FALLACIES OF TEST/MONY. 259 



" reasonable fanatics ! They are ready to die for their superstitions 

 "and to kill those who dispute them." * 



Now I fail to see what stronger external evidence there is of 

 any of the supernatural occurrences chronicled in the Old Testa- 

 ment, than that which is afforded by the assured conviction of this 

 Jewish community as to what is taking place at the present time 

 under their own eyes. And assuming, as I suppose most of us 

 should be ready to do, that the testimony to these contemporary 

 wonders would break down under the rigorous test of a searching 

 examination, I ask whether we are not equally justified in the 

 assumption that a similar scrutiny, if we had the power to apply 

 it, would in like manner dispose of many of the narratives of 

 old time, either as distortions of real occurrences, or as altogether 

 legendary. 



In regard to the New Testament miracles generally, whilst 

 failing to see in what respect the external testimony in their 

 behalf is stronger than it is for the reality of the miracles attri- 

 buted to St. Columba, I limit myself at present to the following 

 questions : — 



First. Whether the " miracles of healing " may not have had 

 a foundation of reality in " natural " agencies perfectly well-known 

 to such as have scientifically studied the action of the mind upon 

 the body. In regard to one form of these supposed miracles — the 

 casting out of devils — I suppose that I need not in these days 

 adduce any argument to disprove the old notion of " demoniacal 

 possession," in the face of the fact that the belief in such "posses- 

 sion " in the case of lunatics, epileptics, etc., and the belief in the 

 powers of " exorcists " to get rid of it, is still as prevalent among 

 Eastern nations as it was in the time of Christ. And I suppose, 

 too, that since travellers have found that the Pool of Bethesda is 

 fed by an intermittent spring, few now seriously believe in the 

 occasional appearance of an " angel " who moved its water ; or in 

 the cure of the first among the expectant sick who got himself 

 placed in it, by any other agency than his " faith " in the efficacy 

 of the means. I simply claim the right to a more extended 

 application of the same critical method. 



Secondly. Whether we have not a similar right to bring to 



* E. Kilian, in Fraser's Magazitie for December, 1875. 

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