The arrangement.—I might well have taken this discourse in some such order as the following: To show the vanity of every state of life, to show the vanity of ordinary lives, and then the vanity of philosophic lives, sceptics, stoics; but the order would not have been kept. I know a little what it is, and how few people know it. No human science can keep it. Saint Thomas did not keep it. Mathematics keep it, but these are useless by reason of their depth.
Without examining each particular occupation it will be enough to class them under Diversion.
[OF MIRACLES IN GENERAL.]
THE MIRACLE OF THE HOLY THORN.
The beginning.—Miracles are the test of doctrine, and doctrine is the test of miracles.
Of these there are false and true. There must be a mark whereby to know them, or they would be useless.
Now they are not useless, and are on the contrary fundamental Now it must be that the rule which he gives us be such as shall not impair the proof afforded by true miracles to the truth, which is the principal end of miracles.
Moses has given two; that the prediction does not come to pass, Deut. xviii., and that they do not lead to idolatry, Deut. xiii.; and Jesus Christ one.