OP MIRACLES. ' 47 



Hence another attempt has been made towards the 

 folution of miracles. They are now to be a confe- 

 quence, exifting by a caufe, the natural power where- 

 of it feems to exceed 



Here no more than two cafes are conceivable. Ei- 

 ther the effect related actually, and not merely in ap- 

 pearance, exceeds the meafure of the power of its 

 caufe ; or it barely feems to exceed the power ©f the 

 caufe which we fee acting by it. 



In the former cafe, we mull directly reject the rela- 

 tion of fuch fact as fabulous ; becaufe the matter re- 

 lated is abfolutely impoffible. For it is a law of na- 

 ture, admitting of no exception, that the caufe muft 

 ever be proportionate to its effect. The want of pro- 

 portion between the caufe and its effect, is therefore a 

 * thing phyiically impoffible. Whereas, on the other 

 hand, it is very phyiical that a narrator may lie, or be 

 miftaken. 



In the other cafe ; if, namely, the perceived effect, 

 only feems to exceed the power of its caufe, but does 

 not actually exceed it, then there is no reafon at all 

 for terming the occurrence a miracle. For the effect 

 is perfectly adequate to the power therefore to the 

 nature — of the acting fubject, and in fo far as it ap- 

 pears to us, or is a part of the fennble world, we need 

 not, in confequence of the above-mentioned law of na- 

 ture, go to feek its caufe beyond the confines of poffi- 

 ble experience, in the intelligible world. 



* Miraculum eft eventus cauflse. alicujus nutu & au&oritate 

 exfiftens, cujus naturales vires excedere omnino viJeri debeat* 

 Feder, Inftit. metaph. 



Be- 



