historicalgeogra00psal

the Authors Con*verfion. 275
tion of it ( as we have before obferv'd ) if therefore
they are not agreeable to the Doftrines and
Precepts of the true Religion, they will be of
very little value.
2. The Wonders done by the Pagans have not
the three conditions of a true Miracle, viz, i. He
that does the Miracle mult know it, and be willing
to do it. 2. Ic muft exceed all Art and natural
Power. 3. It muft be certainly perform'd
and come to pafs. But the wonders thefe Pagan
Prophets are reported to have done, were only
the foretelling the Calamities that fhould befal
their Country •, their Prediftions did not exceed
the knowledge of Natural Philofophers •, they only
told you of the probability of Thunders, Lightnings,
Earthquakes, and other EfFefts of Natural
Caufes. Lauly, There is no certainty that thefe
things happened according to the times they mentioned
, for the Jarhabadiond^ or the Pagans Book
of their Law, in which thefe wonders are recorded,
is fo carefully kept by their Priefts, that
no Man elfe is fuffer'd to read it,
if he were able.
Thefe wonders therefore of the Pagans, wanting
the three neceffary conditions, cannot properly
be called Miracles ^ but thofe done by our Saviour
I have abundantly proved to have thefe
three conditions, and confequently were true Miracles.
Obje[i. 4. If you will not believe the Wonders -
or Miracles that were done by the Pagans, ac
leaft you will give credit to what I my felf have
feen, viz. That our God appears in a bodily vifible
Shape in our Temple •, tor inftance, if he be
angry with us,
he appears in the form of a Lion •,
but if well-pleafed, in the fhape of a Bull or a
Ram 5 in a few Hours fometicnes he changes his
T
ft^pe.