_Seventhly_, That which follows, and absolutely destroys the Fame and Credit of _Jesus_ for a Worker of Miracles. _And_ V. 1, 2, 3. _Jesus went up to Jerusalem, where there was by the Sheep-Market, a Pool, called Bethesda, having five Porches, in which lay a great Multitude of impotent Folk, blind, halt, withered._ Why then did not _Jesus_ heal them? Here was a rare Opportunity for the Display of his Healing and Almighty Power; and why did he not exercise it, to the Relief of that Multitude of impotent Folk? If he could not cure them, there's an End of his Power of Miracles? and if he would not, it was want of Mercy and Compassion in him. Which way soever we take this Case, it turns to the Dishonour of the Holy _Jesus_. What then was the Reason, that of so great a Multitude of diseased People, _Jesus_ exerted his Power, and extended his Mercy, on only _one_ poor Paralytick? St. _Augustin_[187] puts this Question and Objection into my Mouth; and tho' neither He nor I start it for the Service of Infidelity, but to make Way for the Mystery, yet I know not why _Infidels_ may not make Use of it, till Ministers of the Letter can give a satisfactory Answer and Solution to it. The Evangelists, _Matthew_, _Mark_, and _Luke_, tell such Stories of _Jesus_'s healing Power, as would incline us to think he cured all where-ever he came. He _heal'd_, they say, _all Manner_ of Diseases among the People, and they make mention of particular Times and Places, where all the Diseased were healed by him, which Assertions imply, that _Jesus_'s healing Power was most extensive and (excepting to an hard-hearted and unbelieving _Pharisee_ now and then) universal; so far that it might be question'd, whether any died, during the Time of his Ministry, the Places where he came: And our _Divines_ have so harangued on _Jesus_'s Miracles, as would confirm us in such an Opinion: But this Story in St. _John_ confutes and confounds all. St. _John_ in no Place of his Gospel talks of _Jesus_'s healing of many, nor of all manner of Diseases, much less of all that were Diseased; which, if it be not like a Contradiction to the other _Evangelists_, is some Diminution of their Authority, and enough to make us suspect, that they stretch'd much in praise of their Master, and said more to his Honour than was strictly true. But this Place before us is a flat Contradiction to them, and _Jesus_ is not to be supposed to heal many in any Place, much less all manner of Diseases, or he had never let such a Multitude of poor Wretches pass without the Exercise of his Power and Pity on them. Some good Reason then must be given for _Jesus_'s Conduct here, and such a one as will adjust it to the Reports of the other Evangelists; or _Infidels_ will think, that either they romanc'd for the Honour of their Master, or that St. _John_ in Spite told this Story to the Degradation of him. I can conceive no better of this Matter according to the Letter.