The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-02-27
(San Francisco Monitor.)

ture fixed and Interchangeable? Is not miracle a
violation of the laws of nature?
1t is indeed true that nature works according
10 fixed laws but these laws not, like the truths
of mathematics, intrinsically and absolutely neces-
sary. Experience tells us that, a rule, they are
Uchanging, but neither reason nor experience as
serts that the omnipoent, free God, cannot inter-
vene at will to prevent their operation. God in
ating the world did not subject Himself to the laws
of His creation. A miracle, however, does not
destroy any law or even suspend It's working, but
merely III particular instance supposes the inter
venHon of God to prevent certain law from hav-
ing It's ordinary effect. There is no danger of the
laws of nature being overthrown, or science dis
tUrbed in the least for miracles are rare occur
rences, which simply emphasize the more the
dinary course of nature. Were 1t not for the uni
formlty of natures law, one never could be GER
tain Of a miracle.
Is it not strange that one should grant that man
interfere with the working of laws, v g., over
come the law of gravitation by holding a stone IN
his hand. and yet deny that the infinitely free God
can act above and beyond the laws of His own franz
ing! (Schanz "A Christian Apology" vol j, ch. x.)
DO not miracles argue a change in Interchangeable
Not at all The ordinary action of the laws of
nature well as the divine interference herewith.
evidenced in miracles were alike foreseen and wlled
by God for all eternity. There is no past and fu-
1ure with Him. He is the Externally, Present.
Human intelligence suspend and control
1he forces OF nature TO It's own temporary advan-
tage Why then insist that the Creator of the world
must be entirely subject to the laws He Himself
has framedl
unknown law of nature. You must admit that
as yet we do not know all her secrets.
little reflection will convince man that
knowledge of all the laws of nature is not neces-
sary TO determine whether particular fact be
miraculous or not. Medical science may make great
strides within the next century, but no new med-
cine Will ever be able to call the dead to life Hyp
note suggestion may effect some wonderful new /
cures, but Is never will give sight to man without
eyes new Edison may make some new discov- |
cries more marvellous than his, yet no inventor will
ever be able to calm the winds and waves at word
or to pass through a closed door
1t, then, we have good evidence of an effect
beyond the power of any creature, as, for instance
the feeding of 5000 with five loaves, the very uni
1ormlty of the laws of science forbids us to deny
the miracle in yirture of some unknown law. 1t
Is merely a question of evidence.
Granting miracles are possible. how taking into
account the general unreiabity of human testimony
can any particular be proved?
If the miracles of the Gospel were wrought before
body of scientists well and good; how trust the
evidence Of ignorant Galilean peasants?
TO deny the possibility of proving miracle be-
'ause testimony is sometimes unreliable is about
Is sensible as denying all historical facts whatso-
yer because some historians may have been de-
elrers or deceived. miracle is question of evi-
ence, and being phenomenon that falls under
he senses, 1t can be known with the same certainty
5 any other fact-by trustworthy evidence An ig-
orant peasant could testify as well as the most :
ultured pharisee or modern scientist to the fact
hat. 1lrst, Lazarus was dead and his body corrupt
nd that afterwards at the words Of Christ, Gay ;
rus come forth" (John XII 49,. he Instantly came |
} life, !
A body OF scientists might themselves be Door q
illnesses. especially if they would not dyest +bem
nliSfi.
iat miracles are possible. But it requires no scien-
nc requirements whatever, but the mere use Of
Ne eyes, to testify TO the instant cure of q man
'fh Dind, ieper cleanSed of his leprosy, and the
le, nv '''0
Do not all religions claim their ,rraclesa ,,-,o a
,eeal proving power, therefore have the miracles
1nrIst' pa not Simon Magnus Apollonius of
a+ &c t M9nanmed claim to work miracles? Il
't OF the christian Scientists Dowietes of our 4
rn day? '' u oui
IT Is true that every false religion has put forth
Is clam, but these false wonders no more d;s q
owe the existence Of true miracles than q conn II
rielr com dlsprores the existence of good orig
on the contrary, they prove the universal ac- i
ptanee of miracles as test of divine tr,tb b
\ little study OF the miracles wrought by the
lof VIII brlng out III clear contrast the differ :,
ce between the true and the false. y
Is regards the question of fact many of the -
"a s9h miracles We're based on poetic legends re- -
Z o. tha
ms OF Greece and Rome. the miracles of Rmd- ~
a. ETC.; wlIe The miracles of Christ are attastod o
autnonlatlye cOntemporaneous docupen+s n !;
am; the alleged wonders of false religions are
ufa, ridiculous and meaningless being evidently
Ihed 10 show the great power of their autber. Is
g the 300 white ions, and the drapon-barnessej W;
moi OF Buddha; the walking statues. or Aigbts ce
ough the air Of Simon Magnus; the meon-5iyid-- en-
OF Mohammed The miracles of Chris On
cohtrarF, are never eXtravagant or foolish but
slsU OF wonderful cures and manifestations of br
me power to which he could appeal for nroof ur
HIS divine mission: "Ihough you win nor Lo- of
e Ne, believe the works; that YOU may know and go
eve that the Father is in Me. and in The
her" (John X. So. : '1' 'iie
he perfect spotessness of the life of Christ i on
rant Tor belief IN these works. On no otbar AT
oihesls can the miracles of Christ be explained co
as works requiring divine power: whereas tbo tel
ged wonders in the false religions of BUDDHISM
hmlnlsn Greek and Roman paganism. or ~ =,
Tern spiritism theosophy Christian Science and 1S1
'lelsm can be traced either to fraud hallnc; lMIo M
on hypnotic suggestion or diabolism. Glance ate a
ct Apo.' 20SS, PIG; Newman, Essay ON III T.
s" /, Sec 81. 0-l "ii
las not the Of miracles passed forever9 Ma inc
u cease with the death of the Apostles? Ar
No the age of miracles viii last until The ord ems
me Christ foretold mark XVI. 17-1s1 +ho of
leulous power of His Saints: And these 80 .ne ste
follow them that believe. In Nv namo +5a+o
.a