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 faith most  precious  in  the  sight  of  God  is  not  that founded on  the  miraculous,  but  faith  blind  and  unquestioning. There is,  in  one  respect,  a  close analogy between  faith  and  contrition,  for  just  as  contrition is  imperfect  or  perfect  according  as  it  springs from fear  of  sin's  material  consequences  or  from  the pure love  of  God,  so  faith  is  imperfect  or  perfect  in proportion  as  it  climbs  gradually  upwards  on  the evidence of  miracles,  or  soars  above  and  beyond them directly  to  the  throne  of  God. The primary object of  Christ's  ministry  was,  that  men  might  believe in  Him  to  life  everlasting  on  the  evidence,  not of His  works,  but  of  His  words. It was  only  when His words  failed  of  their  effect  that  He  had  recourse to signs  and  wonders,  saying:  "  If  you  believe  not My  words,  believe  at  least  My  works." The miracles of His  lifetime  and  of  the  Church's  earlier  years were wrung  from  an  unwilling  Christ  by  the  very necessity of  the  case:  viz.,  because  He  had  to  deal with a  stiff-necked,  stubborn,  unbelieving  race. " Unless,"  He  says,  "  you  see  signs  and  wonders  you believe  not." What thanks  to  you  if,  having  seen them, you  believe? Ah! how Christ's  sacred  heart must have  longed  for  some  one  who  would  first openly confess  Him  and  afterwards,  if  need  be,  seek evidence to  strengthen  his  faith! How it  must  have thrilled with  pleasure  when  it  found  such  a  one — when the  poor  father  of  the  lunatic  boy  fell  at  His feet crying:  "  Lord,  I  believe.  Lord,  help  my  unbelief! "  Brethren,  this  is  the  truth  I  would  have  you learn this  morning — the  secondary  position  of  mira-