The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-06

Him, ana He hides the brightness OF Hm face for 3
double reason. He leaves TO the faithful the merit
OF liberty. He preserves the unbclicver from tho
awful responsibility OF disobedience after convfo
ton. and without excuse or extenuating circum-
stances.
GOD WARNS, AND HE WATTS
All mankind did not perish In the Dcluse. ana 10
the wilderness some were saved after the n'shs
rom Egypt. God does not deal with man a.
tyrant or an absolute earthly king might DO. bus
rather as q constitutional sovereign who u an
exact observer OF recognized laws, and who u de-
termined only to exercise the prerogauve OF grace
or mercy.
ssThe abundance OF miracles In recent times 10 ~
no means q good sign LOT the present age. h ~
indeed, Q recompense to some and stan ior
faith to lean upon. IL evinces the presence OF God
and His watchiuness over the world. IL proves
that He, verify, will prevail over the powers %
darkness and that the religious prospects OF man
kind viii improve. But 10 also attests the fraily
OF the living generation II may imply terrible
menace and a grievous Judgment about TO como
upon as. Forty years OF STRIFE and battle followed
the miraculous passage OF the Red Sea. when the
Israelites under Noses were saved from the cap
tains and the host OF Pharaoh and another genera
ton was born before the chosen people were Al
lowed to behold the promised land. The moment
another exodus We have lett all old traditions
and landmarks OF thought behind US We have
turned our backs on Pharaoh and the thrones OF
kings, and we have marched away into an unex-
pl0red country, OF which. as yet, we have only
reached the border land. The future Ia sale, bus
miracles now doing must not be accepted ~ sign
that we are safe or that we shall be saved. Per-
haps Pharaoh will overtake US and lead as back
into bondage. Amalek has full time TO hsrass us.
The new generation is still afar on In the realms
OF time.
up to the present date the miracles we have wit
messed succor and encourage US but they are nos
subject OF congratuation to us. They appear to
be rather o mark OF indulgent pity for
society which Is incapable OF lifting up
its heart to Cod ana which ID
rather disposed to turn away from salvation than
to seek 1t. After eighteen centuries Of Christianity
human reason would hardly seem to want the aid
OF miracles to assist belief Civilized man should
be able to read and to learn from the past. He
should not constrain divine clemency to speak to,
him by signs as though he were child or
savage.
'.But there must be enough miracles SO long az
there are not enough Christians, and so long al
there Is not enough faith among those Christians
to guide them up to heaven When the whole
world is converted there will be no need OF MIRA
cles. To spread
THE LIGHT OF CHRISTIANITY
is the only way to diminish supernatural occur
rences Or land this Is an important considers
ton" said the Vicar General gravely). fthe ncre-
dulty OF society finally denies the possibility Of
miracles 1t will begin to make martyrs.
MARTYR IS A WITNESS,
and scoffers at miracles, who nave power In their
hands and are resolved to use it, will merely Gre
ate witnesses of the fact they deny. When this
happens, and it seems not unlikely to happen. tho
Roman Catholic Church will be proud, indeed I.
And the conscience OF mankind, glorieusly van
pushed by miracles at last, viii declare that it
believes in -
TRUTH WHICH HAS BEBN SEALED BY BLOOD
that 1t credits the testimony OF witnesses who have
died rather than forswear themselves It will be-
grand day for the Christian religion, and still'
grander day for human reason, even II martyrs
can save world which miracles cannot save"
The Vicar General ceased his speaking with tho
same placid look as when Hrst he addressed me.
There was passion or excitement In his talk.
lie might have been reading page OF history or
q grave poem. He put the question as to modern
miracles simply and plainly before me as 1t ap-
peared to him, and there leave 1t.