278 THE REV. CHANCELLOK LIAS^ M.A.^ ON 



point of a new development of humanity. From the time of 

 the appearance of Jesus Christ in human flesh a regenerating 

 power has been at work in the world altogether out of pro- 

 portion to any other that has ever influenced mankind. It is 

 therefore eminently reasonable, eminent!}^ scientific even to 

 contend that the supernatural forces demonstrably overruling 

 the forces of the natural world received their highest embodi- 

 ment in the supernatural life and work of Jesus Christ. 



Nor is this all. Not only is the miracle of the Incarnation 

 of Jesus Christ a tact in full harmony with the evolution of 

 living beings up to the moment of His appearance on the earth, 

 but there was also a moral and spiritual necessity for such an 

 Incarnation. The fall of man, if it is to be reconciled Avith the 

 justice and beneficence of God, presupposes his restoration. 

 Yet such restoration is not conceivable, except through the 

 regeneration of his nature, and the bringing him triumphant 

 out of the conflict with the evil influences that environ and 

 even permeate him. What method more natural than the 

 Incarnation of the Sou of God, His conflict with and victory 

 over all the malign powers which encompass and enthral man- 

 kind, and His infusion of His own Divine Spirit and character 

 into each individual of the race? And this regenerating 

 principle follows the laws of all Divine action. It is progres- 

 sive, and it is elevating. It does not lay hold first of the 

 spirit of man, the most utterly lost and degraded of the 

 elements of his nature, and thereby gradually impart new 

 energy to the rest. It ascends, according to the universal 

 character of the Divine plan, from the lower to the higher. 

 It appeals, in the first instance, to man's senses and his intel- 

 lect. The Divine life principle which is to save him appears 

 in human shape in the Man Christ Jesus. The Divine power 

 inhabiting Him cannot be hid, but breaks through the veil of 

 His humanity, and thus attracts the attention of men. That 

 attention is enhanced by the beauty of His moral teaching.. 

 Last of all. " In the Spirit He speaketh mysteries," He tells of 

 the marvels of regeneration, of redemption, of life in Him. 

 Then the spirit of man comes into contact with the Spirit of 

 God, the rudiments of the higher life are communicated, and 

 man passes from the psychical* to the spuitual state, enters 

 into that new life which ends in his complete transfiguration 

 into the Image of Christ . From this point of view miracles are 



* Our language has no word but this to express St. Paul's yj^vxiKos, 

 which is sometimes translated " natural " sometimes " sensual " in A. and 

 E.V. Each translation is quite inadequate. 



