If I was, what I am not, an _Infidel_, I should think, from the Letter of this Story, that _Jesus_ was a _juggling Impostor_, who would pass for a miraculous Healer of Diseases, tho' he used underhand, proper Medicines. The _Clay and the Spittle_ he made an open shew of, as what, to Admiration, he would cure the blind Man with; but in reserve he had a more sanative Balsam, that he subtilly slip't in the room of the Clay, and repeatedly to good purpose anointed the Man's Eyes with it. But as the Authority of the Fathers, and their mystical Interpretation of this Story is alone my safe-guard against such an ill opinion of _Jesus_; so I would now gladly know upon what Bottom the Faith of our _Divines_ can stand, as to this Miracle, and _Jesus_'s divine Power in it.
I have perused some of our _Commentators_ on the Place, and don't perceive that they hesitate at this strange Eye-Salve; nor make any Questions about the pertinent or impertinent Use of it. Whether it is, that they sleep over the Story, or are aware of greater Difficultys in it, than can be easily surmounted, and therefore dare not touch on't, I know not. But now that we enjoy Liberty of debate, which will make us Philosophers, and I have taken the Freedom to make a stricter Scrutiny than ordinary into _Jesus_'s Miracles, and to consider what Absurditys, their Stories, and _this_ in particular, are clog'd with; it is incumbent on our _Divines_ to answer solidly these Questions, _viz._ What was the Reason of _Jesus_'s Use of this Eye-Salve made of Clay and Spittle? Whether, if it was of service to the Cure of the blind Man, it does not destroy the Miracle? And if it had no effect in the Cure of him, whether _Jesus_ was not a _vain_ and _trifling_ Operator, making use of insignificant and impertinent Medicines to the Diminution of his divine Power? There Questions are not ludicrous, but _calm and sedate Reasoning_, which _Bishop Smalbroke_[210] does not disapprove of. Therefore a grave, rational, and substantial Answer is expected to them, such as will be a Vindication of the Wisdom and Power of _Jesus_, without any Diminution of the Miracle.
Should our _Divines_ say, that this Matter was an Act of unsearchable Wisdom and must be left to the Will of our Saviour, and not curiously pry'd into, any more than some other Dispensations of Providence, that are past finding out: This Answer, which I believe to be the best, that can be given, will not do here. The Miracles of _Jesus_ are, as our _Divines_ own, Appeals to our Reason and Senses for his Authority; and by our Reason and Senses they are to be try'd, condemn'd or approved of. If they will not abide the test of Reason and Sense, they are to be rejected, and _Jesus_'s Authority along with them. Therefore a more close, pertinent and serious Answer is to be given to the said Questions; which as I believe to be impossible, consistently with the Letter; so our _Divines_ must of necessity go along with me to the Fathers for a mystical and allegorical Interpretation of the Story of this Eye-Salve; or the Miracle will fall to the Ground, and _Jesus_'s divine Power be in great danger with it.