Wesley Corpus

(3.) That, with or without them, the proposition is false; unless so far as it coincides with that you reject. For it is the believing those to be miracles which are not, that constitutes an enthusiast; not the representing them one way or the other; unless so far as it implies such a belief. 12. Upon my answer to the syllogism first proposed, you ob serve, “Thus” (by denying the latter part of the minor) “you clear yourself from the charge of enthusiasm, by acknowledging the cures to be supernatural and miraculous. Why then would 460 PRINCIPLES OF A METhiOD1ST you not speak out, and directly say, that you can work real and undoubted miracles? This would put the controversy be tween you and your opposers on a short foot, and be an effectual proof of the truth of your pretences.” (Second Letter, p. 142.) V. l. I have in some measure explained myself on the head of miracles, in the Third Part of the Farther Appeal. But since you repeat the demand, (though without taking any notice of the arguments there advanced,) I will endeavour once more to give you a distinct, full, and determinate answer. And, (1.) I acknowledge that I have seen with my eyes, and heard with my ears, several things which, to the best of my judgment, cannot be accounted for by the ordinary course of natural causes; and which I therefore believe ought to be “ascribed to the extraordinary interposition of God.” If any man choose to style these miracles, I reclaim not. I have dili gently inquired into the facts. I have weighed the preceding and following circumstances. I have strove to account for them in a natural way. I could not, without doing violence to my reason. Not to go far back, I am clearly persuaded, that the sudden deliverance of John Haydon was one in stance of this kind; and my own recovery, on May 10th, another. I cannot account for either of these in a natural way. Therefore I believe they were both supernatural. I must (2.) Observe, that the truth of these facts is sup ported by the same kind of proof, as that of all other facts is wont to be, namely, the testimony of competent witnesses; and that the testimony here is in as high a degree as any reasonable man can desire.