...nature, that no testimony is sufficient to render it credible. Mr. Hume went so far as to say, that " we may establish it as a maxim, that no human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and to make it a just foundation for any system of religion :" — and again, that " a miracle, supported...

...Lazarus, has been observed. This can only be determined by the testimony of observers. Hume lays it down as " a maxim that no human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle" (iv. 150). But a miracle, after all, as distinguished from a law of nature, is merely an extraordinary...

...have no experience of a violation of natural laws, and much experience of the violation of truth, " we may establish it as a maxim, that no human testimony...prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any system of religion." ' This is Hume's real argument accurately though briefly stated. How does Dr Newman...

...deduct the one from the other, " this subtraction with regard to all popular religions amounts to an annihilation ; and therefore we may establish it as...prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any system of religion." Notwithstanding this criticism, Hume admits that Miracles and deviations from...

...maintaining that miracles could not be proved, and that no miracle ever has been proved. He says, " we may establish it as a maxim, that no human testimony...just foundation for any such system of religion." To the words just quoted he appended a note, however, which is so remarkable that we copy a portion...

...therefore, we may establish it as a maxim, that miracles are contrary to human experience and therefore no human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle."* Mr. Hume after elaborating his argument takes his seat, and Monsieur Renan thus presents his objection:...

...no experience of the violation of natural laws, and much experience of the violation of truths. So we may establish it as a maxim that no human testimony...have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it the foundation of a system of religion.' I will not refer to the succinct but striking argument offered...

...prominent, though never entirely extirpated from human nature. His ultimate conclusion was this: — "That no human testimony can have such force as to...prove a miracle and make it a just foundation for any system of religion. I beg the limitations here made may be remarked, when I say, that a miracle can...

...the remainder. But according to the principle here explained, this substraction, with regard to all popular religions, amounts to an entire annihilation...a just foundation for any such system of religion. . ._ J 99 I beg the limitations here made may be remarked, when I say, that a miracle can never be...

...system of religion] has ever amounted to a probability, much less to a proof." And he concludes :2 ' ' We may establish it as a maxim, that no human testimony...prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any [popular] system of religion." This part of the argument is open to criticism. When treating of miracles,...