The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-11-12

false; therefore, miracles spoken of in
the Christian religion may also be false.
What are those so-called miracles in
pagan religion? Assertions narrated by
| poets-thcir own fancyings. OF attribute
ed to ages away back in the darkness of
history. How different from such are
the miracles that Christ wrought in the
fullness Of historical light attcsted by
witnesses Of whom history is fully con-
versant. The fact that false miracles
are quoted in the world only shows the
conviction of humanity that if God were
ever to speak to man he would work
miracles, as evidences of his power and
truthfulness. The circulation of false
money only prove the existence Of good
money. The claim made by the false
religions to miracles shows simply that
miracles are the ordinary means Oi COM
munication between God and His crea-
lures, when God desires 10 establish
such communication.
ut is said that i'll past days the ig
| norant people often thought that Il thing
was miraculous. which We now know to
be simply natural. Very we'll That
was their ignorance and we are willing
to admit that there are many forces of
nature, which VIC do not know of to-
day, certain natural results which to-
day we cannot trace back to definite
causes but in the future we will but
natural energies known or unknown,
where there is and can be no play of
certain results in certain situations
existing or possible.
ut is said so many things occur to-
day that might be called miraculous,
| such as faith cures: so much is done by
imagination i'll order to cure certain
diseases; all you have to do is to work
when we speak Of miracles we demand
up the mind Of the sick person to a
certain condition and the mind, react
ing on the body, produces results which
are beyond the reach of medicine itself,
and which might be called miraculous;
were not the miracles of the Christian
religion something of the kind? We
do know and confess that the mind has
certain power over tho body and
where the mind may in any manner be
the cause we shall not speak of mira
clcs. But are there not s,lpposablc
| cases where plainly tho mind is not in
play? Will all the faith cure imagin-
able bring a man four days dead out of
1,n
we consider only results which are man.
ifcstly beyond tho reach Of all imngin-
1ngs. of all faith cure, of all power Of
impression of one mind on another. OF
such we speak when we say that the
Christian religion Is based on miracles.
"rhe second point which | desire to
emphasize Is this: That miracles. be-
ing the foundation and the basis of
Christ's teaching, it is evident that the
Christian religion is essentially Il special
supernatural intervention of Almighty
God in the moral and religious order |
say this In protest against a tendency
showing itself in our times, to the cf-
feet that tho Christian religion. noble
! and beautiful, as all admit, was still
nothing but the natural ontgruwth of
previous human thought, and human
morality, Il historical evolution of The
past life of humanity. il is said that
the Hebrew religion developed under Inc
touch of successive prophets. until at
last it was ready for The greatest
prophet, the one great teacher, endowed
with special powers. capable to lift IL
to its eliminating power. IN the an
cent philosophers of Greece and Rome.
we find beautiful moral prccrptS. high
ideals and these ideals and prrccuis OF
the Hebrew religion ana Of pagan phil
oHopliy were gradually CruwdinG Them
selves toward one center. When Christ,
master mind, but only II master hui
man mind, spoke, and revealed Ia The
world what the world was already,
though l'nconSciously, possessing Now.
no doubt, providence had been preparing
the world for the preaching of Christ.
No doubt providence had spoken again
and again to the Hebrew prophets. and
"'o 'oi'lIiuohSly HIltuulnH DllBlllti ana
brighter light upon humanity. True.
too, that In pagan philosophy there was
much that was beautiful and admirable
for God never left humanity without
some portion of truth, without sumc
light from his own divine ccuntrnancr.
Reason itself tells us much tina, is good
and beautiful, and when Christ came as
/; supernatural agent he did not destroy
what reason had taught; he did not set
aside what was beautiful in the prccepts
OF human philosophy, or Of the Hebrew
religion. He took nll that VAS beautiful
and good on earth. purified il and added
to IT. a light so brilliant that IT plainly
came from above But Chrlst's work
was special, supernatural intervention
of divine power. a special supernatural
0utpouring of grace.
Some time ago Gen. r.. j. Morgan.
former Indian commissioner, and pres
cnt corresponding secretary of the
American Baptist Home Mission So