VIII. OUT MEANS, IN MIRACLES.

WHEN the angel brought St. Peter out of prison, the iron gate opened of its own accord. But coming to the house of Mary the mother of John, mark, he was fain to stand before the door and knock. When iron gave obedience, how can wood make opposition?

The answer easy. There was no man to open the iron gate, but a portress was provided of course to unlock the door; God would not therefore show his finger, where men’s hands were appointed to do the work. Heaven will not super-institute a miracle, where ordinary means were formerly in peaceable possession. But if 112they either depart or resign (ingenuously confessing their insufficiency) there miracles succeed in their vacancy.

Lord, if only wooden obstacles (such as can be removed by might of man) hindered our hope of peace, the arm of flesh might relieve us. But alas! they are iron obstructions, as come not within human power or policy to take away. No proud flesh shall therefore presumptuously pretend to any part of the praise, but ascribe it solely to thyself, if now thou shouldst be pleased, after seven years’ hard apprenticeship in civil wars, miraculously to burn our indentures, and restore us to our former liberty.