I am to speak to you respecting the _nature_ of the miraculous testimony to Christianity. My business is with mighty works, recorded in the New Testament as having been wrought for the purpose of testifying to a Divine mission. No definition of their character in relation to physical law can anywhere be found in this ancient record. They are not spoken of as _violations_ of law, or as _suspensions_ of law, or as _interferences_ with law, or as _contradictions_ to law. They are described, not on the side of their physical nature, but on the side of their moral signification. They are depicted, not in their connection with the obvious order of the material universe, or with any hidden powers and principles of a higher and harmonious description; but in their connection with Him who claimed to be the Redeemer of mankind, who came, according to His own words, to seek and save that which was lost. They are denominated "_wonders_," startling occurrences, things contrary to common experience; and "_signs_,"--not mere marvels bursting idly on the public gaze, and exciting in a multitude of spectators a barren curiosity, but _signs_,--replete with an ulterior meaning, and testifying to the character and work of Him through whom they were accomplished. There is no necessity, then, for us at the outset to define a miracle on the physical side of it--to call it a violation of law, or a suspension of law--an interference with it, or a contradiction to it. In other words, there is no need imposed by the conditions of our argument, to inquire into the mode in which such a phenomenon can be produced. It is enough to show that it did occur, and to dwell upon the religious significancy of its occurrence first to the witnesses, and next to ourselves. What is the exact position which miracles may be thought to occupy as wonders in the universe, whether, through breaking in upon common experience, they are referable to the operation of occult laws, known and controlled at a fitting moment by the mysterious touch of the wonder-worker; or whether they are to be considered as resulting simply from the immediate fiat of the Supreme will, are questions which may with advantage be relegated for consideration elsewhere.