The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 06 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 06 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
If therefore he reasons right, who says, “If there may be some things
in a true religion, whose fitness and expedience we cannot see, why not
others: nay, why not the whole; since that would make God’s laws all of
a piece? And if the having of these things is no proof of its falshood,
how can any things fit and expedient (which no religion is without)
be a proof of the truth of any one religion?”¹ _If, I say, this is
the right reasoning, then it may be said_, “If there are things in the
creation whose fitness we cannot see, why not others: nay, why not the
whole; since that would make God’s works of a piece? And if the being
of such things as these in the creation, is not a proof of its not
being divine, how can the fitness and expedience of any creation prove
that it is the work of God?”
¹ First address to the inhabitants of London, Page 57.
Thus does this argument tend wholly to _atheism_, and concludes with
the same force against _creation_ and _providence_, as it does against
revelation.
Either therefore there is nothing in the work of the creation,
whose fitness and expedience cannot be proved; nothing in God’s
providence over whole nations, and particular persons, whose fitness
and expedience cannot be explained and justified by human reason, or
else neither creation nor providence can be ascribed to God.
The credibility of an external divine revelation with regard to human
reason, rests wholly upon _such external_ evidence, as is a sufficient
proof of the divine interposition. If there be no such external
evidence possible; if God has no ways of acting so _peculiar_ to
himself, as to be a _sufficient_ proof to human reason of his action;
then no revelation can be sufficiently proved to be a divine, external
revelation from God.
I appeal therefore to the miracles and prophecies on which Christianity
is founded, as a sufficient proof, that it is a divine revelation. And
shall here consider, what is objected against the sufficiency of this
kind of proof.
1. It is objected, That miracles cannot prove a _false_, or _bad_
doctrine, to be _true_ and _good_; therefore miracles, _as such_,
cannot prove the truth of any revelation.
But though miracles cannot prove false to be true, or bad to be good;
yet they may prove, that we ought to receive such doctrines, both as
true and good, which we could not know to be true and good without such
miracles. Not because the miracles have any influence upon the things
revealed, but because they are God’s testimony to the truth of that
which he reveals.
But our author brings a farther objection against this use of miracles.
“If, _says he_, evil beings can impress notions in mens minds as
strongly as good beings, and cause miracles to be done in confirmation
of them; is there any way to know to which of the two, notions thus
impressed are owing, but from their internal marks of wisdom and
goodness?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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