THE SUPERNATURAL. 19 



Christianity spread by Divine power; whereas 

 he only succeeds in pointing out some of the 

 means which were employed to effect a Divine 

 purpose. In like manner, the preservation of the 

 Jews as a distinct People during so many cen- 

 turies of complete dispersion, is a fact standing 

 nearly if not absolutely alone in the history of the 

 world. It is at variance with all other experience 

 of the laws which govern the amalgamation with 

 each other of different families of the human race. 

 The case of the Gipsies has been -referred to as 

 somewhat parallel. But the facts of this case are 

 doubtful and obscure, and such of them as we know 

 involve conditions altogether dissimilar in kind. 

 It is not surprising, therefore, that the preserva- 

 tion of the Jews, partly from the relation in 

 which it stands to the apparent fulfilment of Pro- 

 phecy, and partly from the extraordinary nature 

 of the fact itself, is tacitly assumed by many 

 persons to come strictly within the category 

 of miraculous events. Yet in itself it is no- 

 thing more than a striking illustration how a 

 departure from the " ordinary course of nature " 

 may be effected through the instrumentality 



