is so by
a natural quality, others by a divine gift. Perhaps it is on the
confines of both.

5. Ecclesiastical Miracles

What is the use of going on with this writer's criticisms upon me,
when I am confined to the dull monotony of exposing and oversetting
him again and again, with a persistence, which many will think
merciless, and few will have the interest to read? Yet I am obliged
to do so, lest I should seem to be evading difficulties.

Now as to Miracles. Catholics believe that they happen in any age of
the Church, though not for the same purposes, in the same number, or
with the same evidence, as in apostolic times. The apostles wrought
them in evidence of their divine mission; and with this object they
have been sometimes wrought by evangelists of countries since, as
even Protestants allow. Hence we hear of them in the history of St.
Gregory in Pontus, and St. Martin in Gaul; and in their case, as in
that of the apostles, they were both numerous and clear. As they are
granted to evangelists, so are they granted, though in less measure
and evidence, to other holy men; and as holy men are not found
equally at all times and in all places, therefore miracles are in
some places and times more than in others. And since, generally, they
are granted to faith and prayer, therefore in a country in which
faith and prayer abound, they will be more likely to occur, than
where and when faith and prayer are not; so that their occurrence is
irregular. And further, as faith and prayer obtain miracles, so still
more commonly do they gain from above the ordinary interventions of
Providence; and, as it is often very difficult to distinguish between
a providence and a miracle, and there will be more providences than
miracles, hence it will happen that many occurrences will be called
miraculous, which, strictly speaking, are not such, and not more than
providential mercies, or what are sometimes called "graces" or
"favours."

Persons who believe all this, in accordance with Catholic teaching,
as I did and do, they, on the report of a miracle, will of necessity,
the necessity of good logic, be led to say, first, "It _may_ be," and
secondly, "But I must have _good evidence_ in order to believe it."
It _may_ be, because miracles take place in all ages; it must be
clearly _proved_, because perhaps after all it may be only a
providential mercy, or an exaggeration, or a mistake, or an
imposture. Well, this is precisely what I have sai