ON MIRACLES. 207 



were abolished ; — nothiug but absolute being would remain 

 — being out of all relation ; and what that is we have 

 no means of knowing. The only intelligent conception 

 that we can form of life is that expressed by the word 

 '' experience/^ — bodily experience, mental experience ; and 

 experience is gained by change of bodily or mental 

 states, through the use of means qualified to bring about 

 such changes. That is, life is dependent upon contrivance. 

 The use of contrivance, or means to an end, is thus seen to be 

 not inconsistent with our notion of Infinite wisdom and 

 power ; for we could form no intelligent idea of human life 

 apart from the use of means, — that is, of contrivance. 



But, while I think this reply might be made with great 

 force to the objection supposed, yet the true answer is that 

 a miracle is an instance of God^s immediate personal action. 

 A miracle thus conceived is in relation to Him what an act of 

 volition is in relation to man. 



(c) A Miracle an Instance of Divine Volition ; analogous to the 

 exercise of Human Volition, 



The world, on the supposition of a creator, is God^s handi- 

 work. Its constitution and its order were impressed upon it 

 by Him. It is in relation to Him what a complicated piece 

 of machinery is in relation to its human maker. A miracle is 

 an instance of the exertion of His personal will in relation to 

 the world, analogous to the exertion of man's will in relation 

 to a piece of machinery. 



Let us suppose ourselves to be contemplating a piece of 

 machinery in action, — a turning-lathe, a steam mill, a weaving- 

 machine, for example, which is being worked and directed by 

 an agent invisible to us. 



The machine, whose wheels are turned by a crank, driven 

 by a piston, and whose speed is increased by a skilful adjust- 

 ment of the various wheels, and whose force thus regulated 

 is skilfully applied to the making of elaborate and costly 

 vessels or fabrics, elicits our admiration, as well by its mani- 

 festation of power as by its evidence of skill. We contem- 

 plate with wonder its power, its methods, its purpose; and 

 admire the wisdom and skill of its invisible director. But 

 while thus engaged the machine is thrown out of gear ; some 

 accident befalls it, — a cog flies ; the safety of the machine is 

 endangered. At this stage the operator or director, who is 

 invisible to us, introduces another instrnwevf , for the purpose 



