Philosophic Theology: Or, Ultimate Grounds of All Religious Belief Based in Reason

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J. Russell, 1849 - 234 pages
 

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Page 120 - Whatever is contradictory to a complete induction is incredible," and quotes Mr. Mill's account of a complete induction : " When observations or experiments have been repeated so often and by so many persons as to exclude all supposition of error in the observer, a law of nature is established ; " and he asserts that a law of nature of this kind has been established against miracles.
Page 121 - But, in order that any alleged fact should be contradictory to a law of causation, the allegation must be, not simply that the cause existed without being followed by the effect, for that would be no uncommon occurrence ; but that this happened in the absence of any adequate counteracting cause. Now, in the case of an alleged miracle, the assertion is the exact opposite of this.
Page 121 - ... a miracle, as was justly remarked by Brown, is no contradiction to the law of cause and effect ; it is a new effect, supposed to be produced by the introduction of a new cause. Of the adequacy of that cause, if...
Page 69 - The results of our inquiry," he says in the closing chapter of his " Life of Jesus," " have apparently annihilated the greatest and most important part of that which the Christian has been wont to believe concerning his...
Page 150 - For no man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Page 121 - Now, in the case of an alleged miracle, the assertion is the exact opposite of this. It is, that the effect was defeated not in the absence, but in consequence of a counteracting cause — namely, a direct interposition of an act of the will of some Being who has power over Nature, and in particular of a Being whose will having originally endowed all the causes with the powers by which they produce their effects, may well be supposed able to counteract them.
Page 121 - All, therefore, which Hume has made out, and this he must be considered to have made out, is, that no evidence can be sufficient to prove a miracle to any one who did not previously believe the existence of a being or beings with supernatural power; or who believed himself to have full proof that the character of the being whom he recognizes, is inconsistent with his having seen fit to interfere on the occasion in question.
Page 120 - We cannot admit a proposition as a law of nature, and yet believe a fact in real contradiction to it. We must disbelieve the alleged fact, or believe that we were mistaken in admitting the sxipposed law.
Page 150 - For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father.
Page 161 - We must wait patiently until some one, either a god or some inspired man, teach us our moral and religious duties and, as Pallas in Homer did to Diomede, remove the darkness from our eyes.

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