The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-20
DIR. PORTER ON MIR.iCLES.
Reading the sacred Scriptures In the Light Of
Modern Science.

Association Hall was filed last evening,
the Occasion being n lecture by Noah Porter,
u. D., on Miracles and Prophecies which
show the Bible to be Divine" The lecturer.
after recalling certain wonderful supernatural
occurrences of biblical record. held that the OK
istcnce OF the Christian Church Is due to the
fact that the miracle Of the resurrection was be-
licved and that it was believed wasa proof that
it was performed. II was true that the disciples
could not discriminate between miracles and
mcryextraordinary events. for they had notat-
tained To a knowledge of the laws OF nature.
But we know thatthcy looked upon the miracles
Of Christ IA far transccndng any occurrences
of which they had ever heard They did not
require knowledge OF science to convince
them that since the beginning OF the world no
man had opened the eyes OF the blind, cured the
paralytic with "A touch. and brought the dead to
life. They were simple unlettered men Of an
unettercd people. and how out of that people
should como the most complex ideal Of man the
OF wonderful importance TO the thinker.
At the revival Of letters and the physical sci
onccs it became known that natures forces
were numerous and powerful, and that works
~ magic could he easily explained by natural
laws Then the attempt was mndc to account
In the same way for Christs miracles. and then
was begun the era Of skepticsm.
Believers in the truths Of the Bible have made
Christianity by the MIRACLES, instead of Justify
ing the miracles Ivy the doctrines. Their course
has resulted too often in bringing the story Of
Christ down to the level OF a common story !:
and too often. also, in rendering Christianity a
subject OF ridiCulc.
II the assertion should he made that ycstcr-
day dead man was brought 10 life in Union
square. no one would be- found to believe IT,
Why should we believe. then. that the dead were
restored by the SaviOur2 Because then there
was u grand reason why the laws of nature
should be violated. reasons that do not exist in
our day. Never has there been u time when
the miracles Of the Scripture could be- more tri-
umphantly defended than now. A miracle is
not only a wonderful work. II must have an
import and this IL why IL IL 80 frequently
spoken Of in Holy Writ IA n sign. 1t must be- Of
public importance. and wrought in tho light Of
day. and openly performed.
When Christian tells me- the speaker con-
tinucd. that he has been cured 10y prayer am
not bound to look upon the cure as miracle. |
20 much further than most people in regard 10
the power Of prayer. | protest in the name Of
common sense against the imposition practsed
by many wcll-mcaning but crcdulOus persons
in their ill-advised publication of wonderful
cures. which they dignity with the name Of
miracles. Ii weakens faith In sacred things.
The Christian cause should not be made 30 bear
the burden Of these misnamed occurrences.
While the laws of nature can Toe broken only for
some purposc-fOr God will always respect the
laws that he has madr-it IN only the atheist and
the panthrist who can deny TINT God can over
ride the forces of nature when IL Will. and sus-
pend al pleasure the laws that operate them.