pen of inspiration--here truth with impartial hand dips her
pencil, now in brighter, now in darker colors, and thus draws her
characters to the very life. Dr. Beattie justly says, "The style of
the Gospel bears intrinsic evidence of its truth. We find there no
appearance of artifice or party spirit; no attempt to exaggerate on
the one hand, or depreciate on the other; no remarks thrown in to
anticipate objections, nothing of that caution which never fails to
distinguish the testimony of those who are conscious of imposture; no
endeavor to reconcile the reader's mind to what may be extraordinary
in the narrative; all is fair, candid, and simple." And we number this
among the proofs of the Divine authority of the Bible.

_From its stupendous miracles._ Miracle, from miraculum, a wonder, a
prodigy. "A miracle," says Horne, "is a sensible suspension or
controlment of, or deviation from, the known laws of nature." It is a
signal act of Divine Omnipotence, that which no other being but God
can do. Miracles flow from Divine power, and are the proper evidence
of a Divine mission. The _reality_ of the miracles recorded in
Scripture, wrought by Christ, and by prophets and apostles, may be
proved by the _number_ and _variety_--their being performed
_publicly_, and not in a corner--before _enemies_ as well as before
friends--_instantaneously_, and not by degrees--and _independent_ of
all second causes--were such as _all men could examine_ and judge
of--and all served _an important end_, worthy of a Divine author:
viz., to establish Divine truth. How superior the miracles wrought by
Moses and Aaron to those wrought by the wise men and the sorcerers and
the magicians of Egypt! Witness the transformation of the rod, Exodus
vii. 10-12--the production of the annoying vermin lice--Exodus viii.
16-19--the plague of darkness, Exodus x. 22-24--the dividing of the
Red Sea, Exodus xiv. 21-31. These bear all the characters of true
miracles. And how far above the pretended supernatural doings of
Mohammed, and the alleged Pagan and Romish miracles, were the
wonderful deeds of Christ and His apostles! For example, our Saviour
stilled the tempest, calmed the ruffled ocean, walked upon the sea,
fed the famished multitude, opened the eyes of the blind, unstopped
the ears of the deaf, healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, cast out
devils, raised the dead, and restored Himself to life; and His
apostles healed the lame, cast out a spirit of divination,