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
A DISCOVRSE OF MIRACLES WROUGHT IN THE ROMAN CATHOLICK CHVRCH OR A full refutation of Dr Stillingfleets unjust exceptions against Miracles together with à large discovery of the Doctors unexcusable frauds Manifest in his many false perverted and impertinent Quotations BY E. W. ANTWERP Printed by MICHAEL CNOBBAERT at the Sign of S. Peter 1676. Permissu Superiorum THE PREFACE TO THE READER A Year and more is pas't since it pleased Doctor Edward Stillingfleet to move some difficulties about Two main points in Controversy and to Show his Skill in Both. The one speculative relates to the Churches Infallibility and the Resolution of Faith The other in the Second Part touch'd upon à plain Matter of Fact the Miraculous Translation of the Hâ—ly house of Loreto from Nazareth to the place w 〈…〉 now stands honoured by à frequent Concourse of People from all Parts of Europe In my last little Treatise I endeavovred to Satisfy the Dr in the Speculative Part and as I think cleared all Difficulties objected against that Miraculous Translation And did this to please the Dr though hitherto He never gave mee thanks for my pains much less returned any Word of Answer Having ended that short Treatise I promised à Satisfactory Reply to the rest of Dr Stillingfleet's many Cavils carelesly thrown out at Miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church And here comply with my Promise where I show that never man had worser luck in any Engagement than the Dr in this undertaken Enquiry His chiefest Aime was as every one see 's so to manage matters as not only to cast à blemish upon some latter Miracles but to disgrace all wrought in the Church though in the Pursuit he shrinks so far as never to meddle with the true State of the Question proposed or rationally to oppose one clear and approved Miracle as you shall see hereafter The Method held by me in this Treatise is as followes I first Evince the Truth of our Saviours Miracles by Arguments drawn from rational Principles For we may I hope suppose this to bee à rational Princiciple That some Books of History universally received are for the Substance true and not wholly forged Thus much only granted I Discourse and require no more 2. I prove upon the same rational Grounds hereafter alledged true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church and produce many most clear ones seen by Ey-witnesses whereof none ever yet doubted 3. I waite on the Dr in his other Pilgrimâges made to Compostella and S. Maximin's in France and upon that occasion defend Pope Evaristus his VVritings 4. I produce the Testimonies of Ancient Fathers so manifest and pregnant for the Churches Miracles that no Catholick Writer of this Age ever yet did or can speak vvith greater Energy 5. I examin such Authorities and herein have taken some pains as the Dr thinks make most against the vvorking of new Miracles since the Apostles Dayes And I did more vvillingly engage in this particular upon the Dr's ovvn Provocation I desire them saith he in his Epistle Dedicatory not to spare me in this present subject of Miracles wherein I profess to relye on their own Writers If they show me any wilful mistakes therein I will endeavour to give them publick satisfaction Stand to your vvord Mr Dr And if I do not shovv à vvhole large List of many gross mistakes driven on by Malice Ignorance or both I 'le crave your Pardon and vvillingly ovvn my Errour before the vvhole vvorld Reader in this Contest there can be no long debate the comparing Authorities after you have opened the Dr's Book and mine vvill clear all and afford Great Store of Mistakes Now Seing the Dr relies on our ovvn Writers and hopes he err's not my Demand is In vvhat doth he rely on them for Has be any Catholick Author that opposes approved Miracles So it is saith the Dr. The Testimony of those who Dr p. 440. deliver Miracles hath been contradicted by men of greater Authority than themselve I Say contrary The Proposition is manifestly untrue Such men of greater Authority vvere never yet heard of nor can one be named as is made out in this Treatise vvhere you vvill se that the Dr fraudulently introduces Authors contrary to Miracles vvho vvith all might and main in express Terms allow them It is true Dr Iohn Launoy one of little credit as appear's afterwards quibbles at many matters of Fact reputed Miraculous yet never hitherto durst deny the Church to have had true Miracles wrought in it What the Dr Quotes from Melchior Canus and Ludovicus Vives relating to à suspension of all latter Miracles is more than most profoundly simple as you may read C. 10. n. 16. Now if the Dr in Lieu of relying on true Miracles lean upon this fallacious Principle That there have been Many forged by ungodly men and will list these among the Churches true Signs he is unworthy to be dealt with and doth not only Mistake but most grosly Calumniat's Some who they are I know not thought the Dr not to deal fairly in his Quoting Authors whereof be seem's very sensible in his Preface and deem's it so groundlesse à Calumny yea so void of Proof that he desires no better Argument of à bafled Cause than such impertinent Clamours Soon after followes à Brag of à larger Size Do they indeed think me à man so void of Common sence as to expose my selfe to the contempt of every one that will take pains to compare my Citations Have I Books only in my own keeping Or are they so rare that they cannot get à sight of them How then come they to know them false cited Reader I have beâ— me Thanks be to God the Books the Dr remits me to I have compared with my own eyes his Citations and after that pains taken certainly know that the Dr has grosly erred or to use his own words exposed himselfe to publick Contempt For Proof hereof I must speak plainly though little to the Dr's comfort and do make my Assertion good in the ensuing Treatise Not one only but all the Dr's Citations produced against the Churches approved Miracles are either very falsely Quoted Or peevishly perverted to à sinister Sence or finally wholly impertinent to the matter here debated False Citations are many perverted ones more and the impertinent almost numberless To prove every part of my Assertion in this place were to bring back one great Piece of this whole Treatise into the narrow compass of à short Preface However à few hints at some cannot take up much roome It is false though the Dr assert's it That Gerson Saies in à certain Epistle That now the working of Miracles is wholly taken away and none but false Christians Dr p. 688. pretend to it It is salse That according to S. Gregory whatever Miracles we Suppose to remain in the Church we do not look on them as wrought for the confirmation of any necessary Part of Christian Faith
depend on God as the sole Principal cause and secondly proceed Ex fide being ever done by Persons endued with supernatural Faith and for the most part very Holy and Vertuous 34. Here upon we briefly solve one difficulty which may occurr If false Prophets like Balaam impowred by Almighty God can Prophecy or cast out Divels why may they not also raise the dead convert nations restore sight to the One difficulty solved blind and do all the other Miracles which Christ and his Apostles wrought I Answer all this if Providence to set forth the worth of Faith and to honour the faithful in his Church will have their Miracles great glorious and many Those wrought by faithlesse and impious very few and of lesse Account Perhaps the four or five already mentioned and registred in Holy Writ are the very most or rather all that have been wrought since Christianity began and therefore prove not that the like Shall be done in future Ages 35. Having hitherto spoken of many undoubted Miracles and further declared how they differ from Antichrist's Signs and all lying wonders I might here fitly bring in Dr Still weak Objections and also insist upon his strange Answers returned to two or three great Miracles clearly set down in another Treatise But because the Gentleman most busies himselfe about these matters towards the end of his Enquiry we shall God willing meet with him there and in the mean time to make innumerable most glorious Miracles better known will condescend to his humour and follow him as he lead's us on in his other Pilgrimages to Compostella S. Maximins and so on forward till we have travelled through all the rubbish which lies between his 465 page and page 665. That done we proceed to the end of his Book I call it rubbish it deserves no better name because you neither have one Argument proposed against approved Miracles nor one Authority which is not either openly false wholly weightless or wholly impertinent If I make this out in the ensuing Discourse Dr Stillingfleet will have little cause to glory in his empty Pamphlet if I do not Let all the shame He or any can wish fall upon me Now to S. James of Compostella CHAP. V. In what manner the body of S. Iames was translated to Compostella The Conversion of Hermogenes and Philetus by S. Iames. Of Pope Calixtus his VVritings Miracles wrought by S. Iames manifestly proved against Dr Stillingfleet 1. TWo things may be controverted concerning S. James the Son of Zebedee and Brother to S. John the Evangelist The one whether he ever preached in Spain and this Cardinal Baronius seem's lesse Baronius Tom. 9. Antwerp print ad ann 816. Num. 67. to approve grounding himselfe upon à Contest in the great Council of Lateran between Rudoricus Ximenius Arch-Bishop of Toledo and the Bishop of Compostella The latter thought the Arch-Bishop of Toledo had no right to lay any command upon him by reason of the Preheminence the Church of Compostella had above all other Churches in Spain which he endeavored A Centest between two Bishops to show both because the body of S. James is preserved at Compostella and upon this Account also that the Apostle yet living preached in Spain Rudoricus opposed his preaching in Spain and urged the Bishop of Compostella Num. 69. to make that out verum Succubuit saith Baronius herein he fail'd and gave no Satisfactory proof in that great Council 2. The second thing called into doubt by Dr Still is the Translation of this great Apostles venerable Body to Compostella which happened that very year he was beheaded by Herod at Hierusalem For this you have an Epistle Num. 71. of Pope Leo the third Cited by Baronius where it is said that the dead body being thrown out to doggs and ravenous fowle was Put into à Ship carried first to Iria Flavia and thence to Compostella The manner of its Translation I have now by me which is taken out of an ancient M. S. Cited afterwards The substance wherof is as followes When the Holy Apostles according to the Command of our Blessed Saviour resolved to Preach the Sacred Gospel to an unbelieving world they made choice of S. Tesyphon ordained him Bishop and sent him with other associated Bishops to Preach in Spain then wholly Heathenish and Idolatrous These God inspired to take along with them the The martyred Body cast into à small Vessel Came safe to the Frontirs of Galicia martyred Body of S. James which they decently placed in à small Vessel and more by the guidance of Divine Providence than by the help of any Pilote safely arrived in the last Frontires of Gallicia where then à great Lady called Luparia Lived To her these wearied Passengers addressed themselves and earnestly begged to have à Plat of ground allotted where they might decently bury the Apostles Body But She saith my Relation savage and barbarous in dirision fent them to à Mountain called then Illicinus where à number of wild Oxen ran up and down Goe said the Lady and take of these as many as you can and then bury your Apostle When the Servants of God drew neer the wild beasts their fierenesse ceased and they became gentle like Lambs much after that manner as S. Ambrose in his Haexameron recount's of those beasts that were designed to devour S. Tecla 3. Upon this Sight and another wonder which S. Tesyphon wrought in destroying à Cruel Dragon that ravaged there about by making only the Sign of the Crosse the Lady Luparia or Lupa was converted to Christ and turned Her Palace into à Church Dr Still cites Joannes Dr Sill. pag. 470. Beleth à learned man and Dr of Sorbon in confirmation of this Story concerning Lupa and when he has done as his fashion is refutes it very learnedly by à simple Demand Is not this à Miracle as great and as well attested as any wrought by Christ and his Apostles Good Mr Dr. though we are far from judging either this or any other like Story to be as well attested as Miracles in Holy Writ yet by your leave we may discourse and conclude I think upon grounded Principles that all such Stories deserve not contempt Pray Sr reflect we have in Scripture that Christ our Lord commanded his Apostles to spread his Holy Gospel Mark 16. v. 20. the whole world over we have that they did so we have upon Known History that some preached in the Indies others in England others in different Parts of the Universe and made great conversions justly accounted Miraculous VVe next enquire how or by what meanes these great Missioneries got into so remote places Do Dr Still refutes the Story by Laughing at it not you think Mr Dr were all particulars known that we should discover many great favours Shown those blessed men in their Travels which might justly seem extraordinary and Miraculous Here Sr you have one strange Passage related of S. Tesyphon and his
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