Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-15
"MIfsACLEs."
The Theme Discussed By Rev. e. N
Afford Last Evening.

Alford Last Evening.
At the Third Presbyterian Church
last night, the pastor. Rev. c. NJ.
Afford, deiiyered an eloquent discourse
upon the subject Of miracles. taking his
text from John, 2O-3O:3l. And many
other signs truly did Jesus in the pres
ence OF his disciples, which are not
written in this book; but these are writ
ten, that We might believe that Jesus Is
the Christ, the Son OF Cod. and that be-
lieving ye might have life through his
name"
Paul tells us to prove all things;
hold fast that which is good" This
does not sound like the rawlings OF a
wild enthusiast, sectarian bigot, or "A
base impostoT. Such person would
have men believe bis dogmus without
Investigation. But Christianity courts
Observation-Disclosures all to examine
and compare it with other systems Of
religion aud then decide.
What is a miracle? 1t Is an effect
which could not be produced accord ling
TO the laws OF nature. II implies sus-
pension OF these laws or deviation
from them. There is vast difference
between uncommon events and miracles.
Many people are foolish enoughto be-
lieve that every wonderful event is a
miracle. a mOnstrous birth or fan OF
stones from the clouds are merely tn
common events; while the cure Of total
blindness 10y touch or raising the dead
by word are miracles.
DIRECTIONS TO MIRACLES.
Hume" and many Others deny the
possibility Of miracles. They teach
that no change can take place Ia the
established order Of nature; that a
change by miracle would disarrange
tho laws Of nature. But any sane per
son knows that blind man could be
made 10 see, without causing any dis
arrangement OF the planetary system,
whether the act was performed by
surgeons knife or the word OF Christ.
A man makes watch, setting certain
machinery in motion and establishing
certain laws that regulate the move
meuts OF that watch. But there is 90
impossibiity in changing tue move
ments Of that watch. The maker could
move the hands backward and forward
without interfering with the laws that
regulate the watch. Behind the un-
changing laws Of nature there is an in
telligent God who can interfere with
natures laws-COuld reYoiuLionize them
II be saw I'll.
Some reject miracles because they
did not see them performed and because
they are not repeated in our day Only
fools would say they believe only what
they see. All our knowledge OF the
past is from testimony. Tho constant
repetition Of miracles would defeat
their design and make them common
place. The volcano OF Vesuvius means
nothing 20 Naples. To them 10 is com
moupIace il has lost its power.
MARKS or TRUE MIRACLES
There are great many so-called
miracles performed daily ny Spiritual
lists and by Heather and Popish rites,
which have not the marks o. truth.
Three things are essential % true
miracles O.) The miracle must be
such that the senses OF men may be
Judges. Miracles are % make men be
lieve; therefore, they ~ ust be perceived
by the senses. Christ never performed
a miracle which could not be perceived
by the senses u the witnesses The rea-
son we cannot accept OF the so-called
miracle Of the mass is because 10 does 20
appeal 90 the senses. To the senses of
sight and taste the bread is not changed
10 flesh, but remains bread. (2.J The
miracle must ba performed Zoo public
before tho world. CD The testimony
or record must be handed down from
the time Of the miracle by an eye wit
ness. The miracles OF The bible have
these three marks.
THE wITvEssE, or CHErsT's MIRACLES
The Disciples. At first they were
not very creduious, but az length firm
~ and Derseveriugly adhered 90 Christ
because Of his miraculous evidence OF
divinity.
The Jews. At first they we're disap-
pointed fro the holiness and poverty Of
the Messiah. yet multitudes OF them
finally yielded 20 the convincing power
OF his miracles and became the preach
ers Of bic gospel % the GsntiIss
The Sadusees and Pharisess, Christs
bitter enemies. They did not deny bis
miracles, but acknowIed ged them. They
avoided the force OF the argument on
their unteIiefg by saying, "He casteth
out devils by Beelzebub." All these
bear witness OF the truth Of the mira
Giles.
II twelve men, whose integrity you
bad long known. would seriously tell
you Of a miracle they had seen with
their OVID eyes, aud in which 20 was Inn
possible for them TO be deceived. If
they would insist 90 its truthfulness in |
the midst o. suffering and death, and