Leviathan

A miracle, also called a wonder, is some action prompted by God that causes admiration in others. The general purpose of miracles is to signify God’s commandment, and in scripture, miracles are often called signs. A miracle is rare, and it has no known natural cause. For instance, a horse or cow that begins to speak would be a miracle. A talking horse is odd, and therefore rare, and such a horse has no natural cause. The first time a rainbow was witnessed, it was thought to be a miracle and a sign from God. Now, rainbows are common and have a known cause, so they no longer appear as miracles.

What one person considers a miracle is not always a miracle to the next person. Consider a solar or lunar eclipse, Hobbes says. Many people have taken such events as miracles; however, there are others with special knowledge of the natural causes of eclipses. While a solar eclipse is decidedly not a miracle, God’s works in Egypt done by Moses’s hand “were properly Miracles.” By definition, a miracle “is a work of God, […] done for the making manifest to his elect, the mission of an extraordinary Minister for their salvation.”

According to this definition, a miracle is not performed by way of the prophet’s virtue but by God through the prophet. It can also be assumed from this definition that a miracle cannot be performed by any angel, devil, or ghostly spirit. In Holy Scripture, there is magic that seems like miracles. For instance, when Moses’s rod hits the ground in the Book of Exodus, it becomes a serpent. This seems like a miracle, but it isn’t. 

According to Hobbes, people are prone to deception when it comes to miracles and are likely to believe in “false Miracles.” Hobbes again points out what God says to Moses in Deuteronomy. Through Moses, God warns the people not to accept those prophets who teach religions other than that professed by “Gods Lieutenant” (Moses), and he further warns against any prediction that seems unlikely. One is always free to believe or not believe any miracle they choose, as that is their right. But, Hobbes says, at some point, one must submit to “Gods Lieutenant” and “Head of the Church,” which he will discuss more in the upcoming chapters.