_Second_ Exception against the miraculousness of the Cure of this blind Man, which is, that _Jesus_ used human means for the Cure of him; which means, whether they were at all proper and effectual in themselves, do affect the Credit of the Miracle, and give occasion of suspicion, that it was Art and not divine Power that heal'd him, or _Jesus_, for his Honour, had never had recourse to the use of them. And what were those Means, or that Medicine, which _Jesus_ made use of? Why, "He spit upon the Ground, and made a Balsam of Dirt and Spittle, and anointed the poor Man's Eyes with it, and he recover'd." A strange and odd sort of an Ointment, that I believe was never used before, nor since, for sore and blind Eyes! I am not Student enough in _Physick_ and _Surgery_ to account for the natural and rational use of this Balsam; but wish that skilful Professors of those Sciences would help me out at this difficulty. If they could rationally account for the use of this Eye-salve, tho' it was by supposing, that Jesus imperceptibly had in his Mouth a proper unctuous and balsamick Substance, which he dissolv'd into Spittle, they would do great service to a certain Cause; and I wonder none of them, whether well or ill affected to Religion, have as yet bent their Thoughts to it. In the Practice of _Physick_ and _Surgery_, there are sometimes very odd and unaccountable Medicaments made use of; and now-and-then very whimsical and seemingly ridiculous ones, by old Women, to good Purpose: But none of them are to be compared to _Jesus_'s Balsam for sore Eyes. I have heard of a merry _Mountebank_ of Distinction, whose catholick Medicine was _Hasty-Pudding_, which indeed is a notable Remedy against the _Esuriency_ of the Stomach, that the Poor often labour under. But _Jesus_'s Eye-Salve, for absurdity, whim, and incongruity, was never equall'd, either in jest or in earnest, by any _Quack-Doctor_. Whether _Infidels_ think of this Ointment of the Holy _Jesus_ with a smile; or reflect on it with disdain, I can't guess. As to myself, I should think with St. _Chrysostom_[206], that this Eye-Salve of _Jesus_ would sooner put a Man's Eyes out, than restore a blind one to his Sight. And I believe that our _Divines_, for the Credit of the Miracle, and our _Surgeons_, for the Honour of their Science, will agree, that it could not be naturally operative and effective of the Cure of the blind Man.