203
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
April 1926______
M i r a c l e s ! Are They Probable? DR. ARTHUR T. PIERSON Herewith is presented the second and con cluding part o f this convincing article by the great “ Prince of Preachers. The first sec tion, entitled "Miracles! Are They Pos sible?" appeared in the March number. |S there anything Incredible In a miracle? Of course, If It be established at all, It must be by the evidence of the senses to immediate witnesses; and by their testimony to others who do not have the proof of the senses. Are we to accept testimony on this subject? All questions of historic fact must be settled only by testimony: many matters of scientific fact are settled by testimony, for thou sands who have no time, knowledge, opportunity for per sonal Investigation; and yet we feel certain of historic facts and scientific discoveries. Of course, If miracles wrought by Christ, and by prophets and apostles, are to be made credible to us, it can be by no other evidence than that of testimony. On what basis, then, rests the assertion that miracles are not credible? Are they not supported by testimony? Are there no witnesses? Are the witnesses not competent or trustworthy? If these were the ground of the attack, it would be easy to show how unsafe and unsound it Is; for If on any subject, we have abundance of testimony and that of the most credible sort, It is with respect to miracles. No other religion ever dared to make its appeal to mir acles, and to rest Its appeal on miracles! Where and when miraculous wonders have been claimed, It has not been as decisive signal tests, by which the claims of such religions should stand or fall. It is one thing to challenge an unbe liever to try a religion by Its miracles, and quite another to ask a believer to accept them as part of a system in which he already believes. A man may not marry a woman because of her poverty or her fortune, or a wen on her neck, who will, if he first loves the woman, take her with poverty or wealth, and wen beside: When a religion approaches a man and boldly says: “ God bears me witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles,” it meets him with a challenge; it bids him dispute its claims if he dare, by first disproving its signs if he can. But when a man has already become a disciple, for example, of Mohammed, he is disposed to receive his miracles~as genuine without any witness but his word; and so the religious system instead of being based on these miracles as its proof, rather becomes the basis which sup plies them with proof. But Christianity starts by bidding us apply these severe tests. If we can even disprove one miracle, the resurrection of Christ, St. Paul confesses that the whole structure falls; “ our preaching is vain; your faith is vain.” The grandeur of this bold challenge to try the Christian faith by the test of miracles, needs to be carefully con sidered, to be appreciated. Mohammed did not claim miraculous powers, though, centuries after, they were claimed for him; and such mar-
UGHT AFTER DARKNESS F rances R idley H avergal Light after darkness, Gain after loss; Strength after weakness, Crown after cross, Sweet after bitter, Hope after fears, Home after wandering, Praise after tears. Sjheaves after sowing, Sun after rain, Sight after mystery, Peace after pain; Joy after sorrow, Calm after blast, Rest after weariness, Sweet rest at last. Near after distant, Gleam after gloom, Love after loneliness, Life after tomb; A fter long agony, Rapture o f bliss, Right was the pathway Leading to this.
vels as he did Impose on the credulity of his followers, he took good pains not to make dependent
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker