12 



FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



the corn was ground, after which the wind ceaso( 

 According to the canon of the Bampton Lecturer, this 

 though carrying a strong appearance of an immedial 

 exertion of Divine energy, lacks by a hair's-breadth 

 quality of a miracle. For the wind might have arisei 

 and might have ceased, in the ordinary course oi 

 nature. Hence the occurrence did not ' compel 

 inference of extraordinary Divine agency.' In like 

 manner Mr. Mozley considers that ' the appearance ol 

 the cross to Constantine was a miracle, or a special pn 

 vidence, according to what account of it we adopt, 

 only a meteoric appearance in the shape of a cross il 

 gave some token of preternatural agency, but not fi 

 evidence.' 



In the Catholic canton of Switzerland where I 

 write, and still more among the pious Tyrolese, th( 

 mountains are dotted with shrines, containing offering 

 of all kinds, in acknowledgment of special merci( 

 legs, feet, arms, and hands of gold, silver, brass, am 

 wood, according as worldly possessions enabled the 

 grateful heart to express its indebtedness. Most of 

 these offerings are made to the Virgin Mary. They 

 are recognitions of ' special providences,' wrought 

 through the instrumentality of the Mother of 

 Mr. Mozley 's belief, that of the Methodist chroniclei 

 and that of the Tyrolese peasant, are substantially tl 

 same. Each of them assumes that nature, instead 

 flowing ever onward in the uninterrupted rhythm 

 cause and effect, is mediately ruled by the free humai 

 will. As regards direct action upon natural phenomei 

 man's wish and will, as expressed in prayer, are 

 fessedly powerless; but prayer is the trigger whic 

 liberates the Divine power, and to this extent, if tl 

 will be free, man, of course, commands nature. 



Did the existence of this belief depend solely u] 



