, 1874-07-13
THE PURPOSE OF MIRACLES,
Sermon bJ the Right Reverend Bishop

Tho 1t. Rev. Henry W. Lee Bishop Of IONA,
preached yesterday morning in st. Jamos Epia-
copal Church, to o large congregation. The
gunoral subject Of tho discourse xas 'Ihe Pur-
pose Of Miraoles," and tho text was portion OF
tho 48th verse of the 4th chapter OF the Gospel
according to St. John:
Except 50 sce slgns and vonlors 10 Will not believe,
These words. said tho Bishop, wcro utterel By
our blessed Lord on the occaaion OF tho healing
Of tho uobleman'a son at Capernnum. II seemed
thut tue Language WAS goneral roproof, not d.
roctod especially to tho nobleman himself, who
lad aEroady Expressed Lis boliof In Christ's su-
pornatural powor. but to tho world ut large The
text suggested tho true object Of thsperformanco
OF Bgns and wonders. Miracles we're wrought In
order to mako mon believe in new revelations.
Tho mere desire OF the Jews aud 0entilen to Wit
ucas miraculous works, i'll order to satsly them-
aelves concerning Cbrist's divine origin
and miasiou, was not intonled to bo
Ieprovod; for without the perform
would l,ayo boou excused for their uubeliot, but,
NTH those Miracles they had no coak to hide
thor sinH Of unbelcf.
The Savior Himself rested tho truth OF His
doctrine uponi11i miracles, and it was only whom
mon rejected this proof that Lie roprovod them.
prove the existence Of God. :or to establish tho
common principles OF morality. Tho dictates It
natural religion we're sufficient to prove that
there was God, and that all men were under
obligation 10 WoraEip and ohpy Him. No at
to,unt WAS mado in Holy Writ 70 proyo tho OK
isteuoe OF God; tho worry first chapter declared: !:
"Iu tho beginning God croatcd tho earth" The
fnct Of q creation necessarily implied creator.
1dolatry itself Implied boliof il d oreatiyo aud
protecting power.
The first miracles OF which an account was
given were wrought in Egypt, where God doclar-
Cd Himsolf To be tho God OF the llebrewp, and
Ills superiority over tho God OF tho EgyptiAus
WAS demonstrated by Lis superior power. Egypt
waH a celebrated place, and hepcc 1t was an al,-
propriato place for tlle nanlfeatution OF Divine
power 40 that its effects might be folt amoug all
nntions. Undoubtedly tue knowledge OF tho
Quo true God was promoted aud e1tondcd among
Were thereby, atrongtiened in tho belief That
theirs waa tho Supreme God. Moses could
giyo them no positive assurance Of lis tlivino
commission o1cept through his performance
miraculous man'feutnlions were very abundant
among the JoHs. Proof wag required that
promises and commands actually came from God
in order to estnblish the authority Of Ills law.
The miracle. of tho Gospel l,ad tle same or q
comtnlssiou to tho jews, Jos,ts had a more ample
one To publish salvation to all mankind. God
did not work ,nraclos to astoninh tho world, bus
to serve tho greater ends OF Ills providence and
grace. ii tho miracles Of tho l3lblo wore ro1ect-
ed, mud with them tho authority OF the Holy
boripturaB then every pohsiblo proof to tho hu-
man 1ni1ltl 1nat ho rejected. lnhdel writer's had
urged the extromo improbability Of miruo!es as
tho reason for disbelief in them. 10 this II was
thnt revolution should DO laasle to man at all,
it was probablo that miracles wore wrought to
establish that revelation. unleBg tho Testimony
CONCERNING mirac!cs bo proyon false. 1t must not
DO dlHbelieyed because Of any soemng lmproba-
billty. II i've Thousand mon woro fed with q
foy 1nnyaA md ttRhnB. II tlh no1lp1natafR aon