THE LOGICAL NECESSITY OF MIRACLE.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPROTATOE.":1
Sin,—If the belief in miracles were attended by no more difficulties than those felt by your correspondent, Mr. Dobell, theological discussion would be a very pleasant exercise. I fear the keen and lucid intellect of Mrs. Humphry Ward will demand stronger proofs than the " machine " analogies before accepting the orthodox position. Has Mr. Dobell really defined what he means by "miracle," "natural religion," &c. P Surely, if natural religion "admits the existence of God," it must know a higher intelligence than the human intellect. The Apostle Paul held that "the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead." A nobler testimony to the scope and power of natural religion was never uttered. And it is perfectly possible to hold a "complete theory" of natural religion, and yet reject the orthodox doctrine of miracles. On the other hand, there is nothing in natural religion necessarily to exclude miracles ; some facts, indeed, there are that suggest their probability, but not their "necessity." When Mr. Dobell affirms that" miracle is necessary to any complete scheme of natural religion," may I be allowed to ask: What miracle P Is the story of the Gadarene swine necessary for that purpose, or the other signs that were at one time presented as the sole reasons for .believing a religion that was supposed to lack in- trinsic force and authority, and to require external pressure to compel acceptance. The illustration of the relation of a man to his machine which Mr. Dobell employs, is a very de- fective guide in helping us to realise the relations of the Creator and his universe, which, as Carlyle taught us long ago, is no machine, but a living organism, "the cloud-. garment of the invisible." That the immanent Spirit of the universe may for high purposes of moral government reveal loftier possibilities of his will than are suggested by the order of Nature, that is .restrained by law, no one can wisely question.. These results may appear to our materialised minds as miracles, but they are not so to higher intelligences. They are to such judgments fully in accord with Nature, with Law, with the fitness of things. There can be no unforeseen contingency to the Supreme Mind, no need to tinker or correct his perfect order. The abiding miracle lies in the significance of what is and ever has been.
To say that "man works by constant miracle," is to destroy all obedience to the settled laws of Mind and Nature. Man works, grows, and perfects himself by loyalty to Law.
Roughly defined, the Christian miracles reveal the will of God as causing results without intermediate links, whereas natural religion ascribes effects to God working through laws and powers. The usual purpose of natural religion is educa- tional ; that of revealed religion, redemptive and uniting. And now that the spiritual order has been revealed, and can be- verified, our faith rests no longer upon the evidence of past miracles, but upon the word of Christ, and the certitude that- arises when the soul is in contact with him.—I am, Sir, &c.,
J. MATTIEEWS.
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