us which our general necessities require, or which any special emergence may demand. On this ground, therefore, as well as on that of the particular argument of the Apostle,' we may infer, that He is "able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." He too whose miracles were so constantly remarkable for

1 Heb. vii. 23-25.

benevolence and compassion, is no less willing, than he is able, to do for us all that we need. In this respect his word and his works perfectly harmonize with each other. He has graciously said, "Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest :" and again-" Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." These encouraging assurances were fully verified in his actual benevolence and compassion, which so constantly accompanied the display of his Divine power. To Him, therefore, let us confidently intrust ourselves. To Him let us commit our souls and all our concerns. So doing we shall assuredly find rest and peace, comfort and joy, glory and honour, immortality and eternal salvation; for He is "the same, yesterday, and to-day, and for ever."

3. Finally. It is a necessary consequence of the character and mission of our Lord, attested by the miracles which he wrought, that those must inevitably perish who refuse to receive him as their Instructor and Saviour. He only has the words of eternal life. He only is the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." His awful denunciations against those who had been favoured with abundant opportunities of estimating his character, and had nevertheless rejected his testimony, demand our serious attention. "Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon,

they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee." Let us remember that though we have not actually seen with our eyes the mighty works which Jesus did, we have received the most satisfactory evidence that they were performed by him; and that we are therefore guilty of aggravated sin, and are exposing ourselves to merited condemnation, if we refuse to hear Him that speaketh to us, or neglect the great salvation which he hath purchased with the price of his most precious blood.

May God grant that we may all know by happy experience, through the grace of his Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ, his beloved Son, is indeed mighty to

save!

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