Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/53

 whatever exceeds  the  power,  either  of  nature or of  the  devil,  is  an  essentially  divine  action.

If, without  invoking  the  aid  of  God,  without first  praying  for  help,  Christ  performed such actions,  He  performed  them  in  virtue of His  own  divine  omnipotence. Christ wrought miracles  by  His  own  power;  the apostles and  the  saints  performed  wonders in the  name  of  Jesus  and  through  prayer. If Christ  really  did  this,  by  so  doing  He showed  Himself  to  be  truly  God.

5. That  Christ  performed  a  great  number of miracles,  the  evangelists,  the  Fathers  of the  Church,  and  heathen  writers  alike  testify. I will  only  mention  the  occasions  on which  He  raised  the  dead. At Nairn  He recalled  a  dead  youth  to  life  by  merely  uttering this  word  of  command:  "Young  man, I  say  to  thee;  Arise."

Christ knew  that  Lazarus  was  dead,  without any  announcement  of  the  fact  having reached Him,  and  He  imparted  the  news  to the  apostles,  and  restored  Lazarus  to  life, although he  had  been  four  days  in  the  grave. Numerous persons  witnessed  this  marvelous miracle, which  caused  the  enemies  of  Our  Lord to determine  upon  His  death,  because  they grudged Him  His  popularity,  and  feared  its consequences. But the  Pharisees  entertained no doubt  as  to  the  reality  of  His  miracles.

6. Thus  we  see  that  the  Saviour  was  a  divine  person. He Himself  on  several  occasions  asserted  it  openly,  and  this  assertion