Wesley Corpus

Was all this an effectual proof of the truth of their pretences to the Israelites themselves? It was not; they were still ‘disobedient at the sea, even at the Red Sea.” Was the giving them day by day bread from heaven, an effectual proof to those “two hundred and fifty of the princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown, who said, with Dathan and Abiram, Wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up; ” (Numb. xvi. 14;) nay, “when the ground clave asunder that was under them, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up?’ (Verse 32.) Neither was this an effectual proof to those who saw it with their eyes, and heard the cries of those who went down into the pit; but, the very next day, they ‘murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord!” (Verse 41.) Was not the case generally the same with regard to the Prophets that followed? several of whom ‘stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire,’ and did many other mighty works; yet their own people received them not; yet ‘they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were slain with the sword, they were destitute, afflicted, tor mented !’--utterly contrary to the commonly received sup position, “that the working real, undoubted miracles, must bring all controversy to an end, and convince every gainsayer.’ “Let us come nearer yet. How stood the case between our Lord himself and his opposers? Did he not work real and undoubted miracles? And what was the effect? Still, ‘when he came to his own, his own received him not.’ Still “he was despised and rejected of men. Still it was a challenge not to be answered, ‘Have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?” After this, how can you imagine, that whoever works miracles must convince all men of the truth of his pretences? “I would just remind you of only one instance more: ‘There sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. The same heard Paul speak; who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet.