Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-21


there recorded were wrought in the midst OF
enemies, under government, priesthood, and
magistracy, decidedly and yehemently adverse
20 them, and to theNpre,ension which they sup
ported. They were protestant miracles in
popish country; they were popish miracles in
the midst Of protestants. They produced
change: thew established a society upon the
spot, adhering to the belief of them; they made
converts; and those who were converted gave
up to the testimony their most fixed opinions
and most favori,e prejudices. They who act
ed and suffered in the cause, acted and suffered
for the miracles: for there was no anterior per-
suasion to induce them, prior reverence, preJu-
dice or partially to take hold Of Jesus had
not one follower when ne set up his claim. His
miracles gave birth TO his sect. No part of his
description belongs TO the ordinary evidence OF
Heather or Popish miracles. Even most of the
miracles alleged to have been performed by
Christians, in the second and third centuries OF
its ara, wan, this confirmation. 1t constitutes
indeed line Of partition between the origin and
the progress of Christianity. Frauds ard falla-
cies might mix themselves with the progress,
which could not possibly take place in the
commencement of the religion; at least, accord
ing TO any laws of human conduct that we are
acquainted with VIVA, should suggest 10 the
frs, propagators of Christianity, especially 10
| fishermen, lax-g atherers, and husbandmcn, such
+ a thought as that Of changing the religion OF
| the worlds what could bear them through the
difficulties in which the attempt engaged them;
| what could procure any degree OF success to
the attempt; are questions which apply, with
great force, to the setting out Of the institution,
with less, TO every future stage of it,"
In this the writer evidently forgets both him
! /; Lo ,1c II 10
which is untrue, or the scriptures Of the old
law are false records, and Mr. White ought to
have seen this, if he was a theologian. 1 shall
dwell short time upon this latter proposition
of the archdeacon that we are to leave out OF
the case all those miracles which come merely
in a6irmance of opinions already formed" and
which circumstance it is Of the utmost impor-
lance to notice WE'LL" The conclusion which
the archdeacon would have us to draw, is ne
cessary, that when a person says that he is
commissioned to work miracle, 10 affirm the
truth Of doctrine previously received we
need not enquire whe Their miracle is wrought
or not, but we must disbelieve him altogether.
Therefore, in plain fact, we must never believe
that miracle has been wrought since the days
Of the apostles, ,and SO says the Doctor: for he
says seven most of the miracles alleGgcd 10
have been performed by christians in the sec
ond and third centuries, want this conhrma-
ton" Here is the consciousness Of bad
cause manifestly exhibited in the vaguenes of
the expression most Of the miracles. Why not
boldly say, all of them, if his position is good
one, or specify some mode by which may
be able to say definitely and decisively which of
the alledged miracles we ought to examine? |
assert that we ought to examine every alledg-
ed miracle, whether of the first or Of the nihe
teenth century, and we have no power 10 tell
the almighty that he shall not make revela-
ton to US at one time, as we'll as at another, u
assert that the proof of the truth OF the mira
Gle is to be found in its own nature, and not in
the circumstance Of the time at which it is
wrought. There is nothing in the nature of
things, or in the nature of religion to make 1t
impossible for God to do now, works similar to
those done by him at any former time. The
examiner has only to ascertain two points: first
whether this event occurred: secondly, whether
the occurrence could have taken place without
Gods special Intervention beyond the effects OF
his natural law. The first he ascertains by or
binary testimony, the second he ascertains by
the common belief of competent persons as TO
what the law OF nature cannot reach to. Pa
lev's other distinction is arbitrary and unbound
ed, viz that miracle is unnecessary Tor the
confirmation Of truth already known; ii he
m cans that this truth is known and believed by
all persons, and that there exists no danger of
loss of truth, and of relapse into error, such
case is metaphysical: yet even in this SUPPOSE
ton, God might in his wisdom, think it as ne
cessary to confirm for one generation, that
truth which had been previously revealed to a
former race, as to prove its original revelation
to an antecedant people. Besides there has
in fact been no age in which itwss not necessa-
ry to make truth manifest to inidels
But the scrip,ural facts are all against the
archdeacon. The Jewish people in Egypt were
not an infide race: yet we find series OF mira
cles wrought to confirm them III the belief OF
those doctrines which they had received by ira
dition from their fathers, as well as to prove the
legation of Moses. They received no new doc
trines a, Sinai, they only received religious
organization, and had had ritual law imposed
upon them But suppose that the miracles
wrought at Sinai were to shew them that this
organization and this ritual ought to be sub
mitted to and preserved, according 10 Paley, the
people of Israel ought to put out ofthe case ev-
cry aledged miracle "i, q6rnancc of opinions
thus already formed add therefore all the mi
racles related in the books Of Josue, Judges,
Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, the prophets, &c.
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