DISCUSSION 111 



we cannot assume that there is any arbitrary and 

 capricious interference with the orderly course of 

 events in the universe. The theist, on the contrary, 

 says that there is a personal Creator, who imposed 

 the laws of nature and therefore can alter them 

 arbitrarily at any moment. This is perfectly logical. 

 Belief in miracles cannot be uprooted by logic. 

 But we may question nature, and ask ourselves 

 whether we can really observe any instance in 

 which the laws of nature are set aside. 



As evidence against the occurrence of miracles, 

 the professor related an experience of his younger 

 days, which made a great impression upon him. 

 He was standing once in Rome on a bridge over 

 the Tiber, and was talking to a priest about miracles. 

 The priest pointed to the river, saying : ' Look, 

 the Tiber flows as a rule downward, but just at that 

 spot it makes a counter-current.' Professor Plate 

 answered : ' My worthy friend, if that is a miracle, 

 then certainly miracles do take place.' 



I believe that the question of the possibility 

 and actual occurrence of miracles cannot be 

 settled so simply as Professor Plate here 

 suggests. In the first place, we must notice 

 that the monist who proclaimed the eternity 

 and the inviolability of the laws of nature, 

 is asserting far more than he can prove. The 

 utmost that he is justified in saying is that, 

 as a scientist, he knows of no beginning to these 



