THE SUPERNATURAL. 



But let us observe exactly where and how the 

 difficulty arises. The Reign of Law in Nature is, 

 indeed, so far as we can observe it, universal. 

 But the common idea of the Supernatural is that 

 which is at variance with natural Law, above it, 

 or in violation of it. Nothing, however wonder- 

 ful, which happens according to Natural Law, 

 would be considered by any one as Superna- 

 tural. The law in obedience to which a won- 

 derful thing happens may not be known ; but 

 this would not give it a supernatural character, 

 so long as we assuredly believe that it did 

 happen according to some law. Hence, it would 

 appear to follow that a man thoroughly pos- 

 sessed of the idea of Natural Law as universal, 

 never could admit anything to be supernatural ; 

 because on seeing any fact, however new, mar- 

 vellous, or incomprehensible, he would escape into 

 the conclusion that it was the result of some 

 natural Law of which he had before been ignorant. 

 No one will deny that, in respect to the vast 



dice such as are Divine, neither that from the unlocking of the 

 gates of sense, and the kindling of a greater natural light, anything 

 of incredulity or intellectual night may arise in our minds towards 

 Divine mysteries." — The Student's Prayer, Bacon's Works. 



