II. Second general Head, and that is, to prove, that the literal History of many of the Miracles of _Jesus_, as recorded by the _Evangelists_, does imply Absurdities, Improbabilities and Incredibilities; consequently they, either in whole or in part were never wrought, as it is commonly believed now-a-days, but are only related, as Prophetical and parabolical Narratives of what would be mysteriously and more wonderfully done by him. To this Purpose I have taken into Examination six of the Miracles of _Jesus_, _viz._ those. 1. Of his driving the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple. 2. Of his exorcising the _Devils_ out of the Mad-men, and sending them into the Herd of Swine. 3. Of his Transfiguration on the Mount. 4. Of his healing a Woman, that had an Issue of Blood, twelve Years. 5. Of his curing a Woman that had a Spirit of Infirmity, eighteen Years, and 6. Of his telling the _Samaritan_ Woman her Fortune of having had five Husbands, and being then an Adulteress with another Man. Whether I have not prov'd the Storys of these Miracles, either in whole or in part, to consist of Absurdities, Improbabilities, and incredibilities, according to the Proposition before us, I leave my _Readers_ to judge; and now will take in Hand 7. A Seventh Miracle of _Jesus_; _viz._ that[145] _of his cursing the Figtree, for not bearing Fruit out of Season_; which Miracle, upon the bare mention of it, appears to be such an absurd, foolish, and ridiculous, if not malicious and ill-natured Act in _Jesus_, that I question, whether, for Folly and Absurdity, it can be equalled in any Instance of the Life of a reputed wise Man. The Fathers, such as _Origen_, St. _Augustin_, St. _John of Jerusalem_, and others, have all said as smart Things, as the wittiest Infidels can, against the Letter of this Story. St. _Augustin_[146] very plainly says, that _this Fact in Jesus_, upon Supposition that it was done, was _a foolish one_. If therefore I treat this Story a little more ludicrously than ordinary, and expose the Folly of the Fact as well as of the modern Belief of it, I hope their Authority and Example will plead my Excuse for it. _Jesus_ was hungry, it seems, and being disappointed of Figs, to the Satisfaction of his Appetite, cursed the Figtree. Why so peevish and impatient? Our _Divines_, when they please, make _Jesus_ the most patient, resign'd and easy under Sufferings, Troubles and Disappointments, of any Man. If he really was so, he could hardly have been so much out of Humour, for want of a few Figs, to the Allay of his Hunger. But to curse the Figtree upon it, was as foolishly and passionately done, as for another Man to throw the Chairs and Stools about the House; because his Dinner is not ready at a critical Time, or before it could be got ready for him.