208 THE UNIVERSE 



and will which evolve the art of controlling, and 

 masters the great powers of nature. 



Therefore, we must look to the powers of the mind 

 to subdue all other powers. This it does by con- 

 structive reason and vitalizing faith. By construc- 

 tive reason it builds bridges, tunnels mountains, 

 operates engines, telegraphs and all the appliances 

 of modern commerce. By vitalizing faith it renews 

 and strengthens body and soul, and seems to work 

 the miracles of God. 



Prof. Osier says : " Faith is a most precious com- 

 modity. Faith is the great lever of life. Without 

 it man can do nothing, with it all things are pos- 

 sible. Galen says : ' Confidence and hope do more 

 good than physic.' Faith in the gods or the saints 

 cures one, faith in little pills another, hypnotic sug- 

 gestion a third, and faith in a plain, common doctor 

 a fourth. In all ages the prayer of faith has healed 

 the sick, and the mental attitude of the suppliant 

 seems to be of more consequence than the powers 

 to which the prayer is addressed." 



Miracles, says criticism, belong to an age of igno- 

 rance. With the dawn of knowledge they diminish. 

 In its meridian light they disappear. 



The Jews were eminently addicted to belief in 

 miracles. With them there was satanic miracle as 

 well as divine. They believed in persons being pos- 

 sessed by devils, and all efforts to disentangle them 

 from the demoniac miracles and to resolve them into 

 cures of lunacy by moral influence was vain. 



Comte totally discards belief in God, but, feeling 

 the need of a religion, substituted the worship of 

 humanity. Humanity is an abstraction by itself, 

 but combined with the Christianity and the mono- 



