tions. As if to prevent such an error, we find a sort of opposing law-the diffusion of gases. The diffusion is not more capable of scientific explanation than are the ancient miracles. Make an experiment:-Hydrogen is the lightest body known. Take a bottle of it, and by means of a narrow glass tube connect it vertically with a bottle of oxygen-a much heavier gas, the oxygen being below. The oxygen, despite the action of gravity, will ascend a complete mixture of the two gases in both bottles being the result. Other examples are afforded by the chemical combination of light bodies which become heavier in the process, and of heavier bodies which become lighter.

An unbeliever may fairly say that results which he can produce, as often as he will, do not help him to accept a miracle-a result which he cannot produce. Reply-Miracles are refused on the plea that they break the uniformity of nature, but if that uniformity is broken in upon by nature itself, so that the law of gravity, which altereth not, is set at nought, or superseded, or controlled, by the law of diffusion of gases and by vital action; these facts, capable of repetition according to our will, are analogous to other facts, or miracles, which can only be produced by the Divine Will. That the natural marvels are permanent, but the miracles temporary, renders the former useful as abiding witnesses and symbols of the latter.

Isomerism, a term applied to bodies containing the same elements, united in the same proportions, but differing in their physical, physiological, and chemical properties, exhibits marvels of surprising character. Things possessing the same elements, in like number and pro

portions, may so differ, through some hidden process that their physical, chemical, physiological properties become and remain permanently dissimilar. If a man retort-" All this no more concerns miracles than water does wine;" we reply "Even so, but the water was made wine."

Electricity and magnetism are full of mysteries. Take a cube, or sphere of copper, suspend it by a twisted cord; so that it be made to spin, by untwisting, between the poles of an electro-magnet. It experiences the retardation due to friction only; but, on the supervention of the magnetic force, the rotation is suddenly arrested. Faraday showed by an interesting experiment, that in passing a plate of copper rapidly to and fro between the magnetic poles, you seem to be cutting cheese, though nothing is visible: space becomes as if it were a kind of solid. This human use of the visible, in invisible operation, for production of tangible effects, is a natural symbol of the supernatural.

Various miracles of preservation, and of destruction, have natural analogies in the preservation of ice amidst flame, in the ignition of phosphoretted hydrogen at ordinary temperature, the burning of air in coal-gas, in combustion proceeding without flames, and in those experiments by which light is extracted from darkness, and heat from cold. It is true that these facts, though enlarged and multiplied a hundred-fold, are not equivalents of miracles; but they show an unexplainable permanent variety somewhat akin to various inexplicable temporary varieties.

Phosphorus may be yellow, or white like porcelain, or black, or red. In the clear transparent form it is

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yellow, soft, a wax-like body, tasteless; but, in solution, it is of a sharp pungent flavour. Common phosphorus, melted and then suddenly cooled to 32° F., becomes. black. The yellow is made of a dull red colour, without taste and odour, by heating in an atmosphere in which it cannot oxidize. The red variety is not poisonous. All the others are active poisons. Do not count little fishes worth nothing—except in relation to your own inside. Even as there are visible and invisible things on this side the curtain, they are not all invisible on the other side: they may come into view as Heaven-sent manna. What we perceive is almost infinitesimal as compared with the whole; for we cannot set bounds to the Infinite Being, nor to His works; and "for all we can ever know there may be endless aspects of existence unimaginable to us" (Spinoza, Frederick Pollock, p. 167).

Oxygen, sustainer of life, and the great burner-up of dead organic matter, is—when compressed-the most fearful poison known. This reminds one of knowledge, that sweet pure light which guides our well handling of life's daily things; but delighted in, to the neglect of that inward presence of generous purpose which by hidden music prompts our action toward some great good, we look at holy things as a delusion; or see them with soul unstirred, and the spirit dies.

Sulphur, when separated from a compound at the positive pole of the battery, is soluble in carbonic. disulphide; when separated at the negative pole of the battery, it is insoluble in carbonic disulphide. Heated to 280° F., it becomes liquid; continue and increase the heat to 350° F., then it is so thick and viscid that it will not fall from the inverted vessel. At from 350° to

500° F., the fluidity is restored, and it takes a dull brown colour. Pour it then into cold water and the elastic variety is produced. In cooling it passes inversely through the same stages; becoming viscous, then fluid, and finally solid. We have here physical analogies of our mental states; and natural pictures of some supernatural changes, recorded in Scripture, concerning the lifting up of things into new and unwonted uses. In other words-"the inner and the outer world are not really different and parallel, but one and the same world under two aspects" (Spinoza, by Frederick Pollock, p. 178). If we do not endeavour to bring our particular work to the level of that we see to be best, then—

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The devil tempts us not-'tis we tempt him,
Beckoning his skill with opportunity."

Allotropism, or the capability of compound bodies, having the same percentage and molecular composition, of existing in more than one shape, finds startling and surpassing examples amongst the old marvels. There are manifold changes in the nature of things which science can only register, not explain; strange and incomprehensible marvels which show that we cannot draw a line between acts of God which seem to require no intermediate agent, and the results or effects produced by what seem ordinary mechanical operations. They do not reduce miracles to a level with inexplicable physical facts, the facts are merely a ladder by which we obtain a higher view.

Accounts of falling stones, darkness and light, sudden appearances of stars, are exemplified in the fall of aërolites, in the October and November meteors, in the

various mysterious darknesses related in the history of astronomy; in the appearances, disappearances, and blazings forth of stars into splendour, of which there are many historic records. These analogies, some permanent, others periodic, some frequent, others of rare occurrence, are exhibitions of variety, startling and extensive, in which Nature prophesies of the miraculous.

"There are more things in heaven and earth
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy;"

and we wisely maintain that there is a possibility of phenomena which do not so much oppose as transcend the Laws of Physics.

Miracles have similitudes in those natural changes by which similar become dissimilar. In chemical combination, for example, we obtain effects which bear no resemblance sensibly, chemically, physically, or physiologically, to the constituent elements. Indeed we have no means of estimating the force of affinity absolutely, and very uncertain means of estimating it relatively. Like will consort with like, or will refuse; negatives will agree, or differ yet more. Strychnia, a deadly poison, is formed by the combination of those harmless bodies -carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen. Sulphuric acid, a corrosive poison, is made by the combination of sulphur, hydrogen, oxygen. In vital action, by means of a fluid, all the elements of growth and nutrition are elaborated, and the various secretions have their composition determined. Our rising from sleep, and those resurrections, not uncommon, from death-like torpor and apparent insensibility, are parables of the resurrection; though raising the dead, marvellous as