performed in special and peculiar cases, generally brought about by divine guidance, and the power to do the miracles is always attributed to God.

In the case of the raising of the widow's son from the dead by Elijah, the record expressly states that Elijah was specially sent to the widow and that he prayed directly to God for power to restore the dead child to life. (1 Kings xvii.)

In the case of the Shunamite's son, restored to life by Elisha, the record shows that Elisha first sent his servant with his staff, with instructions to place the staff on the dead child; but the dead was not thus awakened. Elisha then went to the home of the Shunamite woman; and after going into the room with the child he shut the door and "prayed unto the Lord," and the child was restored to life. (2 Kings iv. 33.)

(b) According to the record, Jesus Christ possessed the power of himself to raise the dead, a power that no man ever possessed or attempted to exercise. He says of himself:

"For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will." (John v. 21.)

(c) Jesus not only had the power of himself to raise the dead and work other miracles, but, accord

ing to the record, he possessed the power to commission others to do so.

"And when he had called unto him his
twelve disciples, he gave them power
against unclean spirits, to cast them out,
and to heal all manner of sickness and all
manner of disease.
Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
devils." (Matt. x. 1, 8.)

(d) The disciples, being empowered by Christ Jesus to work miracles, afterwards performed miracles in his name. The lame man who was laid at the gate of the temple to ask alms of those who entered the temple to worship was healed by Peter in Christ's name.

"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts iii. 6.)

This was the first miracle performed by any of the apostles after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, and in consequence of it the great persecution of the Christians that started at Jerusalem was begun.

Peter and John were imprisoned for healing the lame man; and having been brought out of prison the next day and being questioned as to the author

ity by which they had healed him, Peter declared expressly that it had been done in the name of Jesus Christ.

"And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole." (Acts iv. 5-10.)

God never delegated to any human being the authority to confer on others the power to perform miracles, and no mere man ever possessed the power to work miracles of himself. Hence the very facts, if we are to believe the record, that Jesus Christ possessed the power to work miracles of himself and that he had the authority to delegate miraculous power to others, show beyond all controversy that he was divine, that he was God.

4. The biographers of Jesus who testify as to the miracles measure up to the standard of credible witnesses, and they are corroborated by the facts and circumstances.

I return now to the first proposition and take up for examination the question as to whether Christ actually performed the miracles attributed to him.

It is unnecessary here to enter into a discussion of the question as to how miracles are performed, whether by a violation or suspension of the order of nature or by the expression of a supernatural will in accordance with the laws of nature; but it is sufficient to say that all thoughtful men recognize the fact that a miracle can be produced only by divine power.

I lay down this simple proposition for discussion in this chapter:

Nothing can perform a miracle except divinity. Jesus Christ performed miracles.

Therefore Jesus Christ is divine.

I do not think the first premise in the foregoing syllogism will be seriously disputed; and I apprehend that the conclusion will be as readily accepted, provided the minor premise is established. I recognize the fact, however, that a real and serious controversy hinges about the minor premise.

Those who originally wrote the life of Jesus Christ as contained in the four Gospels present to us the picture of one going from place to place working miracles almost daily; and we must either believe this picture to be a pure fabrication, or we must confess the divinity of the one who wrought the miracles.

In ordinary controversies the genuineness of the record is admitted, but in attempting to maintain the affirmative of the issue as to whether Jesus Christ actually performed the miracles attributed to him by his biographers we are confronted with the fact that the genuineness of the record is challenged. However, the existence at present of the books composing the New Testament cannot be denied; and I propose to take up here the question of the credibility of the witnesses, leaving for discussion in subsequent chapters the question whether the books were written at the times claimed by the friends of Jesus or by the authors named.

These books name certain persons who, it is alleged, were the disciples of Jesus and witnesses of the miracles described therein.

Now, the testimony of a witness is strengthened or weakened according to the opportunities the witness has had for knowing the facts about which he