Most Arcane philosophies teach that man has the power to accomplish whatever his mind has the ability to conceive. Although this concept is generally true, one caveat must be considered. A person cannot do that which is counter to Natural or Divine Law. These Laws were established because they , and they alone, are able to create order out of chaos. Therefore, any disturbance of them even for a fraction of a second would cause the entire Universe, as we know it, to implode.

The most common error made concerning miracles is to regard them as effects without Lawful causes or, as one author described them, "sudden vagaries of the Divine Mind." Effects without proper causes contradict Nature and all Natural Laws. As stated above, a single "miracle" of this class would destroy the universal harmony and instantly reduce the Universe to chaos. Therefore, for every effect there must be a natural cause or there can be no universal order, which there is.

Accordingly, miracles, as commonly understood, are not possible. The most that can happen is an effect that appears miraculous because we do not know and cannot imagine its causative action.

But, a questioner many ask, surely God can do what He will with His Universe? Not so! Some things are impossible even to God, Namely, things that involve absurdity. Were God, the Creator of all things, a dispenser of caprice or absurdity, neither He nor the Universe could continue in existence.

As inferred above, when the Universe was created, the Laws established were not capricious but were instituted BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY LAWS THAT ALLOW FOR THE CREATION OF SUCH ORDER. This process may be compared to the way an engineer builds a bridge. An infinite number of designs may be available to him, but unless he follows specific laws governing such conditions as stress and strain, weight-bearing potential, or wind-shear factors, the bridge will not serve its function. There fore, although he has great leeway in his design, the engineer is also bound by physical restrictions which he cannot ignore without destroying his entire creation. So is it with God. The Universe was constructed in much the same way the engineer's bridge was built, that is, by adhering to those Laws which create sufficient order to hold the finished product together.

Two Aspects of the Same Law

In our Universe when this Law of Order functions on the material plane, it is called Natural Law; when it functions on the spiritual plane, it is called Divine Law. Under the Law of Hermes ("As above, so below") these two are different sides of the same Law and, thus, we have no more right to expect a so-called miracle in the spiritual than we have in the material. All things in Heaven and in Earth are ruled by this Law; and, to be just and lasting, everything must be done in harmony with this Law, no matter whether the action is completed by man or by God.

To expect the divine Creator to produce an effect without a proper cause is to make God unjust to Himself and to man. God's command that man shall obey the Law is not an arbitrary one. The Law, by its very nature, is so absolute and inviolable that God Himself cannot go contrary to its requirements. To expect god to violate a Law, which He knows is essential for the stability of His creation, is both unjust and illogical. Above all other considerations, God's mind is just and logical, His mind being the ultimate example of all justice and logic.

All causes must have their effects. All effects must have logical causes. Nothing can exist without an explainable cause, not can there be a cause without a following effect, although the effect may take some time to manifest.

Because the foregoing must be true under the logical Laws of Universal Order, the obvious conclusion reached is that there can be no such things as miracles in the usually accepted use of the word. Things appear to be miracles only because we do not immediately understand the mechanism of the cause. Because we do not understand the Law under which a certain manifestation is created, we call it a miracle.

Almost all the scientific discoveries of the last century would have been considered miracles of the first magnitude a century or two earlier. In fact, not a few of them would no doubt have won the inventor or discoverer a free ticket as the major attraction at a stake burning had they been introduced to the establishment of the Middle Ages.

The Miracles of Jesus.

But, what about the miracles that were performed by Jesus of Nazareth? Surely, these were true miracles. No one is above the Law, not even this Great Soul. Therefore, we must assume that the miracles attributed to Him come under two general explainable headings: First, those that appeared to be miracles to those who saw them, but which were only effects manifested using Laws that were not known to the witnesses; second those accounts that must be taken symbolically, that is, the true significance of the account is other than the literal interpretation.

Miracles of Faith. Examples of the first instance might include the various healings by the Nazarene. In almost every instance He intimated that the person's "faith hath made thee whole." By faith in him, the person was able to change the negative vibrations in the body to positive ones which, in turn, were able to bring about the healing. Whether Jesus helped this healing through the use of AEth Forces, which He had developed to a high degree, we cannot know for sure, but it does seem most likely. However, we should not forget that even when such Inner Forces are used, they, too, must come under the Natural Law. These Forces are able to help only to the degree that the person being treated is able to receive them, the reception depending on the person's faith in the AEth and the Healer as well as on the preparation of the body to receive.

The fact that the Nazarene could not produce a healing without the faith of those involved is well documented by the story of His return to His hometown. He was forced to leave Nazareth rather unceremoniously because, due to the townspeople's "unbelief," He was not able to heal many. Surly, if miracles, as we think of them, were possible, here would have been the place to display them. Had He had the power or inclination to circumvent Natural and Divine Law he could have healed those who came to Him where He grew up and really impressed them with His power. What better way to prove His Divinity and the correctness of His message? But no. He and His disciples left quickly without performing such miracles because His townsfolk were "offended" with Him.

Jesus also gave some idea of His attitude towards miracles when He said, "Greater things than I have done, shall ye do." Although many people are of the opinion that the Nazarene was unique in His Divinity, can the same be said of those to whom He was speaking? Was He not attempting to teach by this statement that all the things He had done were within the Laws of God and there fore can be duplicated by all who are willing to obey and use these Laws as did He?

Symbolism Depicted by Miracles. What about the other miracles of Jesus, such as turning water into wine, feeding five thousand with bread and fishes, and bringing the dead back to life? These must be more than a state of mind.

Most of these miracles fall into the category of symbolism, as mentioned above. The changing of water into wine is symbolic of changing the carnal man into the spiritual in much the same way that rape juice (the unregenerate man) is converted into wind (the spiritual man) through the process of fermentation (the way of the cross). So, through His teachings, at the wedding in Cana the Nazarene was able to awaken some of the carnal men (referring to both male and female) to their spiritual potential.

The symbolism of the bread and the fishes is similar. Both represent true and solid sustenance to man. Therefore, they become excellent symbols for the teachings of the Nazarene. When the crowd of five thousand were fed with bread and fish, they were, in fact, filled by the solid instructions of this incomparable teacher.

The raising of the dead is also symbolic, but it is of a more personal nature than the two previous examples. All who live for their carnal nature are considered as dead. The terminology is not as far-fetched as it may first seem, for if we live only in and for the carnal port of us, we shall die eventually. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Only by raising the dead, that is, by elevating the desires and actions above those that appeal to the carnal self alone, are we able to live (develop the spiritual or eternal self). When Jesus of Nazareth raised the dead, He helped them to understand the real nature of their purpose on Earth and the methods by which they could find "that life that knows no death."

Many of the biblical stories were told to create an effect rather than to document specific demonstrable facts. There is nothing deceptive in this method because it was done to clarify the teachings. It is not the fault of the biblical writers that later adherents to Christianity attempted to deify the personality of their guide and instructor rather than make every effort to themselves rise from the dead by following the teachings He laid down.

Conclusion

Miracles are the manifestation of the Laws of God on levels which we, at our own degree of development, cannot readily understand. However, they must always fit within the Divine Law, because nothing can exist outside this Law.
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