namely, to punish Ægypt and its King, and to convince them that Mofes was to be hearkened to, and the Hebrews fuffered to depart, as God required. For tho' the Magi cians came with wicked Dif pofitions, to fet themselves against Mofes, and used all their wicked Arts and Incantations, Mutterings, and diabolical Ceremonies, to work Miracles equal to those of Mofes, and might perhaps think at first, that they did, what they did, by the affi ftance of Spirits and Demons, contrary to the God of Mofes, yet afterwards they might come to fee and know, that it was not fo, but that they

acted

acted by the fame Power that Mofes did, and were only made inftrumental to punish

Egypt the more. And (as

I have already faid) their Confeffing the finger of God to be in all this matter, does as good as confefs, that they were now convinc'd of the Power of God, and of the truth of Mofes's Miffion, and therefore that the King muft let the People go. But the King would now hearken no more to them, than to Moses. A. Why should he? methinks they deferv'd equal Credit.

B. So they did, and he fhould have believed them both, attesting the fame truth, G

by

by Miracles much alike namely, that Mofes was fent of God, and wrought Miracles to atteft his Miffion, and was to be hearkened to.

A. You have given, I confefs, a new turn to this Affair, to make the Miracles of the Magicians to attest the truth of Mofes's Miffion, and to make the King more faulty for not believing what his own Enchanters faid to him.

B. You see the bottom I go upon; the Scriptures fay, that the Magicians confefs'd to Pharaoh, that the finger of God was in this matter; and the fame Scriptures say, that Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkned not unto them;

them; which is a plain Condemnation of fuch his Obstinacy and Deafness. So that we are not now to confider the Miracles of the Enchanters, as wrought in Oppofition to Mofes, (whatever they themselves at first intended) but in confirmation of the truth of his Miffion, as the Event juftified, namely, the Confeffion of the Enchanters themselves.

A. I perceive that this thing lies at the bottom of your Heart, viz. that none but God, and thofe commiffioned by him, can work true Miracles; and therefore you have been at all thefe Pains, to fhew what might move God

G 2

God to permit thefe Enchanters to work three mighty Miracles: And whether you have hit upon the true Caufe or no, I know not; but the Effect I cannot chufe but be pleased withal, namely, the Confeffion and Acknowledgment of Gods Power by the Magicians themselves, and the Ufe God made of it, viz; the hardening Pharaoh's heart the more; or rather, the Oppor tunity offered by it, of fhewing his heart the more hardned, which God ferved himfelf of to gain to himself the greater Glory, and to make his Power the better known, in bringing forth his People; a thing he always had in his View.

B. You