tainly, if we consider the very end of this miraculous
assistance of a creature, that it was to confirm the doctrine delivered by
him, and make such a deep impression of the truth of it in the hearts of
all, that it cannot be rooted out,--this being the very genuine end of the
wisdom of God in such works, it must needs follow, that all that which
Christ revealed, both of himself and the Father, of his own being with him
from the beginning, of his being one with him, and being his eternal Son,
all this must needs be infallibly true, for it is not supposable to agree
with the wisdom and goodness of God, to manifest so much of his infinite
power and glory, in so extraordinary a manner, to bear testimony to an
impostor or deceiver. Therefore, though no more could be at first extorted
from an enemy of Christ's doctrine, but that such mighty works did show
forth themselves, which could not be done but by the divine assistance and
extraordinary help of God, yet, even from that confession it may be
strongly concluded, that seeing there was no other end imaginable of such
extraordinary assistance, but the confirmation of his new doctrine, and
that of his divine nature, being one of the chief points of it, it must
needs enforce, that he was not only helped by God, as Moses, but that he
was God, and did these things by his own power. By this, then, it appears,
that though after so many prophecies of him, and expectations from the
beginning, we see but a man, in outward appearance despisable, and without
comeliness and form, yet if we could open the eyes of our souls, and fix
them upon him, we behold, as through some small crannies, majesty shining
in his misery, power discovering itself in his weakness, even that power
that made the world, and man too. He was born indeed, yet of a virgin, he
was weak and infirm himself, yet he healed all others' infirmities, even
by his word. He was often an hungered, yet he could feed five thousand at
one time, and seven thousand at another, upon that which would not have
served his disciples, or but served them. He was wearied with travels, yet
he gave rest to wearied souls. At length himself died, and that an
ignominious death, notwithstanding he raised the dead by his word and at
length he raised himself by his own power. All this is included in this,
"We have seen and handled." We saw him gloriously transfigured on the
mount, where his countenance did shine as the sun and his raiment was
white a