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Untitled Article
granted bysceptidal writers as a sort of axiom ; since , as fair as I havfc observed , they nave never attempted to support it by the shadow of argument or evidence . No one can shew that such exceptions are impossible , no one can bring any good argument to prove that they are even improbable . Nay , the reverse will be found nearer the truth . To those who take a just and philosophical view of the constitution of the universe , and who behold
in all the phenomena which it presents to their notice only the immediate exertions of Divine agency , I am persuaded that the minute precision with which these events are commonly brought about according to a fixed and regular system , —a precision which far transcends our powers of observation , and is only rendered more remarkable by the researches of modern science , —
will be a much more wonderful subject of contemplation than the occurrence of a few occasional exceptions . To the reflecting mind , the uniformity which is found to prevail would d priori be more incredible and mysterious than the frequent occurrence of deviations . The wonder should be , not that there are miracles , but that there are so few . It is not for his
own sake that the Deity observes a regular order in the government of the universe , but for the sake of his creatures . System andmethod are of no consequence to Him to whom every the minutest change is immediately and individually present . But to us , whose limited powers would be distracted and confounded by attempting separately to view the particula rs ^ they are indispensable . Here then we see the final cause , the true
explanation of the general laws of nature , and we ought to view them not only with astonishment , as a proof of infinite knowledge and power , but with admiration and gratitude , as a mark of equally unbounded wisdom and goodness . Mr . Bentham seems to take it for granted that the effect of a more extensive acquaintance with nature will always be to diminish the disposition to give credit to attested facts which appear extraordinary . " A fact which in Boeotia would not have been reckoned too improbable to be established by human testimony , would have been considered impossible by men of
learning in Rome or Athens . What these latter mi g ht have believed to be probable , would be classed among impossibilities by the philosophers of London and Paris . It has always been from men of the highest degree of intelligence that extraordinary and improbable facts have experienced the most steady opposition . " * This , however , is by no means universally true . The celebrated anecdote of the King of Siam , mentioned by Locke , is an instance to the contrary ; and , indeed , it would be unreasonable to presume , that in proportion as we become more familiar with the wonders
of the creation , our readiness to admit the possibility of p henomena which to the vulgar appear marvellous or incredible , should be increased . Relate to an ignorant man some of the prodigies of modern experimental science , and you will probably find him harder of belief than one who has already acquired a certain degree of familiarity with these subjects . We are not ,
therefore , to take it for granted , that a readiness to believe is a proof of ignorance , or that men become more sceptical as they advance in information . This , however , is a doctrine which unbelievers are naturally ready to espouse . They regard with no little complacency the prevalence of a maxim which represents the rejection of what others believe , to be an
infallible mark of a superior understanding ; on the strength of which they are accustomed to despise those easy , credulous fools who think it possible that P . 185 .
Untitled Article
396 Evidence for Improbable and Supernatural Pack .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1827, page 396, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1797/page/4/
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