AGNOSTICISM 319 



natural processes and also to believe in miracles. I 

 do not see that the raising of the dead by supernat- 

 ural power would be any more of a break in the con- 

 tinuity of the action of natural forces than would be 

 the lifting of a stone by the hand of man. In each 

 case a superior force is introduced to overcome phys- 

 ical forces and to produce a result that would not 

 otherwise have been produced. 



When we lift a stone there is no break in the con- 

 tinuity of the action of gravity, and in raising the 

 dead there would be no break in the action of the 

 forces of nature, but, in spite of the action of these 

 forces, a new result would be produced by the action 

 of the superior force. 



Miracles, special providences, and revelations, may, 

 for ought we know, have a place in the universe with 

 as much consistency with the laws of nature as has 

 the mind of man in the affairs of the earth. Nor is 

 it necessary to regard these things as " patch-work," 

 or " tinkering " with the laws of nature, or "after- 

 thought," but they may be a part of the infinite plan 

 and consistent with all else. 



These things are consistent with the indestructibil- 

 ity of matter, with the correlation and conservation 

 of energy, and with the uniformity of law, and the 

 continuity of natural processes. 



The action of mind destroys neither matter nor 

 force, nor the laws of, nature, nor continuity of action 

 of the forces of nature; and yet, mind, by its control 

 of matter and force, produces an endless number of 

 diversified . results. 



Agnosticism, by denying our right to affirm the ex- 

 istence of an Intelligent. Creator, sweeps away at one 

 stroke all that flows from a belief in the existence of 

 such a Power. Eevelations, miracles and special 

 providences — all are impossible. All human testi- 



