Here then comes once more the so often repeated conclusion:--the narrative began to be in want of a miracle, and the miracle was made. In those days, among that people, miracles were so much in course, that without a reasonable number of them, a history would hardly have obtained credence: at any rate it would not have obtained readers, and without readers no history can ever obtain much credence. SECTION 13. SUPPOSABLE MIRACLE XII.--AT MALTA, DEPUTY PUBLIUS'S FATHER CURED.--_Acts_ 28:7-10. "In the same quarters," says the story--it follows immediately upon that of the viper. "In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was _Publius_, who received us and lodged us three days courteously.--And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever, and of a bloody flux, to whom Paul entered in and prayed, and laid his hands on him and healed him.--So when this was done, others also which had diseases in the island, came and were healed.--Who also honoured us with many honours, and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary." Of the fevers, which, within the compass of any given spot, and any given space of time, have place, it almost always happens, that a certain number go off of themselves. Of, perhaps, all sorts of fever,--at least of almost all sorts at present known, thus much is agreed upon by all physicians:--they have at least two regular courses, one of which terminates in death, the other or others in recovery. Supposing the person in question to have had a fever,--what is pretty clear is--that, if _of itself_, it would have taken a favourable termination, there was nothing, in the forms employed by Paul, viz., utterance of prayers and imposition of hands, that could have any natural tendency to _cause_ it to take an unfavourable one. But--the course afterwards taken by the fever, was there anything in it to distinguish it from the ordinary favourable course? If not, in that case, so far from miraculous, there is nothing that is so much as wonderful in the case. Note here two things--the narrator one of the party; the narrative so loose and uncircumstantial. But _to see_ is one thing; _to narrate_, another.