http://www.dr-fnlee.org/docs8/
Corrections from Luther, Calvin, Westminster Standards and John Owen.
Correcting Anglicostals, Pentecostals, Charismatics & Other Enthusiasts
“Welcome to boot camp. Recruit, life as you know it has just ended.” Costals aggressively pushed themselves forward; the pushback and conquest is undertaken.
A theological study about the nature of miracles and their cessation at inscripturation but the continuation of pseudo-miracles according to revealed religion from the fall of the first Adam till the second coming of the Second Adam.)
And now, for corrections from Gunnery Sergeant F. Nigel Lee:
11. The Protestant Reformation on miracles: Luther, Calvin & Westminster
The above Thomistic deformation of the Biblical and Patristic doctrine of miracles, ultimately triggered off a Protestant correction by Luther -- and especially by Calvin.
At the Reformation, said Dr. Julius Köstlin -- in his famous articles on 'Miracles'19 -- "the older Protestant Theologians" opposed the Romish theory and practice of [quasi-]miracles" which in actual fact were really pseudo-miracles.
"To the boast of the Romish Church to be the 'True Church' because it yet [alleges to possess, and always to have] possessed, miraculous powers -- they [the Reformers] replied: that the time of miracles was past; [and] that those claimed by the Roman Church, were false."
Luther himself "assigned to the miracles of Holy Writ their place in the development of Christian revelation. But now that Christ had come, Luther asserted that miracles were no more needed; and therefore maintained that papal 'miracles' were either fraudulent or devilish."
Calvin, although conceding that divine gifts were still widespread (and by no means limited only to Christians), strongly opposed the Romish claims that miracles were still occurring. To the great Genevan, miracles were always confirmation of redemptive alias special revelation -- and disappeared at the close of the period of that special revelation.
Previously, Christ was the Author of miracles -- through the operation of His Holy Spirit.
Newness and unusualness were then the criteria for determining what constituted miracles when they had occurred.
At the same time, we need to see that even today highly unusual or even supernatural ability was and is no guarantee of godliness in those who were and still are thus endowed. As Calvin pointed out,20 "the minds of all men have impressions of civil order and honesty....Next come manual and liberal arts, in learning which -- as all have some degree of aptitude -- the full force of human acuteness is displayed.... This universality is of a kind which should lead every individual for himself to recognize it as a special gift of God...."The human mind, however much fallen and perverted from its original integrity, is still adorned and invested with admirable gifts from its Creator. If we reflect that the Spirit of God is the only fountain of truth -- we will be careful as we would avoid offering insult to Him, not to reject or contemn truth wherever it appears. In despising the gifts, we insult the Giver.... The Lord has been pleased to assist us by the work and ministry of the ungodly in physics, dialectics, mathematics, and other similar sciences. Let us avail ourselves of it lest, by neglecting the gifts of God spontaneously offered to us -- we be justly punished for our sloth."
So even in corrupt human nature, insisted Calvin,21 "there is some room for divine grace-- such grace as, without purifying it, may lay it under internal restraint.... I admit that the specious qualities which [the B.C. 365 Pagan Roman victorious Army General] Camillus possessed, were 'divine' gifts" -- yes, "'divine' gifts" -- and thus "appear entitled to commendation when viewed in themselves.
"But in what way will they be proofs of a virtuous nature? ... If a natural man possesses such integrity of manners, nature is not without the faculty of studying virtue....Those are not common endowments of nature, but special gifts of God which He distributes in divers forms and in a definite measure to men otherwise profane."
Professor Calvin also warned that alleged "miraculous power or faith" -- if there is a natural or even a supernatural endowment -- rests at bottom on a "specific gift of God which a wicked man may possess and abuse -- such as a gift of tongues, prophecy, or other gifts."22 Genesis 4:20-24; Numbers 22:20f; First Samuel 9:2f; 10:5-13f; 16:14-23; Matthew 7:22; 10:4f; 24:24; Acts 8:9-20; First Corinthians 14:23; Second Corinthians 13:5f; Second Thessalonians 2:9f; Revelation 13:3-13; 16:13f; 19:20f.
The Calvinistic Westminster Standards teach the same doctrine, and uphold the clear distinction between the miraculous and the non-miraculous (cf. John 2:11 with 10:41).
Though not defining God's very various gifts to man, the Confession of Faith does imply23 that they originated at man's creation.
Then and thereafter -- teaches the Confession24 -- God through such gifts communicated even His special revelation. They were the Lord's excellent and extraordinary gifts, the employment of which resulted in events. Such occurred without, above or even against His ordinary providence25 -- and focussed especially on the Person and soon also on the saving work of the Lord Jesus.26 The "common operations of the Spirit" in man, however, work no redemption in him whatsoever.27
Later, we will present the Westminster Assembly's positive teaching on the cessation of miracles after the termination of the inscripturation of the Holy Bible.28 Later still, we will discuss also that Assembly's insistence on the continuation of non-miraculous 'lying wonders.'29
12. Rev. Dr. John Owen on the important significance of miracles
In Britain, Rev. Dr. John Owen was probably the most accomplished Theologian of all time -- and also the greatest writer ever, on the subject of the Holy Spirit. Shortly after the writing of the 1647 Westminster Confession of Faith -- which implies that miracles were means of Special Revelation and of supranatural Special Providence30 -- the Puritan Owen wrote the following in 1659 (in his own writing titled The Divine Original of the Scriptures):31
"Is it not evident, that the miracles...are preserved in the Scripture -- and not otherwise? ... Can these miracles operate upon the understanding or judgment of any man -- unless he first grant the Scripture to be the Word of God?" For only Scripture determines, for us, which events were true miracles. Scripture alone, and not the opinions of men, determines this.
"If numbers of men be allowed to speak" and say when events are miracles and when not, declared Owen, "we may have a traditional testimony given to the blasphemous figments of the Koran -- under the name of 'true miracles!' But the constant tradition of more than a thousand years, carried on by innumerable multitudes of men -- great, wise, and sober, from one generation to another -- doth but set open the gates of hell for the Mohammedans....
"Many writers of the Scripture wrought no miracles.... The Apostles converted many, [even] where they wrought no miracles (Acts 16 to 18).... Where they did so work [miracles], yet they were received [not for their miracles but] for their doctrine -- and not the doctrine on their account!"
Later, in 1674 (in Dr. Owen's informative and massive Discourse Concerning the Holy Spirit), he further wrote:32 "The immediate extraordinary operations of the Holy Ghost, absolutely exceeding the actings and compliance of human faculties, are miracles of all sorts....Such were many things wrought by Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha.... These were all the immediate effects of the divine power of the Holy Ghost. He is the sole Author of all real[ly] miraculous operations....
"By 'miracles' we understand such effects as are really beyond and above the power of natural causes, however applied unto operation.... It is said expressly that our Lord Jesus Christ wrought miracles -- for instance, the casting out of devils from persons possessed – by the Holy Ghost. And if their immediate production were by Him in the human nature of Jesus Christ personally united unto the Son of God -- how much more must it be granted that it was He alone by Whose power they were wrought, in those who had no such relation unto the divine nature!"
Elsewhere, Dr. Owen concluded:33 "Unto the working of every miracle in particular, there was a peculiar act of faith required in them that wrought it. This is that faith which is called 'the faith of miracles' (First Corinthians 13:2).... "It had always a peculiar, immediate revelation for its warranty and security in the working of any miracle. And without such an immediate revelation or divine impulse and impression -- all attempts of miraculous operations are vain, and means only for Satan to insinuate his delusions by.
"No man, therefore, could work any miracle -- nor attempt in faith so to do -- without an immediate revelation that divine power should be therein exerted and put forth in its operation.... The use of this gift in the Church at that time and season, was manifold. For the principles which believers proceeded on, and the doctrines they professed, were new and strange to the world....
"In this state of things, this gift of miracles was exceeding[ly] useful -- and necessary unto the propagation of the gospel; the vindication of the truth; and the establishment of them that did believe.... Whatever miracles were wrought -- if the Word preached was not received, if that did not accompany them in its powerful operation -- they were but despised...."Some, upon hearing the Apostles speak with tongues, mocked and said: 'These men are full of new wine!' Acts 2:13. Yet, upon preaching of the Word which ensued -- they were converted unto God. And the Apostle Paul tells us that if there were nothing but miraculous speaking with tongues in the Church, an unbeliever coming in would say they were all mad, First Corinthians 14:23 -- [an unbeliever] who by the Word of prophecy would be convinced, judged and converted unto God (verses 24-25)."
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