Nature and the Supernatural. 81 



spiritual elements as modifying the physical chain to which they 

 do not belong, since he probably knows consequents from bread 

 pills and Dr. Beddoes' cure of paralysis by a thermometer placed 

 under the tongue, and, conversely, that the state of the soul will 

 arrest the process of physical antecedent to physical consequent, 

 so that medicine fails, as we say, to have its usual effect. And 

 yet it would seem improper to call this unnatural, or a violation 

 of nature's laws. 



The arresting of processes of dissolution and of the passage of 

 elements into new forms, followed by the rising again of the dead, 

 would be a most startling occurrence. We cannot easily, if at 

 all, imagine its antecedent. But the appearance of a new, intelli- 

 gent being in the physical universe (if my sixth postulate be 

 granted), is equally so. But we do not speak of a suspension of 

 laws or an " interposition " of the first cause in this case. There 

 are known physical antecedents so far and so far only as the new- 

 born child belongs to the physical universe. But no explanation 

 of the sequence which results in an intelligent human being can 

 be given. In the other case also, if well attested, will be physi- 

 cal circumstances excessively rare ; conditions which put verifica- 

 tion out of the question. The fact, if received, is to be received 

 on other grounds than those of physical science ; but the latter 

 has no valid Dbjection to present. I might bring forward an 

 analogy, of course, a feeble one, but a supposable case. Let us 

 suppose the galvanic current applied to a nerve still sensitive, in 

 a body which has lost its general life. A new combination of 

 physical antecedents. produces a result which is entirely new and 

 startling. But the order of nature is not suspended, although 

 only a few persons can verify the fact by renewing the same con- 

 ditions. So also it is at least conceivable (and that is all that I re- 

 quire) that a spiritual power, granting its existence (my sixth 

 postulate), should preserve that sensitiveness in a body called 

 dead, and subsequently restore to it its soul. The latter is a sub- 

 stance known only by its recognizable phenomena, by its opera- 

 tions in, on and through the bodily organs. The body then will 

 resume its normal functions. The man will live again. There I 

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