The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-11
OUR CONTRIBUTORS.
THE MIRACULOUS.
BY REV. s. CRANE, D. d.


miraculous is identical with the
supernatural; that both words mean
the same thing. Doubtless miracle
is something beyond and above the
ordinary course of nature, and is
therefore supernatural; but it does
not cover the whole meaning of the
latter term. 1t is rather only one side
of the supernatural, its external man.
Hesitation. 1t bears about the same
relation to the latter that in baptism
water does to spirit; it is the sign of
the reality. The water is not the bap-
tism but only the sign of the renew
ing or purifying spirit. So the mira
Gle is not the supernatural, but the
sign of its presence and activity. 1t
shows that the spirit that reigns with
in and without and governs all, is
specially active; that it is putting
forth new energy and making an ad-
vance in the worlds life and history.
So we find that the incoming of
every new element, the realization of
every new force. is attended with mi
raculous phenomena. Thus the in
coming of the vital force was attended
with signs that are truly miraculous.
Here is a force that dominated all
the other forces and produced phe-
nomena that were "signs and won
ders." Trees grew out of the ground
in spite of the law of gravitation.
Water was carried to the top of the
tallest tree Notwithstanding the fact
that "water always runs down hill"
Animals walked over the face of the
earth and ran and leaped at will con-
trary to the law of inertia.
Though heavier than air, great
birds flew through the heavens; and
though water browns, the sea teemed
with living creatures that lived and
sported in it's waves. All this was
miraculous. To the existing forces
it was marvel, wonder, something
impossible in the nature of things;
and if these forces could have spoken
no doubt they would have cried out
against it and said miracles don't
happen" But then it did happen,
and though miraculous to the old
forces it was perfectly natural to the
new and was the sign of its coming.
So when the spiritual force came
miracles again appeared. This force
began the building of civilization
which was miracle to all that went
before. 1t was out of and beyond the
power of all the forces of nature.
Not one of them could produce or
comprehend the wonders of this
spiritual force. 1t built houses,
erected temples and palaces, made
great cities, took possession of all the
lower forces and caused them to do
its bidding. In fine it brought into
being a great world of beings who
think and plan and improve and who
have and are creating a great world
of civilization and this civilization is
a sign of this new force. All that
man had done is sign or miracle of
the new spiritual force. 1t reveals
it's presence and power. 1t shows
that there is spirit in man and the
inspiration of the Almighty giveth
him understanding"
Analogous to all this are the mira
cles of Christ. In the sphere of hu-
man history they are the signs of the
incoming of the new light and power.
They reveal the coming and presence
of new moral and spiritual force.
They are witnesses to the new les
son and inspiration which God is
giving man. They are signs of pow
er for they show a command over
the forces of nature that none but
God can WELD. They are signs of
goodness for they are all the minis
tries of love. All the works of Jesus
were the works of healing, of cheer
and of hlessedness. Hence they
were the signs, the external manifes-
tations of the inward light, love and
power that he brought to the world.
These signs, therefore, had their
mission, and when that was accom-
plished they ceased. The mission of
the water in baptism is to signify the
inward publication and when that
publication is realized among men
the water is no longer needed. So
the mission of miracles was to signify
the incoming of the new religion, of
the new spiritual force; hence when
that force was realized in the world,
when Christianity was established
among men, miracles were no longer
needed and they ceased. When the
thing signified became a reality in
the life of men and began to do its
work by its own laws the need of the
miraculous ceased and so the signs