MIRACLES, MARVELS, AND MYSTERIES.
By William S. Sadler
The Miraculous Element of the Bible.
WE are aware that many scientists and religionists of to-day deny the miraculous element in the Bible. We are equally aware that they have done nothing to disprove it. We are not disposed to accept this denial. The only evidence in disproof of the miracles of the Bible brought forward by modern skepticism and criticism is included under three heads: - "We can not understand these miracles."
- "We do not see such things happening to-day."
- "They are contrary to the established order of nature."
None of these reasons is sufficient to overthrow the miraculous element of the Gospels. The scientist is surrounded on every hand by things he can not understand; in fact, he can not fully and satisfactorily explain a single fact observed in the energy and life of modern chemistry and biology. Still, these sciences are accepted, notwithstanding our ignorance of many of their fundamental laws. Again, the geologist accepts the records of mountain and vale, and upon them builds vast theories and fancies, altho he does not see such things happening to-day as have taken place in past ages; yet when it comes to the Bible miracles, they are to be rejected on the very grounds which are sufficient to accept everything else on! Who told the critic that the Gospel miracles were worked contrary to, or in violation of, natural law? What evidence is there that any of these laws of nature were broken? Who has proved that the divine unknown law of miracles is contrary to the, at best, partially understood laws of nature? Let these questions be answered before we presume to make positive statements as to how miracles were wrought. This question of miracles, the relation of God to nature, etc., constitutes an arena in which many fierce struggles are destined to take place in the closing experiences of the Gospel. It is our purpose here to but briefly call attention to a few fundamental things, and point out the stepping-stones of error in connection with the study of God and nature. It must be recognized that in modern scientific and religious tendencies there are two great extremes and wholly erroneous views of God and His relation to His universe. a. Materialism.—By whatever name the materialist is known, he may ever be identified by this one all-pervading teaching; namely, "Nature is all; nature is the reality of God." While the materialist may theoretically concede the personality of God, yet it will always be found that he worships a god without intelligent control of his universe, and without absolute control of the laws of nature. b. Pantheism.—To the pantheist, the "supernatural is all contained in nature." While pantheism may concede a God who has absolute and intelligent control of the universe, yet it is always a God without personality. So it will appear that both views are un-Biblical. Neither the materialist nor the pantheist can believe in miracles; for when we get to the bottom of it, neither class believes that God exists apart from nature. They do not regard nature as the habit of God. They do not regard God as working intelligently in and thru nature. Therefore, miracles within the Bible meaning of the term are unknown to these false systems of belief. Natural science is simply man watching God work. There is the will of an intelligent and Almighty Person behind the operations of nature. They are orderly; they are according to law. Every created thing bears the stamp of "a manufactured article." It must also be recognized that the miracles of God may be of two classes—miracles of Creative Power, and of Controlling Providence. Both are subject to the will of the Infinite. The habits of God, as reflected in nature, are governed by principle, not by rule. (But it must be remembered that the nature we view to-day has been distorted by sin and marred by transgression.) What man terms "natural law" is in reality but8a glimpse of the principles of God's character which are being unfolded in the physical world. The discrepancy between miracles and nature does not prove that God has violated His own laws in the working of the miracle; it merely reflects the ignorance of man concerning the laws of nature. The very term "miraculous" signifies, not that the act is against law, but that its laws are unknown—that is, unknown to man. Miracles might fittingly be compared with comets, which seem to be irregular and unclassified, but further study of many comets has shown that they are regular in their irregularity. To judge a miracle as out of harmony with the laws of God is equivalent to saying that we in our finite state know all the laws of God. We would, therefore, make a difference between the ordinary wonder-working of God in the natural world, as revealed at every turn in the open but mysterious book of nature, and the extraordinary and instantaneous miracle-working recorded in the Bible, which God has effected thru His prophets, His Son, the apostles, and His church. In conclusion, we would call attention to the fact that while universal life, energy, and power have their origin in, and proceed from, God, they are diffused thru our world by various channels which are wholly distinct and different. It is true the Scriptures declare that God is the "fountain of life," and that the psalmist also says "power belongeth unto God;" but while there is in the universe but a single fountainhead of power and life, there are several distinct and separate channels of its communication to our world.
W. S. SADLER, M.D.