The Historical Proofs of Christianity [pp. 223-247]

THE PRINCETON RE VIE W.
passages, that the age of miracles had gone by and that their
own times were in marked contrast, in this respect, with the era
of the apostles.
3. The miracles related by the Fathers are mostly exorcisms,
the healing of the sick, and visions-that is, occurrences where
natural agencies are most easily mistaken for supernatural. Miracles, in which this error is impossible, lack sufficient attestation.
The true view on this subject appears to be that miraculous
manifestations in the Church ceased gradually. No sharp line
of demarcation can be drawn marking off the age of miracles
from the subsequent period when the operation of the divine
Providence and Spirit was no longer palpably distinguished from
the movements of natural law.
As we advance into the fourth century, called the Nicene
age, we meet with a notable increase in the number of alleged
miracles. Yet Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine, speak of the
apostolic age as distinguished from their own as having been a
period marked by miracles. Notwithstanding the high merits
of the authors of the Nicene era, they discover more and more
the artificial rhetorical tone which had now come to infest literature. There was a habit of thought and style which tends to
breed exaggeration. It was a period of decadence. Relicworship, the invocation of martyrs and saints, and like superstitions, established themselves in the Church, and the alleged
miracles were frequently associated with these customs. A spirit
of credulity gained ground. Moreover, an examination of the
miracles described by Augustine shows how little reason there
was to assume a supernatural agency in these cases. For example, instances of healing are given which are now known to
result not unfrequently from natural causes. Other supposed
miracles of a more portentous character rest upon no testimony
which is of any value. The evidence for most of the post-apostolic miracles which the Fathers advert to melts away on examination.
The standing argument at the present day against the credibility of the evangelists is the precedent afforded by the biographers of "the saints," and of the incredible marvels which
they mingle with authentic history. To some it is no matter of
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