DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9552#0215
TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC.
185
unto them, Go and shew John those things which ye do
hear and see." John ch. x. vers. 37 and 38, Jesus says to
those Jews who accused him of blasphemy, " If I do not
the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I dof
though ye believe not me, believe the ivorks.)] In reply to
the request of Philip, who, being discontented with the
doctrines Jesus inculcated said, "Lord, shew us the Father,
and it sufficeth us ;" Jesus answered and said, " Believe
me, that 1 am in the Father and the Father in me, or else
believe me for the very works' sake." {John ch. xiv. ver.
11.) Jesus even speaks in terms of reproach of those that
seek for miracles for their conviction as to his divine mis-
sion. Matthew ch.xii. ver. 39 : " But he answered and
said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seek-
eth after a sign." Moreover he blesses them, who, with-
out having recourse to the proofs of miracles, profess
their belief on him. John ch. xx. ver. 29 : "Jesus said
unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast
believed ; blessed art they that have ?wt seen, and yet
have believed."
Under these circumstances, and from the experience
that nothing but the sublimity of the Precepts of Jesus
had at first drawn the atention of the Compiler himself
towards Christianity, and excited his veneration for the
author of this religion, without aid from miraculous
relations, he omitted in his compilation tho'iffention of
the miracles performed by Jesus, without meaning to
express doubts of their authenticity, or intending to slight
them by such an omission.
I regret, therefore, that the Editor should have
suffered any part of his valuable time to be spent in ad-
vancing several arguments, in the concluding part of his
185
unto them, Go and shew John those things which ye do
hear and see." John ch. x. vers. 37 and 38, Jesus says to
those Jews who accused him of blasphemy, " If I do not
the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I dof
though ye believe not me, believe the ivorks.)] In reply to
the request of Philip, who, being discontented with the
doctrines Jesus inculcated said, "Lord, shew us the Father,
and it sufficeth us ;" Jesus answered and said, " Believe
me, that 1 am in the Father and the Father in me, or else
believe me for the very works' sake." {John ch. xiv. ver.
11.) Jesus even speaks in terms of reproach of those that
seek for miracles for their conviction as to his divine mis-
sion. Matthew ch.xii. ver. 39 : " But he answered and
said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seek-
eth after a sign." Moreover he blesses them, who, with-
out having recourse to the proofs of miracles, profess
their belief on him. John ch. xx. ver. 29 : "Jesus said
unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast
believed ; blessed art they that have ?wt seen, and yet
have believed."
Under these circumstances, and from the experience
that nothing but the sublimity of the Precepts of Jesus
had at first drawn the atention of the Compiler himself
towards Christianity, and excited his veneration for the
author of this religion, without aid from miraculous
relations, he omitted in his compilation tho'iffention of
the miracles performed by Jesus, without meaning to
express doubts of their authenticity, or intending to slight
them by such an omission.
I regret, therefore, that the Editor should have
suffered any part of his valuable time to be spent in ad-
vancing several arguments, in the concluding part of his