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ADDRESS OF THE REV. J. CLOWES. 277
66
’Besides, who cannot see plainly, that all such mira
culous testimony as you require may be dangerous, even
where it is received and acknowledged, by compelling
belief, and thus forcing a stronger conviction on the
understanding than is in agreement with the life’s love,
in which case a more terrible condemnation may be the
consequence ? Who cannot therefore see, that the cry for
some other more convincing miraculous testimony than is
already vouchsafed, under the marvellous dispensation of
grace and truth now offered unto men, is, in the nature of
it, most unreasonable, to say no worse of it, and will be
found to deserve that severe reprehension which the God
of truth and reason gave, on a similar occasion of old,
when He said, ’ An evil and adulterous generation
seeketh after a sign.’*
“But methinks I hear you urge, as a final unanswerable
argument against acceding to the testimony of Sweden
borg, that the dispensation of grace and truth in Jesus
Christ, when He became incarnate here on earth, is the
last and crowning dispensation which God has to offer
unto mankind ; that it is all-complete and all-sufficient
for every purpose of salvation, being the end of the law
and the prophets, and containing so full and perfect a
revelation of the will of the Creator, to His creatures, as
to supersede the necessity of any further dispensation ;
consequently, no further dispensation is to be expected,
and nothing is required of the ministers of the Gospel,
but to believe in and preach Jesus Christ, and obedience
to His commandments, which will be abundantly com
petent to secure every possible blessing, both to them
selves and the people committed to their care. It is
granted the dispensation of grace and truth in Jesus is,
as you represent it, all- complete and all-sufficient; and it
will assuredly be well with you and with your people,
and you can want no other dispensation to secure your
eternal happiness, if Jesus Christ be preached, and His
commandments obeyed. But let me ask, Is this the
case ? In the first place, is Jesus Christ preached ? do
* Matt. xii. 39.
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