The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-06-08
SERMON.
Miracles.
by IRVING A. sEARLEs.

II
| France observed certain irregularities In the
movements OF one of the planets. These
strange actions could be accounted for only or
the suppositon that some planet, heretofore
undisc covered, existed IN the region OF the one
drst named The astronomer concluded from
all his calculations that this planet il 1t could
be seen at ALL could be seen from Berlin. He
wrote to an astronomer at that place, who
turning bis telescope to the point in the heav-
ems indicated, found the planet. The French
astronomer knew that law controlled the move.
ments OF these heavenly orbs. Eclpses are
predicted with accuracy hundreds OF years be
fore their occurrence. Some years since Mr.
| Huxley delivered an entire lecture in London
| on q FEATHER. No feather like il was known.
He drew on the blackboard a picture OF the
creature to which such feather must belong,
and said that if the creature itself was ever
discovered il would correspond to that picture
In three years from that time Prof. Marsh, OF
Yale College, found the fossil remlins Of a
creature that wore such feathers. 1t wac half
bird and half reptile, and corresponded IN every
particular with the picture Mr.. Huxley drew.
This was not mere guess work on the part OF
rIr. Huxley. He knew that law was uniform
and universal. Mathematical law governs even
the growing OF the leaves in the vegetable
world The leaves are not placed here and
there on the branches in a haphazard way. Law
governs the opening and closing OF the flower.
AN eminent English botanist observing this
fact proposed the construction OF floral
clock The 6andelon opens at Elk, the hawk
weed at seven, the succory at eight, etc. BY a
proper arrangement Of these the hours of the
day could be indicated with the regularity Of
o'clock work" Hence we say that law governs
all things, from the movements Of the heavenly
bodies to the growing OF the leaves and the &C
ton OF the flowers.
| 2. But, secondly. Miracles may be the oper-
alton OF HIGHER LAW than we know anything
about. One hundred years ago the telegraph
would have been miracle. In almost any age
but this the telephone would have been regard
ed as miraculous. band of singers assemble
in philadelphia, and Steinway Hall, New York,
is thronged with people to listen to the songs
as the telephone reports them. 1t is said that
whom d" Home, Sweet Home" was sung the au-
dience was subdued to tears. AS we fud out
more and more OF natures laws things seem
less and less miraculous. Babbags constructs
a curious calculating machine. II would work
a sum aud give the same answer a million
times and then perhaps the very next time 1t
would give an answer directly opposite. Peo-
pie who stood by and saw the same answer Civ
en- a million times could say, That Is tie an
swer that will always be gwen. That is the
law OF the machine" And when a result ex-
actly opposite is indicated, they say something
is wrong. But Blbbage, the designer OF the
instrument says there Is nothing strange in
what they have just noticed. lie constructed
that machine so that it would give that result.
What to others was violation OF law was to
Babbage but the fulfillment OF law. We know
not but the miracles of the Bible were 30
planned by the great Designer.
8. Indeed, l do not think that miracle is
GREATER manifestation Of Gods power, but
DIFFERENT one. The loaves or bread multiply
in Chr.st's hand We cali that miracle, but
is IT a greater manifee tation OF power than the
producing Of bread in the ordinary way When
you study the laws relating to tho formation OF
the soil, the fertillzing OF the soil, the growth
of the kernel Of wheat until harvest the laws
governing the formation OF the dew and the
rain, the laws Of ligtt-so essential to the de-
velopment OF tho griin-when you consider all
these things, think you will concede that
miracle Is a different, but not a greater, mani
festation Of tho power OF God. In fact. the
way In which girls are brought up now it is al
most miracle to have one make loaf OF good
bread in the ordinary way
4. Miracles were the best CREDENTIALS OF
His divinity that Christ could pro luce. When
this government sends its ministers 20 foreign
courts, credentials of authority are given them,
Not until these are produced arc they received
10 diplomatic CIRCLES as the representative Of
this government. Christs miracles we're His
credep tas. 4" The works that do IN my
fathers name they bear witness of me-" When
you can show good reason for a miracle then
miracle Is as reasonable az anything else.-
There was a reason for Chrsts performing
Miracles
5. His miracles are WORTHY OF divinity. The
Apocrypha has grounded together a number OF
legends relative to the childhood OF Jesus
Attempt is there made to make out prodigy.
One day some children refused to play with
him, and ran and hid in the bushes. He pur-
sued them and with one word from him they
were turned into kids. Another child acci-
dentally ran against him throwing him down.
In anger, he exclaimed: ''As thou hast made
me to fal; 80 shalt thou fall and not rise." The
child fell down and died. At last, Joseph says
to Mary Henceforward let us keep him
within doors, for whatsoever sets himself against
him perishes." Jesus with other children are
playing in the mud making birds out Of the
clay. Jesus. to excel his playmates, says, II
will make mine ny," and he suits the action to
the word Who can not see the difference be-
tween the trivial pretender's deeds and the
miracles recorded by the four evangelists.
6. In answer to the question do miracles
occur now, would reply that there is not the
same NEED Of them now. By and by, when
Queen Victoria dies her successor will be pro-
claimed ruler of Great Britain. The ceremony
WILL be imposing, but they will not be repeated
during the reign of that ruler. Once proclaimed
and on the throne is sufficient. Christianity
once proclaimed with miracles does Dot need to
repeat such proclamation.