Will he grant what I cite is true He is evidently convinced and must yeild that the Writings of Pope Calixtus stand firm upon an Authority which passes without exception amongst the best and wisest of Christians I wish the Dr were one of them 13. Now follow the two and twenty Miracles of S. James related by Calixtus in his second Book but I only touch upon five being most remarkable and above the force of nature 14. One is Chapter 3. of à young youth whom the Apostle found dead in à Wood and raised to life 15. A second Chap. 5. of à Pilgrim hanged up by Thieves 36. dayes dead and brought to life again by S. James 16. A third Chap. 20. of à Souldier by name William not in the least hurt though his fellow Souldier fiercely strook at his bare neck and endeavored with à sharp sword to cut off his head 17. A fourth Chap 21. is of one contracted or monstrously lame perfectly cured by S. James at Compostella 18. A fifth Chap. 22. of one and the same man Thirteene times sold and made Captive whom the Apostle so often released and set at Liberty These and the other 17. remaining are still preserved in the Manuscripts of the Vatican Library as we have related Show you Mr Dr. fraud in these particulars or grant them as they deserve to be reckoned of as true matters of Fact 19. Dr Still recount's five or six Miracles Dr Still pag. 474. more Written by Pope Calixtus will you hear how profoundly he refutes them and proves all Fabulous Anno Dom. 1090. certain Germans clad like Pelgrims were going on Pilgrimage to S. James it happened that in the City of Tholouse their Host by forceing upon them Variis potibus saith my relation gratiâ hospitalitatis inebriavit Scyphum argenteum in manticam eorum posuit several drinks made them drunk and in the night time thrust two silver cups into the Portmantues of two of them I read of one silver cup only Next morning the avaricious man following in all hast the Pilgrims now travelling on accused them of Theft They innocent Answered that he with whom the Cup was found should be held the guilty Person In fine upon examination it was found in the Portmantue belonging to à Father and his Son Both were brought before the Judge who mercifully gave Sentence that but one of them should dye and after much complementing between them saith our Dr the Son was executed By the way the complement was that the sorrowful Father offered himselfe to dy in place of his Son which the Judge not approving the Father held on his Pilgrimage and after thirty six dayes returning to the place where his Son Still hanged wept bitterly over him When behold on à sudden the young man Spake and said O Father weep not for me but rather rejoyce for all hitherto is well with me because S. James hath comforted me with Heavenly delights Whereat the Father overjoyed ran forthwith to the City called whole multitudes to behold the Miracle who took his son down from the Gallows and after à Juridical Trial made hanged up the wicked Host in his place This Miracle twice related in the VVritings I have on my Table is taken out of the Vatican Library N. 1198. Hear now in à word how manfully the Dr refutes it VVas saith he our Sauviours raising Lazarus after four dayes to be compared to this VVas ever à more simple Question proposed by à Dr I Answer A Simple question proposed by the Dr. Christ's Miracle was greater upon this Account that he wrought it by his own Power S. James did the wonder here mentioned by Power given from Christ for whom he dyed Ask therefore Sr no more such simple Questions but either prove the fraud or confesse the fact 20. Anno 1100. when VVilliam Count of Poictou reigned under Lewis King of France à great Plague raged in that Country in so much that whole Families dyed if it At which time Heros quidam à certain Gentleman much affrighted with the mortality purposed to make à Pilgrimage to S. James and set his wife with two small Children upon à horse or mule but comming to Pampelona his wife dyed in an Inn where the ungodly Host rob'd the Gentleman of all he had who notwithstanding that double losse of wife and Goods held on his Journey carrying one child in his armes and leading the other by his The Apostles singular favour to à distressed Traveller side Not far from Pampelona à Stranger decently cloathed met him with à strong Asse and bad him make use of the Beast for the help of his Children to Compostella which he accepted of with hearty Thanks Once in the night while he was devoutly at his Prayers in à corner of the Church at Compostella S. James very glorious appeared and asked him Numquid mi frater me nosti Dos't thou know me Brother The devout Pilgrim answered No. I said he am James the Apostle of our Lord who lent the Asse neer Pampelona make use of it in thy return home when thou shalt find that hard hearted Host who robbed thee dead And this he found verifyed VVith much joy the Gentleman went back to his own house and no sooner had he taken down the Children but the Asse disappeared This Miracle written by Pope Calixtus and recorded in the Vatican Manuscripts Dr Still P. 475. relates and all he has against it amount's to à meer nothing Prove the fraud or grant the fact This saith he is an Instance of S. Iames's kindness by land but Calixtus tell us he vvas as kind by Sea First to à Captain that tumbled with his Armour into the bottom of the sea and was brought safe to his ship again by S. James 2. To à Pilgrim that had the like mischance whom S. James held by the hair of his head and kept above water for three dayes till he came to his Port. Thus the Dr. 21. Shall we perfect the Dr's short Story à Quidam nauta little Both these Miracles Pope Calixtus relates The first happened Anno 1191. to à Mariner by name Frison who with his Ship full of Passengers went to visit the Holy Sepulchre at Hierusalem and was set upon by à Sarracen called Avit Mainon that endeavouvred to make him and all the Christians Captives While the Sarracens and Christians were close together hard at Fight Frison the Capitain laden with à Coat of Mail à Helmet and à Buckler by chance slip't between the Vessels into the VVater when in his heart he called upon S. James and implored the Apostles Assistance for himselfe and fellow Christians S. James appearing took him by the hand safely placed him in his own Ship and to the great Terror of the Sarracens conducted the Christians safe to the End of their Voyage The other Miracle concerning the pious Pilgrim that returned from Hierusalem happened Anno 1104. who casually thrown into the deep sea
our Saviours Miracles and the Apostles to have been really wrought by Arguments not taken from Scripture or if he make use of the new Testament against the Iew he is to lay aside that Question wether it be God's word or no Unlesse before the dispute the Book be evinced written by Divine inspiration Thus much premised 6 I argue against à Iew and ask whether he Christ's Miracles proved against à Iew. allowes the Historical part of the new Testament where the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles are recorded to be as good and as true à Story as the relation made in the old Testament of Mose's Miracles And now I trouble not his head with the Question about the Divine Inspiration of either book but only enquire after their truth In case he yeild's equal truth to both he must grant that Christ cured the blinde raised the dead and that the Apostles wrought such Miracles as S. Luke recount's in the Acts of those blessed men c. If as is most likely he bluntly reject's the Gospels relation as not true I ask what answer will he give à Heathen that no less boldly cast's off the Story of Moses Miracles as false and plainly assert's that the same reason let it be what you will whereby he attempts to discountenance the truth of one Narration will every whit as much enervate the truth of the other and thus all Miracles related in Scripture goe to wreck which is to say God never wrought any by Moses and the Prophets by Christ and his Apostles This the man of the Synagogue proves or nothing In case he reply Christians that admit Mose's Miracles are tongue tyed and cannot plead against them I answer we plead not against any for we hold all most true yet justly tax à Iew of à grosse Inconsequence which à Heathen laies before his eyes and once more say the same proofs and reasons whereby he endeavour's to reject the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles destroy at one blow the truth of the greatest Miracles which Moses or the Prophets ever wrought that is in à word there is neither proof nor reason to deny either all are most true and Strongly made out by reason supposing this one rational ground which none can deny viz. That books of History known and received all over deserve credit upon humane faith 7. In discoursing with à Heathen about Miracles Heathens also Convinced recorded in Scripture à rational demand is whether he yeild's as good credit to the History of this Book as to Titus Livius Caesars Commentaries or any other ancient writer If he affirm the Miracles there set down are with him upon moral certainty believable in case he denies I am not to take his bare word but must know the ultimate reason of his denial which will ever be Petitio Principii or in real truth no reason but à selfe conceipted fancy just as if one should sencelesly reject what ever Livy or Caesar has written because he will bluntly A reply answered do so upon no reason The Heathen may reply There is à great difference between all natural history and the Miracles registred in Scripture for these because strange and unusual so strongly check and abate beliefe that reason cannot but boggle and hold all forged by à few simple men that wrote them whereas no such extravagant wonders are found in natural History I answer first we read of innumerable great wonders in natural History as of Mountains rising up and justling together of certain Cities in Syria seated on hills and thence violently thrown into à Plain some miles off without any dammage c. Things certainly unusual though not so strange as à true Miracle I answer 2. All matters of Matters of fact in Scripture not feigned but manifestly proved true fact recorded in Scripture most evidently are not feigned however admirable and above the force of nature therefore it s highly against reason to hold the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles forged because strange and wonderful I prove demonstratively that matters of fact recorded in Scripture are not feigned upon this ground The Prophets long before Christianity was established foretold clear matters of fact which some thousands of years after evidently proved true as that Christ should be born of à Virgin that the old Priesthood should fail and à new Priest and King raign forever that the greater people the Iewes should become the less and the Gentils far lesser become the greater all strange and wonderful Predictions whereunto we may add our Saviours most certain Prophesy in that known Parable of the vineyard where speaking to the chief Priests and Pharisies he clearly foretold their ruin and rejection before it happened and no lesse clearly the destruction of Hierusalem These Prophesies the whole world has now seen for many Ages fulfilled and verifyed Hence I discourse whoever fortel's wonderful future things long before the event which afterwards visibly come to passe speak's truth and cannot forge nor feign because Facts exactly agreeing with the Predictions take away all suspicion of forgery but this you see is evident if you compare the Prophesies of the old Testament with what the Writers of the new have expressed and we se fulfilled with our eyes therefore all wonderful matters recorded in Scripture however strange are neither false nor forged A Heathen cannot deny the evident and now known fulfilling of these Prophesies because the Book of the old Testament was extant and read by Iewes long before the Evangelists wrote their Story 8. I argue 2. with Lingendes and rationally Ling. cited pag. 44. evince the truth of our Saviours Miracles by the Testimony of Writers in several nations most different from one another and further Ancient writers and Publick Fame prove the primitive Miracles ground my discourse upon an universal publick Fame received the whole world over which own 's those primitive Miracles as undoubted For ancient Writers this Author first remit's us to Joseph the Iew who speaking of our Saviour saith Eodem tempore c. In those dayes Iesus à wise Josepus l. 18 Antiquit c. 4. man lived if yet lawful to call him man only that wrought strange wonders and had many followers both Iewes and Gentils This Christ whom the chiefe of our Nation accused Pilate condemned to dy upon à Cross Euseb lib. Hist Eccles c. 11. Hieron de Script in verbi Josephus rose again the third day as the Prophets had foretold and as we read in the Jerosolimitanian Talmud named Gavoda Zara Miraculously cured innumerable diseased though the latter Iewes attribute this power of working Miracles not to any virtue in Christ nor to the Divel as their Progenitors impiously did but say they were wrought at the pronouncing of an ineffable name called by them Sem Hammaphoras or à name expounded The Turks Alcoran witness de Lingendes recount's at large the Miracles of our Saviour where you read of his cleāsing
Associates who transported the Holy Body of S. James to Spain Can you perswade your selfe that to laugh at the Story as you doe is à weighty refutation though all this while I propose it not as Gospel What I find besides in this Relation is that S. James's Body was buried neer to the Mountain Illicinus now called Mons Sacer not far from à Fountain and there left by those Holy men who carried it thither 4. Thus much said we return to Baronius Num. 71. where we are told that by reason of the great persecution raised against Christians in those parts of Spain All long since dead who Conveyed the Sacred Body thither the Sepulchre likewise where the Treasure lay being hid and all the Memory of it forgotten Behold saith Baronius Num. 72. Magno Dei beneficio Factum c. by à Special Favour of Almighty God after à large Circuit of Ages in the time of Alfonsus Castus à most pious Prince the Apostles long concealed Body discovered it selfe by clear Signs of light shining over the Bryers where it lay The light was seen for many nights together not by one only but several By-witnesses Episcopus Iriensis Chiefly by Theodorimus Lord Bishop of Iria who like another Moses approaching the burning Bush found the precious Body of the Son of thunder so our Saviour named S. Iames which God in due time revealed to free Spain How the Body was discovered from the thraldom of Infidelity as the happy event of great Wonders wrought there has made manifest For ever since the Discovery People from all Parts of the World flocked to the Apostles Sepulchre which God had enobled with the singular Grace of innumerable stupendious Miracles And these great Works of Divine Power as Baronius notes well are better proofs than all that can be Written 5. Now comes Dr Still with à simple Objection You have saith he à Body buried among thorns and Bushes What then must this without any Inscription or Characters upon it needs be S. Iames his Body and none els I Answer Gods One Objection answered own characters glorious Miracles were then and still are upon it these Written by à Divine hand surpasse in real worth all other humane Inscriptions imaginable Pray you tell me had the other Apostles when they preached to remote Countries carried this or the like Inscription upon their Breasts VVe are Apostles of JESUS CHRIST and done no Miracles or wrought Miracles as they did without such Inscriptions Tell me I say whether of these two think you would have drawn Infidels sooner to the Beliefe of JESUS CHRIST I hold God's own Characters far more prevalent and so they are in our present case O! but we yet prove not that it was S. James his Body why may it not be the Body of some other I Answer first it is à Body whereby God is pleased to work prodigious Miracles evidently seen by innumerable Eye-witnesses and Miracles are the Scar-Crowes our Dr fear 's most whether done by S. James or any other makes nothing for his purpose Again supposing the Evidence of Miracles wrought at Compostella which is undeniable why should we not rather ascribe them to the Power of God working by the Apostles Body than to any other unknown Saint that may perhaps Lie interred thereabout And thus much the Proofs for the transporting of S. James his Body to that place seem to evince 3. Joannes Mariana tells us the Signes Mariana lib. 10 de â—eb Hispani c. 10. n. 10. we seek for were known and shewes by whom and in what manner yet what they were in particular after so many Ages and the former cruel persecution raised against Christians in that Part of Spain there is now saith he little certain memory of them 6. Dr Still Page 471. Quotes Mariana and Mariana de reb Hispan lib 4 c. 6. thinks he find's no Argument for S. James's comming into Spain but Tradition only Again the Dr cites his 5.th Chapter de Adventu Iacobi In my Book printed Anno 1605. I find nothing like these Testimonies in either place but quite Dr Still p. 473. different matters handled Lib. 4. c. 6. He speaks of Antoninus Pius and add's Quid rerum gesserit in Hispania Clam est What things he did in Spain is not known and it is certain that he treat's of S. James his comming into Spain not in any fifth chapter of my Edition The Dr err's in his quotations but in the 10.th now cited As blind à Quotation the Dr gives us where he referr's us to Mariana Cap. 12. de Adventu Iacobi That is you must run over thirty whole books so many Mariana wrot de Rebus Hispaniae and find out if you can that 12.th Chapter If Mr Dr have 25. Iuly any newer Edition of Mariana it will be no great labour to say when and where it was printed The most Mariana hath of this subject is in his own Epistle sent to Pope Paul the V. à M S. I have now by me where with great Submission he mentions many weighty Arguments collected by him concerning the comming of S. James into Spain which he hoped with leave to make publick and cast both Himselfe and labours at the feet of his Holinesse More I have not 7. A word now of Hermogenes's strange Dr. Still p. 465. Conversion to Christ by the endeavour of the B. Apostle S. James The Dr relates part of it and after his manner jeer's at all Briefly the Story is thus After S. James had visited Judea and Samaria and proved by Scripture in several Synagogues that JESUS CHRIST is the true Son of God Hermogenes à Magician sent his Disciple The Conversion of Hermogenes and Philetus Philetus to the Apostle who told him that his Master Hermogenes could enervate all he had said of Christ But Philetus seing the strange Miracles S. James had done in restoring sight to the blind and cleansing the Lepers and hearing also of his raising the dead upon his return told Hermogenes what he had heard and seen and that now he resolved to be one of S. James Disciples whereat the Magician highly enraged commanded the Divels to bind Philetus so fast that he could not stir But the Apostle who sent his handkerchief to Philetus soon released him and enjoyned the Divels to bring Hermogenes without hurt fast bound to him This done Hermogenes clearly seing the wonderful Power of God working with S. James much humbled and confounded became Poenitent Accipe said he Poenitentem quem invidentem detrahentem hactenus sustinuisti Accept of me great Apostle whom you have hitherto patiently borne with as à most spiteful and unworthy Detractor If replyed S. James thou be truly poenitent burn all thy books of Magick Go from house to house where thou hast wrought mischiefe and recall all thou hast done restore the money unjustly got by thy Charms follow JESUS CHRIST seek to please him whom
thou wilt find merciful if thou ceasest not to be faithful in his Service Hermogenes overjoyed embraced these wholsome Admonitions and Promised to comply with every one most faithfully then falling down at the Apostles feet I know saith he the wrath of the Divels will tear me in pieces unlesse you give me something to S. Iames defend's Hermogenes from the rage of Divels secure me from their rage Take this my walking Staffe replyed S. James and no Divel shall annoy thee Much more followes of Hermogenes his working Miracles with the Apostles Staffe of his Zeal in preaching JESUS Christ and proving Christ out of the old Testament to be the true Son of God the long expected Messias and converting many to the true Faith Some dayes after these great Conversions wrought Abiathar the Priest of that year Seditiously raised à storm of persecution against S. James who violently haled to Herode the Son of Archelaus was by his command beheaded 8. Will you briefly hear what Sport our Dr makes with this Relation First saith he You must never ask from whence they had it it is fully enough that the name of Hermogenes and Philetus are in the new Testament I answer the Dr had more for the small parcel he relates than these two bare names set down in Scripture otherwise he will be thought the first Contriver of it In à word the Story is collected out of so many Manuscripts dispersed up and down several parts in Europe that unlesse you say all conspired to register à Fable you ought upon humane The whole Story proved Authentick Faith to yeild assent First it is extant in Codice Osnaburgensi Mendensi 2. In the Queen of Swedens M. S. preserved yet at Rome 3. It is taken out of the ancient Manuscripts of S. Audomarus 4. Out of certain M. S. in Marchia and lastly to omit others out of Cardinal Mazarins Manuscripts An Extract or collection of all these and many other particulars gathered by two worthy Judicious men about 14. years Since I have now on the Table where I write and hope this comes to more than à proof taken from the two names of Hermogenes and Philetus recorded in the new Testament 9. The Dr's Objections proposed against this Story are so profoundly simple that they deserve nothing but contempt One is the mention made of Hermogenes in the present Roman Breviary seem's very lean and bare That is he would have had the fifth Lesson there enlarged which some who are obliged to their Canonical houres might perhaps have thought too long and well content themselves with the substance of the Story there expressed Viz. S. Iames returned to Hierusalem when among The Doctors simple Objections others he had instructed Hermogenes à Magician in the Truth of Christian Faith c. Another Objection takes all its force from the Dr s memory who forsooth remembers no Abiathar high Priest since the Dayes of King Solomon Had he had but à smal portion of Solomons wisdom he might have reflected that many things are now out of his remembrance which were once in it and far more there are which never got thither One Abiathar was in Solomons time and why might not there be another in Herodes dayes The Relation expresly saies it and That 's enough for me I said just now that the Apostle to secure Hermogenes from the rage of Divels lent him his walking staff Is not this saith our Dr very wisely like one of the Apostles Miracles to give men Instruments for the cudgelling of Divels Pray Sr tell me when à Saint as Eliseus the Prophet was gave his staff to Giezi did that necessarily imply any Cudgelling Businesse I hope not though if by Cudgelling in this place you mean nothing but à lessening of Power I wish the Divel for your sake soundly cudgelled Ludovicus à S. Carolo Bibliothe Pontifiprinted at Lyons 1643. lib. 1. pag. 36. 10. A word now of Pope Calixtus his Writings where you have the Miracles of S. James largely recorded in five Books Ludovicus Jacob à S. Carolo testifies that the Miracles Written by Pope Calixtus the second are also preserved in M. S. at Oxford in Bibliothe Balliolensi n. 213 and at Cambrige in the Colledge of S. Benedict Moreover that à Book is kept there concerning the Translation of S. James Body Bellovac spec Hist lib. 26. à cap. 26. usque ad cap. 41. n. 41. The most of them add's Ludovicus we find in Vincent Bellovacensis 11. The five Books now mentioned of Pope Calixtus are had also in M. S. in the Library of S. Peters Church at Rome over the Sacristy belonging to the Canons of that Church whereof à Collection was made some years agone by two worthy learned men Godefridus Henschenius and Daniel Popebrochius famous all over the world upon the Account of their industrious labours These Writings I have before me And shall to the honour of this great Apostle briefly select some few of the choisest matters there contained To transcribe all would swell to à larger Volume than this whole Treatise is 12. The Argument of the Preface of B. Pope Calixtus to his second Book of 22. Miracles wrought by S. James begins thus Summopere pretium est S. Iacobi miracula c. It is à thing of great worth to set down in Writing the Miracles of S. James the Son of Zebedee and Patron of Gallicia because they highly conduce to the Honour of our Lord JESUS CHRIST and the Advancement of his Glory Soon after saith the Pope VVhat I have attentively taken From whom Pope Caliâ—tus gathered his writings notice of as I past through several Nations relating to the Apostles Miracles wrought in Gallicia what I have learned of others and seen with my own eyes I here commit to VVriting Some of these great wonders I took out of Books in France some out of Codicills found in Germany in Italy Dacia and in other remote Parts of the world yet I recount not all for that Task would be immense but only such Miracles of this great Apostle as are undoubtedly certain and proved true by Authentick Books and most faithful VVitnesses Reader Observe in passing that à whole Book of S. James his Miracles related by Calixtus is approved in à Breve of Pope Innocent directed The approbation of his writings to all faithful Christians where the Book is stiled Authentick and of undouhted Credit In confirmation whereof the Subscription of eight Cardinals followes adjoyned to the Breve And the first is Albericus Bishop of Ostia with these words Ad decus S. Iacobi c. To the Honour of S. James I do testify that this Book is approveable and praise worthy The original Testimony of the Breve and Subscriptions also you have in the Library of the King of France n. 1815. What thinks Dr Still of this Will he say what I quote is false Let that be proved which shall never be and I have done
there cited Nec quidquam opsonii intra admisit He eate no meat which is not to Say he eate nothing for he might well feed upon bread Fruit and such like things Now if as some Criticks note Opsonium properly signifies Piscis assus broyled Fish there needed no Miracle to refrain from that à whole hundred years For as much as concern's the long lives of many not only mentioned in Scripture but in known History also see Colganus his large Notes where Colgan in vita S. Kieran 5. Mart. page 466. num 42. you have his Authors Quoted and here he meets with à Dr who repeats much of what he Writes and thinks to refute all by à simple Narration or barely telling us He writes so and so VVas there ever such à way of impugning Authors found out before this new Invention of Mr Dr Yet thus he hold's on Page after Page now he makes sport with the raising of à dead Robin-redbreast to life now with S. Juo's boots Now he brings in à Story of à Bull giving Still page 527. as much milk as any Cow And which I casually omitted Ask's whether any thing was ever done by Christ and his Apostles like the turning of Butter into à Bell as S. Oudoceus Capgrave in vita S. Oudocei page 258. Bishop is said to have done VVitness Capgrave Yes Mr Dr both you and I have heard of as great Changes Viz. Of Lot's wife turned into à Pillar of Salt and water changed into wine In case these Examples satisfy not you shall have more Authentically recorded 6. Here methinks being quite wearied in following the Dr thus far it is high time to An Atheist may reject the Miracle in Scripture upon the Dr's Principles leave the remainder of his Collections to the Judgement of every prudent Reader with this true Observation upon them that if Jeers and Derisions can do it the Dr has behaved himselfe manfully and taught every Atheist by his Procedure to slight all the Miracles God hath done upon this principle Miracles seem wonderful to his short Knowledge ergo ought to be vilifyed If he has any better Argument blame me boldly Hence proceeds his frequent and no lesse impertinent Interrogatories where speaking of S. Mochteus long Abstinence he Ask's whether it be not à pretty reasonable Fast for à man Mentioning some that speak in their Mothers wombe he would know whether the Baptist Leaping in his Mothers belly was comparable to this And in recounting other Miracles he wisely Demand ' s are not these now pregnant Instances how such Saints exceeded Christ and his Apostles And this Question comes over and over Did Christ and his Apostles any thing like to these Miracles Pitiful Impertinent neither he John 20 30. John 21. 25. nor I know what Signs and Miracles Christ wrought Witnesse S. John Nay more were the many other things saith the Apostle Christ did Written in particular the whole world would not contain the Books that might be Written notwithstanding the Dr remit's us to what Christ and his Apostles did 7. For an upshot of this whole matter the Still p. 565 Dr leaves the Reader to Judge whether the Testimony on which these Miracles have been received ought to be compared in point of Credibility with that Testimony on which the Christian Church hath believed the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles I Answer the Dr cheats the Reader For the true Christian Church believes the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles upon Divine Testimony by How the Dr cheat's his Reader à certain act of Faith These other Miracles mentioned by Colganus and Capgrave rely at most upon humane Authority And If they force from us à probable Assent wherein there is à great Latitude That 's all and aboundantly enough because I am apt to think that when Cronology and other main Circumstances come to the Test chiefly about the long Lives of some Saints and other strange Wonders much may occurr to à diligent Searcher not too well grounded But to Decry all as the Dr doth whilst he Examins none is foul play and above measure blamable For it seem's morally Impossible that after so great pains taken by Authors who carefully remit you to Their Manuscripts and other Testimonies all should prove Forgeries though some Perhaps may be doubtful or in à mean Degree propable If evinced False we utterly reject them 8. The Dr in the Close of his Discourse to gain credit for his pains Tell 's us he has not raked the Kennels of Iacobus de Voragine of Cantipratanus and such like Writers of no Account it seems with him But made choise of latter Authors praysed and highly approved by learned men Capgrave saith he was esteemed one of such excellent parts that he had scarce any equal none Superiour to him in England in his time Colganus his first Tome containing the Acts of the Irish Saints was published with great Approbations from the General of his Order the Professors at Lovain from the Ordinary Censor Librorum and four Jesuits having besides the commendatory Epistles of Vernulaus and Erycius Puteanus Now saith he the Jesuits collections at Antwerp begun by Bollandus and continued by Henschenius and Papebrochius were Published with as much Ostentation of care and Judgement as any thing can be set forth in that kind Thus the Dr. 9. Reader I would willingly know what harme is done to these Authors by Mr Dr wherein I beseech you has he lessened rheir credit Has he clearly shown the Original copies from whence they took Miracles Forged Has he disparaged in the least Degree the Authenticalness The Dr disparages none of these Records but is apt to think something may be à misse in them of those Records Has he upon any good Authority proved so much as one of these Miracles false or improbable No he never fall's upon this solid way of reasoning What then dos he I told you he barely relates what Authors write and there forces in à Jest or an impertinent Question leaving every matter of Fact unexamined just as it was before If true then it is true still if doubtful t' is yet doubtsul if probable still probable Here is all you have from our Doughty Dr who confesses his own lost labour plainly enough So that what ever judgement saith Still page 567. he be passed upon the Miracles they cannot deny the Books I have made use of to be of greatest Authority of any extant in this kind and yet after all I am apt to think they will meet with à great deal of Infidelity from all that have not captivated their understanding to the Obedience of the Roman Faith I am apt to think Mr Dr What à faint Expression is this Who holds himselfe obliged to captivate his understanding to your Thoughts Had you truly told us that these Miracles upon due Examination have been proved false or improbable had you shown their Original Records unauthentick you
by Christ or in the Church when attested by undoubted Witnesses and are known upon humane Faith as morally certain beget in every rational man an Evidence of Credibility and move to embrace Christ's Doctrin so far they lead us on but no further When the Church after à rigid Examination upon Her Humane Authority approves them as true and wrought by Divine Power we are raised to à higher Degree of certainty and upon this Oracles word own them not only in à vveak manner morally certain But without all Dispute Unquestionable though yet not known as evidently true For all Knovvledge implies c. 14. n. 8 9 not strict Evidence Reader turn if you please to what I have noted above and you will find this whole Difficulty cleared from all reasonable Exception 11. The Dr still remain's in his Confusion Hovv is it possible saith he that the Church should be certainly knovvn by Miracles if the Miracles cannot be certainly knovvn but by the Church I Ask likewise How is it possible that Christ should be certainly knovvn by his Miracles if his Miracles cannot be certainly known but by Christ or by some certain Oracles Approbation The fallacy lies in that word◠Knovvn which may either Signify à great moral Assurance such as the Primitive Christians had of our Saviour Miracles which prudently induced them to believe in Christ Or à higher Degree of certainty And this they attained when they heard an Infallible Oracle give full Assurance of our Saviours Miracles Thus we Discourse of Church Miracles The first moral knowledge previous to Faith induces us to believe the other grounded on the Churches Approbation takes all doubt away and in order to Believers gives full certainty as is further explained in the 14. Chapter already cited Upon this Page 6V7 Distinction that pritty Paralogism of the Dr comes to nothing but empty words We must Saith he knovv à man by such marks vvhich vve cannot knovv to be the Marks of such à man till vve first knovv the man He would say We must know the Church by her Marks That is by her Miracles The Dr's Paralogism dissolved which we cannot know to be the Marks of such à Church till vve knovv the Church I Answer we must know the Church by her Marks or Miracles upon moral certainty which yet we cannot know by à certainty excluding all doubt to be the Marks of such à Church till we know the Church That is till we have from her Approbation and Assurance concerning the real Truth and solid worth of her Miracles as proceeding from à Divine Power without fraud or false Illusion 12. To Satisfy the Dr I retort his Argument And instanced in our Saviours Miracles using the same formal words as to our Saviours Miracles We must knovv Christ by such Marks That is by his Miracles vvhich vve cannot knovv to be the Marks of Christ till vve knovv the man called Christ We must know Christ by his Miracles But hovv As the Primitive Christians knevv him when upon moral certainty they saw or heard of his Miracles And thereby were induced to believe in him Yet they could not know them by an indubitable certainty excluding all Dispute or That they were truly Miracles wrought by Divine Povver till some Oracle raised them to à higher Step of certainty 13. To clear what is now said Let us Imagin that Dr Still or some such like Incredulous man had been present with our Saviour when he cured the blind or cleansed the Lepers He would upon Moral certainty have Judged the vvorks Miraculous But withall might have doubted whether Christ did them by Divine Power or no hereof he had no Evidence at all Suppose that some other known Oracle owned infallible had told him These strange Cures thou sees't proceed from God He would without hesitancy have yeilded à firm Assent to their certain Truth and Judged them Miracles proceeding from God Thus we discourse of Miracles wrought in the Church A knowledge highly moral grounded on humane Faith first Proposes them as Works done by Almighty God though as yet not undoubtedly certain But when we hear that our Oracle approves them under the Notion of works done by Divine Power all further doubt ceases all hesitancy is taken away 14. From what we have said hitherto Two Two things deduced from the former Discourse things follow The first is that our Church Miracles as seen or heard of are easily distinguished upon Moral certainty from all Jugling Legerdemain Wonders pretended by Heathens and Hereticks Their exteriour Lustre even to Sense Their long and never interrupted Continuance in any Age Their prodigious Greatness and vast number vvrought in à Holy Society of Christians and by men of à most innocent life manifestly difference them from those other few and inconsiderable Wonders laid claim to by Gods professed Enemies Add to this exteriour visible Appearance the Churches Judgement and Approbation Though only Humane relating to the real Truth of Miracles all comparison ceases the Difference between true and false Signs is made most notorious 15. The second thing observable is That all Arguments Imaginable which either are or can be proposed against Miracles wrought in the Church have the very same force against our Saviours and the Apostles Signs That they are now registred in Scripture and thereby made matters of Faith weakens nothing the Strength of my Argument For I consider those Primitive Miracles as famed up and down the world and known upon humane Faith before the Holy Ghost sealed them up in the Book of Scripture Thus considered the Proofs are the same for Miracles wrought by Christ and in the Church And were there any Argument as there is none that could lessen the Credit of latter Miracles it would as I said be as forcible against the most Primitive Wonders Our Saviour all know wrought many Miracles not recorded in Holy Writ and so also the Apostles did Suppose these had been conveyed to us upon the Testimony of grave Authors as the very most of the Apostles Miracles are must such works of God be exploded as Fourbs because not recorded in Scripture It is no small Folly to Judge so But enough of this matter We now follow the Dr in his other Quotations 16. Dr Still cites Fevardentius who confesses Dr Stillî page 678. Fevardent in Irenaeum lib. 2. c. 86. the Church has never determined that Heretieks cannot work true Miracles and that those who hold the Affirmative have plain Testimonies of the Fathers for them Mr Dr relates not this Authors words or Sence sincerely Briefly Fevardentius having Quoted some Fathers only thought to favour the Opinion The Dr abuses Fevardentius concerning Miracles wrought by Hereticks though other Fathers are of à quite contrary Judgement Speak's thus Quibus vero magis adherendum sit pronunciet Ecclesia Let the Church here determine who we are to follow which is far from that round open Assertion which the Dr imposes