208 KEV. H. C. M. WATSON 



of correcting tlie fciult^ — and, withoufc stopping the nmcliine 

 for a second, corrects the fault and repairs the wheel. The 

 machine is repaired skilfully and effectively, and continues to 

 produce vessels or fabrics. Would not such an instance im- 

 press us deeply with a sense of the skill and power of the 

 operator ? The only reflection we might feel disposed to 

 make would be, why was not the machine made of better 

 material, — material without fault, — and thus the danger arising 

 from its breakage avoided ? And this reflection is suffi- 

 ciently met by the reply that it was made of the best material 

 available. 



The application of this illustration to the case of miracles 

 is evident. This world is, in a sense, a machine, whose Builder 

 and Director is the Invisible God. He made it for his own 

 glory; and all its several parts are designed to contribute to that 

 end. Through disobedience, it has failed to fulfil the purpose 

 for which He created it. All the foundations of the earth are 

 out of course. The defection is evident to all. At this stage 

 God, by the introduction of a miraculous dispensation, — 

 the sending of prophets and apostles, the mission of His 

 Son, — seeks to correct the "fault." The miraculous dispensa- 

 sation is the introduction of another instrument for the cor- 

 rection of the fault, and so of restoring the world to obedience. 

 Such a dispensation, which has been improperly described as 

 a contrivance, is no impeachment of Divine wisdom or 

 power. On the contrary, if it achieve the purpose for which 

 it is introduced ; if it effectually remove the stain of sin from 

 God's universe; if it restore His world to Himself and secure 

 its happiness upon an immutable foundation,- — and these are 

 the ends ascribed to it in the sacred writings, — it is evidence 

 of wisdom and power which can only be described as Infinite. 

 It is true that such a dispensation suggests an objection, not 

 against itself, but in respect to the condition of things which 

 made a miraculous dispensation necessary. Why, it may be 

 asked, was man made subject to vanity ? And to this ques- 

 tion, which has pressed for solution from earliest ages, we 

 have no reply. We can only say, — What we know not now 

 we shall know hereafter. But the objection does not emerge 

 for the first time in relation to miracles. It is one that 

 belongs to any conception of life that may be formed, either 

 by Christian or infidel. Evil is in the world (call it by what- 

 ever name we will), and the existence of a miraculous dis- 

 pensation to correct it does not add to the mystery, but is in 

 the direction of explaining it. A miraculous dispensation. 



