19 Jan y 1814

Jug. True

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Ch.1. Proofs & disproofs

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§.1. Proofs

Miracles and Prophecies—under one or other of these heads may be comprized whatsoever evidences come as above under the notion of supernatural evidences.

By the term miracle seems to be understood any such reported or imagined operation or state of things as which, supposing it really to have had place would be either a violation of some one or more of the rules commonly distinguished by the application of the laws of nature, or to such a degree unconformable to the ordinary course of nature, as but for the application made of it to the purpose in quesition would appear too improbable—too widely unconformable to present a just claim to evidence.

By the term prophecy, upon any such an occasion as the present, seems to be understood, any prediction inso far as the foreknowledge of which it is the expression is considered as incapable of being obtained, or at any rate as not having actually been obtained otherwise than by supernatural means: viz. to wit by means of particular information communicated in some nknown anner by God himself.

By the description thus given of it, a prophecy may already be seen to be considered as being itself but a species of miracle: but being in its nature so different from every thing else to which the term miracle was ever applied, hence be seen the necessity of preserving it in possession of that separate denomination which has ever hitherto been employed in speaking of it.

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Supernatural evidence

1. Miracles 2. Prophecies

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1. Miracles, what—an operation which, supposing it to have happened, was

1. a violation of some known law of Nature

2. a fact i.e. event or state of things so unconformable to the ordinary course of it, but for the application made of it would be deemed incredible.

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2. Prophecy, what—a manifestation of a foreknowledge, too extraordinary to be obtained otherwise than by miracle.

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Hence, considered as probative, a prophecy is a species of miracle: but so different from others as to demand a distinct denomination.