Notes On the Miracles Of Our Lord (Twin Brook Series)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1847. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. THE APOLOGETIC WORTH OF THE MIRACLES. A Most interesting question remains: namely this, What is the place which those who are occupied with marshalling and presenting the evidences of Revelation should give to the miracles ? what is the service which they may render here ? The circumstances have been already noticed which were sufficient to hinder them from taking a very prominent place in the early Apologies for Christianity*. The Christian miracles had not sufficiently extricated themselves from the multitude of false miracles,--nor was Christ sufficiently discerned and distinguished from the various wonder-workers of his own and of past ages ; so that, even if men had admitted his miracles to be true and godlike, they would have been hardly nearer to the acknowledging of Christianity as the one faith, or of him as " the way, the truth, and the life." But a different and far more important position has been assigned them in later times, especially during the last two hundred years; and the tone and temper of modern theology abundantly explains the greater prominence, sometimes, I believe, the undue, because the exclusive, prominence, which in this period they have assumed. The apologetic literature of this time, partook, as was inevitable, in the general depression of all its theology. There is no one, I think, who would now be satisfied with the general tone and spirit in which the defences of the faith, written during the two last centuries, and beginning with the memorable work of †Thus, in the Apologies of Justin Martyr, they are scarcely made use of at all. It is otherwise indeed with Arnobius, who {Adv. Gen., 1. 1, c. 42,) lays much stress on them. Speaking of the truth of Christianity and of Christ's mission, he says, Nulla major est comp...