MIRACLES AND SPECIAL PROVIDENCES. 11 



pressed is this: that, while a special providence can 

 only excite surmise more or less probable, it is 'the 

 nature of a miracle to give proof, as distinguished from 

 mere surmise, of Divine design.' 



Mr. Mozley adduces various illustrations of what he 

 regards to be special providences, as distinguished from 

 miracles. ' The death of Arius,' he says, c was not mira- 

 culous, because the coincidence of the death of a here- 

 siarch taking place when it was peculiarly advantageous 

 to the orthodox faith . . . . was not such as to compel 

 the inference of extraordinary Divine agency ; but it 

 was a special providence, because it carried a reason- 

 able appearance of it. The miracle of the Thundering 

 Legion was a special providence, but not a miracle, for 

 the same reason, because the coincidence of an instanta- 

 neous fall of rain, in answer to prayer, carried some 

 appearance, but not proof, of preternatural agency.' 

 The eminent lecturer's remarks on this head brought to 

 my recollection certain narratives published in Method- 

 ist magazines, which I used to read with avidity when 

 a boy. The general title of these exciting stories, if I 

 remember right, was ' The Providence of God asserted,' 

 and in them the most extraordinary escapes from peril 

 were recounted and ascribed to prayer, while equally 

 wonderful instances of calamity were adduced as illus- 

 trations of Divine retribution. In such magazines, or 

 elsewhere, I found recorded the case of the celebrated 

 Samuel Hick, which, as it illustrates a whole class of 

 special providences approaching in conclusiveness to 

 miracles, is worthy of mention here. It is related of 

 this holy man that, on one occasion, flour was lacking 

 to make the sacramental bread. Grain was present, 

 and a windmill was present, but there was no wind to 

 grind the corn. With faith undoubting, Samuel Hick 

 prayed to the Lord of the winds : the sails turned, 



