If miracles were necessary to convince the heathen in the days of the Apostles, of the truth of their statements, why are they not necessary now, when the Gospel is preached to the heathen? Are they not likely to believe the truths taught them on the testimony of the New Testament scriptures than the Gentiles in St. Paul’s day were to believe that Jesus was the Saviour and Judge of the world, on the testimony of the Old Testament writings?

ANSWER.

The confirmation of the word by signs following is quite as necessary for the conviction of the modern as the ancient idolaters. Reason, without miracles, will convince man of the falsehood of idolatry, and of the unity of God; but it requires testimony divinely attested to convince them that God intends to establish a King on Mount Zion, who shall rule all nations in the fear of Jehovah; that that King has appeared in Judea; was crucified, and raised from the dead by the Spirit; has been 1800 years in heaven, and will descend from thence to subdue all nations to himself, to enlighten the world, and to cause the will of God to be obeyed as it is in heaven; and, that whosoever believes and is immersed into his name shall receive the remission of all past sins, and by such remission be constituted an heir of God’s terrestrial dominion, with eternal life and glory, inheritable at their resurrection from among the dead. Mohammedan theists and Chinese, and Hindoo, and Burmese polytheists, know nothing of the Bible as a religious instructor and authority. It has never been "confirmed" to them. Its confirmation was to the Roman system of idolatrous nations; and this confirmation by miracles was so strong that its influence has not yet entirely faded from the mind of "Christendom." Therefore it is that the Bible holds a more commanding position here, that is, in Protestantdom, than among the pagans of the East.

If one visit a community in which the Bible is unknown, he can only bring them to an understanding and acknowledgment of the truth by one of two ways: either by introducing the Bible, and establishing its claims to be an infallible and all-sufficient teacher, and then leaving it to teach them, as God’s instrumentality; or, in default of this, by establishing his own personal claims to teach and guide them into all the truth. To accomplish either of these desiderata requires the intervention of God himself. The apostles went to the idolaters as teachers sent of God, and being such in truth, he went forth with them, confirming their word; so that what they said was as if spoken direct from his throne. But now he sends no preachers to the heathen; therefore they cannot hear. God’s preachers are yet to go forth. In the mean time, the ground is partially occupied by preachers sent by Protestant Societies, which have no power to confirm their word. Each society sends out its agents to preach its own particular creed-gospel, which is in direct opposition to the Bible they announce as the Word of God. The Bible and the missionary work against each other in the heathen mind, so that they either remain pagan, or become infidel of every creed. The case of the heathen is hopeless, unless God take them in hand, as by the apostles in days of yore.