10 



FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



without reflection; but the exercise of the 'historic 

 imagination ' is a characteristic of our own time. M( 

 are now accustomed to place before themselves vivic 

 images of historic facts ; and when a miracle rises 

 view, they halt before the astounding occurrence, an< 

 realising it with the same clearness as if it were 

 passing before their eyes, they ask themselves, ' 

 this have taken place ? ' In some instances the effc 

 to answer this question has led to a disbelief in miracles 

 in others to a strengthening of belief. The aim 

 Mr. Mozley's lectures is to show that the strengthening 

 of belief is the logical result which ought to follow froi 

 the examination of the facts. 



Attempts have been made by religious men to brii 

 the Scripture miracles within the scope of the order 

 nature, but all such attempts are rejected by Mr. 

 Mozley as utterly futile and wide of the marl 

 Regarding miracles as a necessary accompaniment of a 

 revelation, their evidential value in his eyes depends 

 entirely upon their deviation from the order of nature. 

 Thus deviating, they suggest and illustrate a powt 

 higher than nature, a ' personal will ; ' and they coi 

 mend the person in whom this power is vested as 

 messenger from on high. Without these credenti? 

 such a messenger would have no right to demand belie 

 even were his assertions regarding his Divine missic 

 backed by a holy life. Nor is it by miracles alone that 

 the order of nature is, or may be, disturbed, 

 material universe is also the arena of * special 

 dences.' Under these two heads Mr. Mozley distribui 

 the total preternatural. One form of the preternatui 

 may shade into the other, as one colour passes ini 

 another in the rainbow; but, while the line whic 

 divides the specially providential from the miraculoi 

 cannot be sharply drawn, their distinction broadly ex- 



