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other way strikes in with his natural inclinations and
propensities。 But what greater temptation than to appear a
missionary； a prophet； an ambassador from heaven？ Who would
not encounter many dangers and difficulties； in order to
attain so sublime a character？ Or if； by the help of vanity
and a heated imagination； a man has first made a convert of
himself； and entered seriously into the delusion； who ever
scruples to make use of pious frauds； in support of so holy
and meritorious a cause？
The smallest spark may here kindle into the greatest
flame； because the materials are always prepared for it。 The
；＇31＇ the gazing populace； receive
greedily； without examination； whatever sooths superstition；
and promotes wonder。
How many stories of this nature have； in all ages； been
detected and exploded in their infancy？ How many more have
been celebrated for a time； and have afterwards sunk into
neglect and oblivion？ Where such reports； therefore； fly
about； the solution of the phenomenon is obvious； and we
judge in conformity to regular experience and observation；
when we account for it by the known and natural principles
of credulity and delusion。 And shall we； rather than have a
recourse to so natural a solution； allow of a miraculous
violation of the most established laws of nature？
I need not mention the difficulty of detecting a
falsehood in any private or even public history； at the
place； where it is said to happen； much more when the scene
is removed to ever so small a distance。 Even a court of
judicature； with all the authority； accuracy； and judgement；
which they can employ； find themselves often at a loss to
distinguish between truth and falsehood in the most recent
actions。 But the matter never comes to any issue； if trusted
to the common method of altercations and debate and flying
rumours； especially when men's passions have taken part on
either side。
In the infancy of new religions； the wise and learned
commonly esteem the matter too inconsiderable to deserve
their attention or regard。 And when afterwards they would
willingly detect the cheat in order to undeceive the deluded
multitude； the season is now past； and the records and
witnesses； which might clear up the matter； have perished
beyond recovery。
No means of detection remain； but those which must be
drawn from the very testimony itself of the reporters： And
these； though always sufficient with the judicious and
knowing； are commonly too fine to fall under the
comprehension of the vulgar。
Upon the whole； then； it appears； that no testimony for
any kind of miracle has ever amounted to a probability； much
less to a proof； and that； even supposing it amounted to a
proof； it would be opposed by another proof； derived from
the very nature of the fact； which it would endeavour to
establish。 It is experience only； which gives authority to
human testimony； and it is the same experience； which
assures us of the laws of nature。 When； therefore； these two
kinds of experience are contrary； we have nothing to do but
subtract the one from the other； and embrace an opinion；
either on one side or the other； with that assurance which
arises from the remainder。 But according to the principle
here explained； this subtraction； with regard to all popular
religions； amounts to an entire annihilation； and therefore
we may establish it as a maxim； that no human testimony can
have such force as to prove a miracle； and make it a just
foundation for any such system of religion。
I beg the limitations here made may be remarked； when I
say； that a miracle can never be proved； so as to be the
foundation of a system of religion。 For I own； that
otherwise； there may possibly be miracles； or violations of
the usual course of nature； of such a kind as to admit of
proof from human testimony； though； perhaps； it will be
impossible to find any such in all the records of history。
Thus； suppose； all authors； in all languages； agree； that；
from the first of J/ANUARY； 1600； there was a total
darkness over the whole earth for eight days： Suppose that
the tradition of this extraordinary event is still strong
and lively among the people： That all travellers； who return
from foreign countries； bring us accounts of the same
tradition； without the least variation or contradiction： It
is evident； that our present philosophers； instead of
doubting the fact； ought to receive it as certain； and ought
to search for the causes whence it might be derived。 The
decay； corruption； and dissolution of nature； is an event
rendered probable by so many analogies； that any phenomenon；
which seems to have a tendency towards that catastrophe；
comes within the reach of human testimony； if that testimony
be very extensive and uniform。
But suppose； that all the historians who treat of
E/NGLAND； should agree； that； on the first of J/ANUARY；
1600； Queen E/LIZABETH died； that both before and after her
death she was seen by her physicians and the whole court； as
is usual with persons of her rank； that her successor was
acknowledged and proclaimed by the parliament； and that；
after being interred a month； she again appeared； resumed
the throne； and governed E/NGLAND for three years： I must
confess that I should be surprised at the concurrence of so
many odd circumstances； but should not have the least
inclination to believe so miraculous an event。 I should not
doubt of her pretended death； and of those other public
circumstances that followed it： I should only assert it to
have been pretended； and that it neither was； nor possibly
could be real。 You would in vain object to me the
difficulty； and almost impossibility of deceiving the world
in an affair of such consequence； the wisdom and solid
judgment of that renowned queen； with the little or no
advantage which she could reap from so poor an artifice： All
this might astonish me； but I would still reply； that the
knavery and folly of men are such common phenomena； that I
should rather believe the most extraordinary events to arise
from their concurrence； than admit of so signal a violation
of the laws of nature。
But should this miracle be ascribed to any new system
of religion； men； in all ages； have been so much imposed on
by ridiculous stories of that kind； that this very
circumstance would be a full proof of a cheat； and
sufficient； with all men of sense； not only to make them
reject the fact； but even reject it without farther
examination。 Though the Being to whom the miracle is
ascribed； be； in this case； Almighty； it does not； upon that
account； become a whit more probable； since it is impossible
for us to know the attributes or actions of such a Being；
otherwise than from the experience which we have of his
productions； in the usual course of nature。 This still
reduces us to past observation； and obliges us to compare
the instances of the violation of truth in the testimony of
men； with those of the violation of the laws of nature by
miracles； in order to judge which of them is most likely and
probable。 As the violations of truth are more common in the
testimony conce