While  we  are  propelled  by  a  regard  to  truth,  and  the  prin-
ciples of  science,  to  make  this  concession  to  our  adversary,
in  order  to  come  immediately  to  the  point  in  controversy,
the  question  may  be  asked;  since  it  is  admitted  that  the  evi-
dence which  we  derive  from  experience,  that  the  order  of
nature  has  always  been  the  same,  supposing  that  no  proof
were  alleged  to  the  contrary,  would  amount  to  strong  and
satisfactory  probability,  is  there  any  evidence  which  can  be
derived  from  human  testimony  which  should  overcome  thig
probability,  and  lead  us  to  conclude,  that  m  any  cases  what-
ever the  laws  of  nature  have  been  violated?  As  the  two
kinds  of  evidence,  that  derived  from  experience,  and  that
from  testimony,  which  are  sui  generis,  distinct  from  each
other,  are  here  attempted  to  be  poised  the  one  against  the
other;  the  intelligent  reader  will  perceive,  that  the  subjects
not  being  homogeneous,  it  will  be  extremely  difficult  to  de-
termine by  a  test  of  this  nature,  what  degree  of  weight
should  be  respectively  assigned  to  them,  and  how  far  the
one  may  preponderate  over  the  other.  This  observation  has
been  made  by  Dr.  Campbell.  Where  the  subjects  are  ho-
mogeneous to  each  other,  it  would  be  a  fair  mode  of  reason-


374  Upon  Miracles.
