106 PROF. H. LANGHORNE ORCHARD, M.A., B.SC., ON 
and miracles are an integral part of that mission. Jesus of 
Nazareth was “a man approved of God . . . by mighty 
works and wonders and signs which God did through Him.”* 
It is evident that these three terms convey the character of a 
Bible miracle as impressing the mind with the presence and 
power of God (a “mighty work”)—as arousing and fixing 
attention (a “wonder”)—as accrediting the teaching and 
authority of His messenger (a “ sign”). Trench has a remarkt 
that miracles are very properly credentials, for “ Credulity is as 
real, if not so great, a sin as unbelief”; and, in the case of 
3ible miracles, the miracle is an important part of the 
revelation. 
(2) We have seen that a scientific investigation into their 
character leads to the conclusion that the Bible miracles did 
actually take place. Let us next investigate the conditions 
under which they are alleged to have occurred. What was the 
character of man? What the character of God? What the 
relations between God and man? ‘The character of man was 
that of a being who had not only fallen but was still falling, 
whose heart had departed from the Living God, so that he 
“worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.’t 
Man’s understanding had become darkened as, blinded by a 
foolish heart, he sought satisfaction in vicious indulgences. 
Wise men and philosophers from time to time arose and sighed 
for the lost knowledge of “ The Good,” and shook the torch of 
truth that so their fellows might see the better way. But 
human nature could in no wise lift up itself. The torch went 
out, the darkness grew thicker than before, and the result 
was the failure of the philosophy and the lamentation of the 
philosopher. Horace (Carm. iii, 6) draws a terrible picture— 
“ /Ktas parentum, pejor avis, tulit Nos nequiores, mox daturos 
Progeniem vitiosiorem.”§ Such was man’s moral and spiritual 
condition, such the bluntness of any spiritual perception he 
still retained that (as is remarked by Lias) it may be doubted 
whether any revelation from God, if unaccompanied by miracles, 
would have had power to command his attention. If, then, a 
revelation were made to him it would be accompanied by 
miracle, probably in order to insure its reception, in any case to 
increase its effectiveness. If the revelation was certain, the 
* Acts ii, 22. 
+ Notes, p. 21. C7. The Lord’s words in John v, 36 ; xv, 24. 
{ Romans i, 25. 
§ Cf Juvenal, Satires. 
