NATURAL LAW AND MIRACLE. 



55 



independent of experience and of the association supplied by- 

 experience. Its formula is, " Every effect flows from some cause, 

 and like effects flow from like causes." Without the causal principle 

 science cannot advance a step — it is far more than a " working 

 hypothesis." Were it really opposed to belief in miracle, we should 

 have to " consider of it " ; but, in reality, the belief in miracle finds 

 in the (true) causal principle invincible support, complete justification. 



I cannot accept the definition of a " miracle " on page 50, which 

 appears to include such things as radium, wireless telegraphy, etc. 



Colonel Mackinlay writes : — I heartily agree with the con- 

 clusions of Dr. von Gerdtell that miracles may be considered as 

 facts, as soon as satisfactory proofs of their historic credibility have 

 been furnished — and they have been furnished. 



Though our author's definition of natural law, given on page 38, is 

 excellent, he hardly seems to have adhered to it throughout his 

 paper, as for instance, when he considers the astronomical ideas 

 before the time of Copernicus (page 47). There is surely a great 

 difference between the laws of nature and the theories or working 

 hypothesis deduced from them, which are liable to constant change. 



Hume"^ wrote of a miracle as " a violation of the laws of nature," 

 and as " a transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition 

 of the Deity." But these are very erroneous methods of expression. 



Augustinef wrote, " How can that be contrary to nature, which 

 takes place by the will of God, seeing that the will of the Great 

 Creator is the true nature of everything created? So miracle is 

 not contrary to nature, but only to what we know of natui'e." 

 Dr. Sanday,J commenting on this remarkable passage, wrote, 

 " Miracle is not really a breach of the order of nature ; it is only 

 an apparent breach of laws that we know, in obedience to other 

 and higher laws that we do not know." The late Duke of Argyll§ 

 wrote, " Miracles may be wrought by the selection and use of 

 laws of which man knows and can know nothing, and which, if he 

 did know them, he could not employ." 



Far from miracles involving violations of law, it would appear 

 from scripture that they are performed in accordance with it — 



Pkilosophicat Works, vol. iv, pp. 93-105. 

 t De civitate Dti, xvi, 8. 



X The Life of Christ in Recent Research, p. 216. (1907.) 

 § The Reign of Laic, p. 16. 



