III. 



MIRACLES AND SPECIAL PROVIDENCES. 



IT is my privilege to enjoy the friendship of a select 

 number of religious men, with whom I converse frankly 

 upon theological subjects, expressing without disguise the 

 notions and opinions I entertain regarding their tenets, and 

 hearing in return these notions and opinions subjected to 

 criticism. I have thus far found them liberal and loving 

 men, patient in hearing, tolerant in reply, who know how 

 to reconcile the duties of courtesy with the earnestness of 

 debate. From one of these, nearly a year ago, I received 

 a note, recommending strongly to my attention the volume 

 of " Bampton Lectures " for 1865, in which the question of 

 miracles is treated by Mr. Mozley. Previous to receiving 

 this note, I had in part made the acquaintance of the work, 

 through the able and elaborate review of it which had ap- 

 peared in the Times. The combined effect of the letter 

 and the review was to make the book the companion of 

 my summer tour in the Alps. There, during the wet and 

 snowy days which were only too prevalent last year, and 

 during the days of rest interpolated between days of toil, 

 I made myself more thoroughly conversant with Mr. Moz- 

 ley's volume. I found it clear and strong an intellectual 

 tonic, as bracing and pleasant to my mind as the keen air 

 of the mountains was to my body. From time to time I 

 jotted down my thoughts regarding it, intending afterward, 

 if time permitted, to work them up into a coherent whole. 



