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Since my last , Dr . Sherlock has written , for he Deity of J . Christ , with some new turns and strained flourishes . As to that text , Mark xiii .
32 , he confesses the common answer , viz . Not knowing' it as man , is not agreeable , but yet , says he , it must be the true one , or I know not how to find a better . He has run down the
Bishop of Gloucester ' s late discourse about the pre-existence of the man Jesus Christ with severe censures , but has advanced a weak hypothesis of a pre-existent eternal visible glory of the 2 nd Person that came down from
heaven locally , by which he wou'd answer such texts as speak of his descent . If I had opportunity I believe I might send you a short vindication of the Bishop , who also is preparing one for himself . * I find our Assembly
is not like to hold long , so that I believe I shall be at liberty , but how I shall dispose of myself afterwards I am uncertain ; 'tis like I may return and retire , after another year , if not prevented . f Yours , in all sincerity .
For Mr . William Manning , at Peasenhall , in Suffolk . ( Ansiver . ) As to the notion of a real miracle you agree it with me , ( against the
common opinion , ) that it doth not necessarily involve in it the immediate efficiency of God to distinguish it from a wonder only , and I think that none that questioned his immediate energy and causation in the creation of the universe , or the needfulness of it , did ever imagine it necessary to prodigie ;
* Emlyn ' s Vindication of Dr . Fowler , Bishop of Gloucester , was published in 1707 . H . R . B . f Emlyn was released from his confinement in July , 1705 . The fine of 1000 pounds , in consequence of the Chancellor ' s report that it was exorbitant , and therefore illegal , was reduced to £ 70 . The Archbishop of Armagh was
Queen ' s Almoner , and in that character had a claim of one shilling in the pound on the whole fine ; this claim he was with great difficulty induced at last to relinquish for £ 20 . Mr . Boyse was active and zealous in procuring his release . Mr . Emlyn , after his release , removed to London , where he preached ( o a small congregation without any salary .
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nor could after that prove his itn mediate operation in or unto any visible effect whatsoever , from reason or Scripture , in nature , or on the soul of man , that no second cause was the next efficient of it . In that you go beyond me . The finger of God is different . But now tho % as you say , any miracle must be mirum , as to us marvellous , yet take I not it so , as
that a wonder and a miracle or prodigie are convertible terms , or that wonder at it enters into its definition . Spirits wonder not at the prodigies that they can effect ; and for what you say , that some miracle may equally demonstrate the Supreme Deity with the creation . 'Tis true , on your
hypothesis , without the restriction of some may ; for according to you any thing existent alike may . Any house seen builded of some man , ( the temple of old , ) as well as the whole fabric of
nature , while from either of them ( alike creature effects ) reason may lead up to a God . But neither of them will prove that the builder was God himself ; or infinity of power to be necessarily exerted immediately by the architect or agent therein . A
different power or potency of the agent you grant to different creature effects * I count of some far to exceed all created or communicated power as appropriate to the Divine Being . That a grain of wheat sown should multiply to an 100 , implys more in the coastitution of its first matter out of
nothing , and of its seminal progressive nature , than the multiplication of b loaves of bread to an 100 . Spirits can multiply and alter matter by their native power , when God pleases to order or permit the same . Whence ,
tho' I deny not the immediate energy and efficiency of God in some miracles , and to other effects , besides to the creation , the difference not being demonstrable to the light ; of reason to discern of the author , they can't ex opere operato in themselves prove the
efficient to be God 3 the effect may be aliunde . Whence Gi ; otius waved it in his proof of the Deity to the Atheist . The question ab . om miracles was occasionally started by me from our reasoning concerning the efficient of the old creation , and of Christ ' s iustrumentality therein . A moral instrumentality in that , viz . tliro' faith
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204 Correspondence between Mr . Emlyn and Mr . Manning
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H . R . IS .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1826, page 204, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2547/page/16/
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