INTRODUCTION. THERE have been many, in every age of the World, who have either openly maintained, or at least secretly imagined, that a single unquestionable miracle, wrought before their eyes in proof of Revelation, would at once chase away from their minds every cloud of doubt and uncertainty. The futility of this very plausible notion has been often exposed. It is contradicted by the testimony of our own consciences when rightly and fairly consulted; for true self-knowledge must convince us that the evil plant of unbelief springs from a deeper root than simple incredulity.—But let the supposition be made that this Sign or 'Manifestation' from Heaven were actually granted-that every individual had been enlightened by a direct and conspicuous Revelation—are we justified in supposing that the tongue of blasphemy would be for ever silenced-that the webs of B sophistry would be scattered to the winds-that the hosts of infidelity would never again assault our Zion? This we are by no means entitled to expect it is far more likely that such assaults, instead of losing any portion of their force or malignity, would only assume a new direction. We should then be reminded that human senses are fallible, that imagination is ever liable to mislead the judgment, that our powers of observation are limited, and our memory deceitful; or perhaps recourse would be had to some theory, which (like those of Pyrrho and Bishop Berkeley) might throw into doubt the reality of our perceptions. While Mankind continue morally constituted as they are at present, the spirit of unbelief will, under every degree of light, continue to operate-its partizans will always find new weapons ready made to their hands-new artifices prepared for every emergency-and they will employ these with vigour and perseverance, though they should live amidst the blaze of open miracles. Now if the proof of Christianity entirely depended upon direct Manifestations' of divine Power, the slightest doubt with which infidels could shake our belief in their certainty, would disturb the whole fabric. We may hence learn the advantage which arises from the various and complex nature of the evidences which we actually |