348 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE 



CHAPTER XXIV; 



MIRACLES A^D SPECIAL PROVIDENCES.* 1867. 



Mr. Mozley's book belongs to that class of writing of which. Butler 

 may be taken as the type. It is strong, genuine argument about 

 difficult matters, fairly tracing what is difficult, fairly trying to 

 grapple, not with what appears the gist and strong point of a ques- 

 tion, but with what really at bottom is the knot of it. It is a book 

 the reasoning of which may not satisfy every one. . . . But we think 

 it is a book for people who wish to see a great subject handled on a 

 scale which befits it, and with a perception of its real elements. It is 

 a book which will have attractions for those who like to see a power- 

 ful mind applying itself, without shrinking or holding back, without 

 trick or reserve or show of any kind, as a wrestler closes body to 

 body with his antagonist, to the strength of an adverse and powerful 

 argument. TIMES, Tuesday, June 5, 1866. 



We should add, that the faults of the work are wholly on the sur- 

 face and in the arrangement; that the matter is as solid and as logical 

 as that of any book within recent memory, and that it abounds in 

 striking passages, of which we have scarcely been able even to give a 

 sample. No future arguer against miracles can afford to pass it over. 

 SATURDAY REVIEW, September 15, 1866. 



IT is my privilege to enjoy the friendship of a select 

 number of religions men,, with whom I converse frankly 

 npon 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 an able and elaborate 

 review of it 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 in 1866, and 

 during the days of rest interpolated between days of toil. I 

 made myself more thoroughly conversant with Mr. 



* Fortnightly Review, New Series, vol. L, p. 645. 



