The Criterion; or Rules by Which the True Miracles Recorded in the New Testament Are Distinguished from the Spurious Miracles of Pagans and Papists

The Criterion; Or Rules By Which The True Miracles Recorded In The New Testament Are Distinguished From The Spurious Miracles Of Pagans And Papists by John Douglas. The 1807 London edition defends the Christian miracles against the skeptical objections of David Hume and his followers, arguing that gospel miracles are supported by extraordinary testimony and differ in kind and strength from pagan or papist miracles. Douglas outlines a twofold plan: first to examine allegedly miraculous events attributed to pagans and papists; second to analyze Gospel miracles, showing the former to rest on weak or fraudulent evidence, while the latter rest on unexceptionable eyewitness testimony and corroborating circumstantial proofs. He insists that miracles are credible when they arise from a divine mission and when witnesses and circumstances allow careful examination. He develops general rules for judging miracles, distinguishes true miracles from imposture, and defends the Christian revelation from infidelity. The work contributes to early modern religious apologetics, offering a method to discern authentic miracles from counterfeits and to defend faith with logic and history.