BY THE SAME AUTHOR. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF IMMORTALITY. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. THE MYSTERY OF MIRACLES. 6s. THE MYSTERY OF THE UNIVERSE. 145. A few copies are on hand of the Library Edition of "THE SUPERNATURAL IN NATURE." 14s. LONDON: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & Co., LTD 1 RECTOR OF SS. ANNE AND AGNES WITH ST. JOHN ZACHARY, GRESHAM STREET VERBUM DOMINI MANET IN ETERNUM NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON 1897 All rights reserved Now, if the natural and revealed dispensations of things are both from God, if they coincide with each other, and together make up one scheme of Providence, our being incompetent judges of one, must render it credible that we may be incompetent judges also of the other. Since, upon experience, the acknowledged constitution and course of nature is found to be greatly different from what, before experience, would have been expected; and such as, men fancy, there lie great objections against; this renders it beforehand highly credible, that they may find the revealed dispensation likewise, if they judge of it as they do of the constitution of nature, very different from expectations formed beforehand, and liable, in appearance, to great objectionsobjections against the scheme itself, and against the degrees and manners of the miraculous interpositions by which it was attested and carried on."-BUTLER'S "Analogy of Religion," Part II. Revealed Religion, Chap. iii. I HAVE read and re-read the works of Prebendary Reynolds several times, always with growing interest, and have been inspired with the desire that this wonderful book should be widely circulated, and read. The author has been guided, by deep knowledge and faith, in his far-reaching studies; in this and all his other works, he produces convincing evidence of the truths of revealed religion, in beautiful language, with scientific accuracy, carried to the highest pitch of knowledge and thought; therefore I gladly undertake the cost of this edition, trusting that it may benefit others as it has me, in throwing more light on the darker portions of the Bible, and in strengthening faith-with others, perhaps, in allaying doubt; especially in the minds of those who, in this generation of open scepticism and infidelity, reason only as they darkly understand the meaning of the supernatural. Prebendary Reynolds was unknown to me when, two years ago, I accidentally came across his works, since which time I have had the privilege of forming his acquaintance and friendship, with the double object on my part, of realizing in his person the gifted and inspired author of such profound thought and learning, and to obtain his consent for the issue of this popular edition, which places its teaching within the reach of all readers. I do this without hope of pecuniary profit, though I would gladly apply such, if any, to the production of his other books in similar form. He now allows me to add to this preface his letter of approval, and more generally explains his own object in 246168 A 3 70 |