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
more in the place Cited above was either brought to passe by Virtue of true Miracles or not if by Miracles we have our intent if not plain reason witness S. Austin teaches that no greater Miracle can be conceived than to behold à sinful and unbelieving World converted without the Miracles we plead for Answerable hereunto others Argue and methinks pertinently These Blessed men who wrote the History of the Gospel and registred our Saviours Miracles with their own at last as all know couragiously endured violent deaths to Testify that the Doctrin and Miracles they wrote of were no Leger-de-main but sincerely true In doing this we must either judge them horridly impious or stark mad if they registred matters of Fact that never were or contrarywise own them Divinly inspired and faithful Ministers of their great Lord and Master Say they were impious besotted or mad you utter the greatest Paradox that ever mouth spake and must confesse that whole multitudes wise and learned were converted to Christ by wicked and mad Impostors which proves him or them impious and utterly bereaved of Judgement that dare upon no ground avouch à Fiction so shamfully incredible These first followers of Christ therefore proceeded with all Sincerity and registred their great Masters Doctrin and Miracles most faithfully 17. A third Proof methinks Very convincing may be thus proposed Should à Stranger come amongst us from the furthest Parts of the world and tell us he hath heard much in his Travels of great wonders done by à man called Jesus Christ as also of Strange Miracles wrought by some poor followers Christ had named Disciples and very willing he is to be better informed concerning the truth of these divulged Wonders To give this man rational Satifaction I would in the first place put into his hands the History of the Gospel where these Matters of Fact are recorded and next demand whether he can more rationally call into doubt the truth of that History owned by innumerable How à Strâger may be satisfyed that doubts of Christs Miracles multitudes à true Book at least upon humane faith than in prudence Question the verity of any other History he own 's true In case he boggles at the History I must know Why and upon what rational ground he boggles Now this ground after some little discourse will appear so remote from being rational that it can come at last to nothing but à selfe conceipted Fancy because it is utterly impossible to make any more just or reasonable exception against the plain History of the Gospel than against any other known or received true Story Thus much cleared which no Enemy of Christ unlesse most unreasonable can deny our Stranger casts his thoughts upon Iewes and modern Sectaries and finds these by their own confession so destitute of Miracles that none among them can pretend to any since Christianity began Next he peruses the Gospel see 's with what Candour the Evangelists recount our Saviours Miracles and seems willing enough to hold all true upon humane Faith because he finds no reasonable exception against them yet stick 's much at one Passage where we are told of greater works to be Iohn 14. v. 12. done by those who believe in Christ than he had wrought If this can be made out and verifyed saith the Stranger Christ did not only foretel future things which is proper to God but it followes also that after his death and leaving the world He did as if present with some choise Servants impower them to perpetuate the like visible Wonders he had wrought Christ therefore Saith he was either very unwise in promising so largely while he lived if he never performed it or if he really made all good he worthily deserves credit and ought to be believed before any that hitherto taught the world for though we read of some Heathens who gloriously set forth their own Wonders yet none of them dared to Prophesy of doing Miracles after death by others neither did they for ought I know work any by men of the like Belief or Profession with them Thus the Travaller discourses and urges to have these latter Miracles wrought by Christs Servants rationally laid forth to an unbyassod Judgement To Satisfy the difficulty here proposed 18. All know that matters of Fact as Miracles where of we now discourse are not proved by Principles taken from natural Causes or the deep knowledge of Metaphysical learning for who will go about to show that Caesar was à glorious Warrier or Cicero an Eloquent Orator by Metaphysicks or natural reasoning None can attempt this All therefore that Argue pertinently must rely upon other proofs and plead as we have done for Apostolical Miracles by the publick Fame of them spread the whole world over or finally Reason thus It is manifest that those first Blessed men however weak in them selves without force of Armes ruined the Idols of the Gentils and converted innumerable to Christ Ergo they wrought great Miracles answerable to that Ruin and the admirable Conversions done by them 19. To give more force to these and the like Vpon what Principles Miracles are proved Proofs I doe not only as S. Chrisostom advises take into my hands the Apostles Acts written by S. Luke where we read of stupendious Miracles but I also reflect upon our Saviours antecedent Promise concerning greater Works and further evince the real truth of that Prophesy by the consequent visible Wonders which those first blessed men wrought here on earth And first I might tell you it is clear from the Prophesies of the old Scripture that the ancient Priesthood among the Iewes was to fail and à new King and Priest raign for ever that à Church once barren should have many Children as we proved above It is again clear that these Prophesies were fulfilled when Christ our Lord established his own glorious Kingdom the Christian Catholick Church and though Iewes seek to darken the light of those clear Predictions yet it is evident that Christ has had à glorious Church in the world above Sixteem Ages which as Tertullian observes stood not confined to one Tertull. lib adversus Judaeos cap. 8. or more places like the Empire of Nabuchodonosor or Alexander but Vbique porrigitur c. has à vast extent is believed every where Reign 's every where and is reverenced in all places Hence I Argue When innumerable worthy How Worthy Credit those VVitnesses are who defend Miracles Witnesses within one only Kingdom against whom never just exception was or can be made unanimously averr à matter of Fact assented to as an undoubted Verity That is held Unquestionable So all prudently judge such à Prince as Henry the. 5th to have once gloriously reigned in England because many worthy Witnesses never rationally excepted against Avouch it as à certain Truth but à far greater cloud of worthy Witnesses members of Christ's glorious Church against whom their was never any Just exception openly declare and
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
of his Crucifyed Body And shall we call this into doubt saith Ferrandus when the Queen of Heaven in after Ages gave Assurance of it to S. Brigit Revel 6. S. Briget yet living upon earth The Dr replyes not at all to this Authority but only frigidly Saies it were Good to understand where the Prepuce is It would Sr be likewise Good to understand where your Protestancy was two or three Ages since make you but thus much out upon any Revelation imparted to S. Brigit We will yeild it once à Being in the world yea and more à longer Continuance But never yet could you or any say where or in what place it was The Sacred Prepuce Mr Dr once committed Why the sacred Prepuce cannot be Supposed lost to S. John cannot while so many lay claim to it be supposed lost In case some be mistaken in judgeing they have it and have it not the Errour arising out of invincible Ignorance is pardonable and in Justice not imputable O but Saies our Dr The same worship is given to all those places where its thought to be And as he pleases to Suppose Miracles likewise equally wrought there Answ Where God vouchsafes to work true Miracles by that Relique there I say it is and therefore will sooner grant it multiplyed by Divine Power in many places than unreasonably dare to deny the Miracles I know Ferrandus solves the Difficulty Ferran lib. 1. c. 2. sect 2 another way and thinks those several Prepuces are only so many divided Parts of the Umbelical Reins yet preserved in Italy and other Countries But I willingly wave this Authors long discourse and in lieu of it Propose à second Objection 19. S. Athanasius cited in the 2. Nicene Synode Athanas lib de Passione Imaginis Domini seem's to assert that no other Flesh or blood of our Saviour remain's now on earth besides that in the Holy Eucharist I wonder the Dr makes use of these words because as Quoted by him they necessarily prove the Blood in the Blessed Sacrament to be truly and really Christ's Sacred Blood For if none really remain on earth but that in the Holy Eucharist that most certainly is Supposed to be the true real Blood of our Saviour So if any truly say none is in the house but Peter the Assertion necessarily implies Peter to be there Briefly Cardinal Bellar. de Ecc Scrip. Anno 340. S. Athan. Bellarmine Answer 's that the Book cited is not held the Work of the Ancient Athanasius but of some other Author much later Again Saith he the late Quoted words are not all extant in the Greek Copy of the Nicene Council nor recorded in the Version of Anastasius Bibliothecarius Therefore seem an Addition foisted in by some after the debate had before Pope Pius the second concerning the Sacred Blood of Christ Moreover saith Bellarmine to Assert that none of our Saviours Blood remain's on earth besides that in the Holy Eucharist contradict's the Tradition of the Church of Mantua which glories in preserving part of the Blood which truly issued out of our Saviours Side and Pope Leo the third then eight hundred year's past declared it to be so who as many French Writers recount went at the Instance of Charles the Great to Mantua with Intention to be informed of the Truth as likewise of the Miracles wrought there by Virtue of that precious Treasure where the Pope receiving full Satisfaction approved all by à special Bull as Baronius cited by Bellar. witnesses For à Baron tom 9 ann 804 Parisiens in Henrico 3. Rege Angliae p. 717. Conclusion of this whole matter Bellar. quotes Matthew Paris who Saies that the Patriarch of Hierusalem sent to Henry the third King of England à little Vial containing à rich Present the Very true Blood of our Saviour which was received with great joy and Veneration all England over Our Catholick Bishops then preaching in their several Districts highly esteemed the Gift and shewed of what worth it was with much Zeal and fervour 20. Ferrandus Quots these words out of Pope Ferran sect 1. Pius his Bull. Veritati fidei c. It is no way against Faith to affirm that our Saviour in memory of his Sacred Passion left here on earth some parts of his own precious Blood whereunto besides Leo the third two other Popes Sixtus the Fourth and Julius the Second accord with à whole Legion of Catholick Divines saith Ferrandus The Testimony also of Euthymius Euth Monachus Zigabemus in coufut Sectae Saracenicae in his Confutation of the Ismaëlits or Saracens is here most memorable Non umbram Christi c. The Blood saith he which ran down from the Body of our Crucified Saviour proves that we have not à bare Shadow or Semblance of Christ but Christ really Crucified in mortal Flesh This Blood is yet kept amongst Christians and visibly boyling up cures many Diseases and that it is our Redeemers Blood most clear and uncontestable Miracles make manifest I hope These few Authorities and many more alledgeable may happily teach the Dr to rule his Tongue better and to Surcease from his roaring out against our abusing Mankind with Vials and turning the most Holy Religion in the vvorld into à meer Shevv and Ceremony Meer empty and peevish words void of weight and all shadow of Reason 21. A third Objection All the Blood of our Saviour Shed in his Sacred Passion vvas as many hold reassumed at his Resurrection Answerable to an old Maxim Quod semel assumpsit non demisit The Dr to his shame blindly stumbles upon the Difficulty after he had as it seem's read Ferrandus his clear Solutions but was willing to Ferran cited sect 7. conceal what he would not have à Reader know Briefly None Saith Ferrandus can Assert that our Saviour reassumed all the Parts of matter added to his Sacred Body by continual Nutrition without making it of à monstrous Bignesse yet those particles once were united to his Divine Person though never reassumed Why Therefore may we not Say that as our Redeemer left on the one side great Quantity of his Blood as à Testimony of his dear Affection to Mortals who reverently preserve it so on the other when he rose from death He resumed so much Vital Blood perhaps saith Ferrandus taken from some other matter as was sufficient to constitute his Glorious Body in à perfect State of Immortality Again were it needful Why might we not assert that that copious torrent The Dr may think this Doctrin Strange But that 's no matter Let him read Divines of Blood which fell from Christ in his bitter Passion remain's yet Hypostatically Vnited to the Divine Person His dead Body lying in the Grave retained still all confess the Hypostatical union and so did his glorious Soul in Lymbo Though all that time far distant from the Body In like manner that precious Blood which plentifully gushed out of his Veins
Bollandus it will not be amisse to Preacquaint the Reader with à notorious cheat that run's through his one and thirty leaves Pray observe it These Authors now mentioned though vilifiyed by the Dr even Colganus most laid at produce their Records Testimonies and Manuscripts in behalfe of every Miracle asserted or at least say they are Producible whether true or false is the only matter in Question Should not the Dr Think ye had he intended to Satisfy à judicious Reader have shewed these alledged Records and Manuscripts forceless or of no Account Should he not according to the Method of all Writers have proved them contradicted by other grave Authors or at least made their Flawes if any were apparent by Cronology or some other Circumstances worthy à Readers entertainment Thus Bollandus ' Henschenius and Papebrochius whom he cites seriously goe to work and have Discovered upon mature Examination no few mistakes in matter of History But our Dr content only with à bare Relation of what those Authors say wholly waves this necessary Labour and most simply perswad 's himselfe that the Extravagancy of The Dr makes the wonder in à Miracle the only Proof against it the Wonders so he speaks or the seeming Ridiculousnes of them is full Proof enough against their being so much as probable Alas your Atheists and Heathens may taught by the Dr upon the same Ground deride and jeer at the very most of the Miracles recorded in Holy Scripture I say therefore Though I am not of so easy Faith as to believe all that Captgrave and Colganus recount to be manifest Truths if they reach to Probability it 's well yet thus much I Assert that for any thing the Dr Opposes they may be most true so Pitifully and miserably he handles this whole Matter 3. You shall see by à few Particulars for I intend not to accompany the Dr in his long Carrier all through whether I speak not Truth Mr Cressy's whole Book though once perused I have not at present speak's as the Dr tells us of many Saints S. Iustianus S. Ositha S Clarus and others that walked as the Report goes of S. Denis in France with their heads cut off Mr Dr in this place should have confuted the Legends this Author relies on he ought to have proved them counterfeit by some Authority greater or of equal poise with these Legenders He might at least have said upon no improbable Guess as the more exact Writers do that many Saints had indeed their Heads cut off and that to Show they were Martyrs our Ancestors painted them like S. Denis carrying their heads in their hands which afterwards Some perhaps over credulous without due examination mistaking the Painters intent made à Story of Thus I say Judicious men Discourse whether well or no I am not to Define yet know that our Dr who waves all reasoning in this matter too Dr Still page 508. rudely refutes Mr Cressy with these few boysterous words What can be imagined more absurd and be supposed to be done to lesse purpose than such foppish Miracles as these Is not This as I noted above to Decry Miracles because they seem wonderful to à vulgar Fancy and may not à Heathen laugh as lowd at Elias dividing the River Jordan with an old Cloak I am sure Elias his Action considered in it selfe is altogether as Extravagant and if well set forth with an Atheist's Jeer may be made every whit as ridiculous Pray you Tell me when the Dr after à leaf or two jeer's at Cap Many Miracles in Scripture as Strange as those are the Dr Laughs at grave and Colganus who say that S. Aldem and S Deicola hanged their Garments on the Sun-beams tell me I say Whether of these two Miracles may seem the more odd and extraragant Viz. That the Sun-beams supported wet Garments or that Elias his cloak divided Jordan I think the Wonder is much à like in both and this the Dr only sport's with for he wholly leaves the matter of Fact unexamined O but Scripture relates what we read of Elias and old Legends perhaps very doubtful give these other Stories Credit A simple Reply For here we Parallel not humane Authority with Divine but Ask whether Scripture makes the Miracles there recorded Lesse Wonderful than these other Most evidently No. Therefore the Doctors whole Confutation of These Miracles taken from their seeming Extravagancy becomes à senceless Plea while Scripture in à hundred Passages forces on us the Beliefe of Things as Strange to Fancy or natural Discourse What can be more Extravagant than Samson's taking two Judges 16. 29. Pillars whereon à house rested and holding the one in his right hand and the other in the left brought ruine by the fall of that Fabrick to three Thousand Philistiens It is hard to conceive the placing of these Pillars so fitted to Samsons reach and the Ruine so universal that none of the three Thousand escaped More Instances of the like nature you have above 4. Out of all I conclude that as long as A Miracle necessarily implies Wonder the Dr weakens not the humane Authority produced by Catholick Writers in behalfe of Miracles and this he never attempts so long he feed's his Reader with an empty sound of words in rejecting Miracles because of their Wonder for à Miracle necessarily implyes à wonder and most justly in curr's à Censure for his tedious Tattle seasoned with nothing but Jeers and reproachful Calumnies 5. Innumerable Instances he hath just of the some Strain not worth refuting Capgrave Capgrave it seem's relates the Miraculous feeding of S. Kined Son to à Prince of little Brittany by his own daughter to whom an Angel brought à Brasse bell which the Child sucked and received nourishment sweeter than any milk and this makes the Dr great Sport Soon after Colganus is cited for à strange Miracle wrought upon Colganus S. Berach Abbot said to suck in his Infancy the right Eare of his Uncle ut quidam fingunt add's Colganus in his notes as some feign For although Colganus such à Miracle be not impossible to God that can fetch oile out of à hard rock yet Divine Providence could well give Nutriment to the Child by some easier means as he fed S. Macarius Witness Surius Dr Still page 517. Palladius in his Life and S. Giles by the milk of à Hinde See Surius 1. Septem The Dr excepts against the long lives of some Saints related by Colganus S. Mochaius lived 150. years much about the Age of old Thomas Parr in England But Kieran S. Abban and S. Mochteus out went Them not falling much short of 300. In all which time S. Mochteus neither Spake idle word nor eate meat Nay others sayes our Dr will have it that in one hundred years he eat nothing What These others not named say imports little Colganus I am sure uses Colganus 24. Mart. Page 734. this Expression taken out of old Verses
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
unsound Discourse of our Dr. Hence his far fetch 't Instances from Compostella and S. Vincentius are ushered in to no purpose save only to show his Ignorance and to traduce an unwary Reader Roffensis contra cap. Baby l. c. 10. 12. The like couzenage we have in three or four Quotations following so palpable that in real Truth I stand amazed at the Dr's insincerity He first referr's us to our worthy and learned Iohn Fisher Lord Bishop of Rochester as one opposite to Miracles wrought in the Church and doth it with so great confidence that he boldly Asks whether any Testimony can be more plain and Still p 613. Roffens contra Oëcolampad lib l. c 16. 17. p. 801 802. weighty than this in our case it being from one who undoubtedly knew all the Pretences to Miracles then made I beseech you Reader turn first to Roffensis where he showes that true Miracles are not to be rejected because some have made pretence to false ones and tell 's Oëcolampadius that for one feigned Invocation of à Magician the Sectary urged we Catholicks can produce innumerable true Miracles whereof saith the Bishop I shall speak more in the Preface to my second Book Again he saith though à Magician may dazle our Eyes with his Charms yet all true Miracles undoubtedly done by good Angels are not therefore to be rejected Absit istud à piorum mentibus far be this Errour from the minds of pious men Lastly he appeal's to the Miracles related by S. Austin and urges one which he call's Insigne Miraculum à famous Miracle Roffen cap. 17. wrought by the prayers of S. Gregory upon an incredulous Roman woman These saith Roffensis if thou Oëcolampadius weighest diligently and yet dost continue in thy obstinacy thy heart is hardned but because thou durs't not contradict the Powerful hand of God who did these Wonders Thou help 's on our Catholick cause 13. Again saith Roffensis Ponder well and page 804. fine tell me why God hath wrought so many yea far more Manifest Miracles to Confirm the Verity of the Holy Eucharist than he has done for Roffensis most plain for Miracles any other Sacrament The reason is This Mystery being Sublime and difficult Providence to facilitate our Faith gives light and support's the real Verity we believe by the Evidence of innumerable known Miracles Great Authors highly deserving credit recount these famous Miracles And no man in his Wits can deny them Thus our worthy Bishop who in à hundred other Passages of his works stoutly defend's Church Miracles What think ye is the Dr likely to prevail much against Miracles by the Testimonies here alledged when the Author he cites most professedly own 's them How could so learned à Prelate oppose Miracles in one part of his Works and vigorously maintain them as you see done in the places now cited and many others How durst he check the Heretick and tax him of Obstinacy in case he omitted to weigh diligently the Wonders recounted by S. Austin by S. Gregory and those other supposed evidently wrought in confirmation of that Truth we all believe I mean the Sacred Eucharist 14. We are now to clear the Testimony produced by the Dr from that false Glosse he cast's upon it In à word the Bishops whole Drift is to show and mark well his Drift for it clears all that the bare words of Scripture made use of without the Interpretation of the Church or the unanimous consent of Fathers are easyly perverted To prove the Assertion Roffensis tell 's us first That as our Saviour cast out Divels illuminated the Roffen contra capt Baby l c 10 page 227 Mark 16 v. 17. blind and cured diseases so likewise calling the Apostles together he gave them command over unclean Spirits and Power to cure all diseased as Christ our Lord did Hitherto no difficulty But saith our Bishop There is another Promise made by our Saviour here begin's the Dr's jugling when he foretold these Signs should follow in all the faithful that believed in him In my name they shall cast out Divels speak with new Tongues take Serpents away and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them They shall impose hands upon the sick and they shall be cured Observe well Saith he This large Promise made to all Believers in Christ we se not so amply performed for now common Believers cast not out Divels nor cure all diseases yet there is no doubt but that many had and have still true Faith In the next place the Bishop proposes this Objection Some perhaps will say Christ's promise therefore was in vain He Answer 's no Roffensis◠sed dicet page 229 such matter and his Answer clearly discover's the Dr's fraud our Saviour saith he would not have the Efficacy of his promise to be perpetual but only at the Rise and the growth of the Church Observe his reason Commonly at the ◠Observe wel of what Miracles the Bishop speaks beginning of the Church all true Believers to advance the Faith laid forth in the Gospel had the grace of working such Miracles as are now specifyed But after the Gospel was diffused the whole world over There was no need of the like Miracles wrought by all the faithful However if we precisely stand to the bare words of Christ there should not be any believing Christian in this Age without the Priviledge of working the Miracles now mentioned Thus our worthy Bishop And do not And learn thereby the Dr's Iugling you hereby see an Intolerable Jugling in Dr Still Who out of à misapplyed Principle Viz. All true Believing Christians in the following Ages dispossessed not Divels cured not all diseases spake not different Languages as the Primitive Believers did Will hence conclude There was no longer need of Miracles They are the Dr's own word 's Had Dr Still page 613. Hee said it is now needlesse that all good Christians work the like Miracles in the present Age as the Primitive Believers did which is all Roffensis affirm's he had spoken Truth But because he shift's off this main Circumstance I must once more accuse him of Notorious Jugling and can never sufficiently admire the mans boldness in corrupting Authors as he doth Almighty God forgive him 15. Another Testimony I find taken out of Stella in c. 11. Lucae p. 104. Didacus Stella where the Dr saith we read that the Power of Miracles is ceased What man but the Dr durst have told so lowd an untruth Reader believe it Stella in this very place assures us that about thirty years then past the Stella defend's great Miracles Holy Martyr Andreas de Espoleto being in Mauritania was cast three times into the Fire where he prayed in the midst of the flames without hurt not having so much as à hair of his head scorched And though saith Stella this great Miracle happened in the sight of many Lucitanians then present yet none of
pointed out the great light of the world then appearing in Bethlem Observe the Expression wise men whether then living or afterwards imports not Judged so Therefore he never proposed this as à Truth revealed by Almighty God in Scripture 5. And thus Reader you have briefly the intolerable fraud of De Dieû and our Dr discovered who will needs impose upon F. Xavier what he never said They avouch he told all these Particulars and more as Verities revealed by Almighty God and words contained in the Holy Gospel Whereas it is evident by his manner of Writing And own Expressions no such thing can be meant Though desirous to make the History of Christ compleat he grounded himselfe first upon the exact Truths recorded in the Prophets and the Gospel with à further Enlargement as you have heard The Dr therefore yet living is obliged to recall what he has falsely said And to take off his foul Aspersion unjustly laid upon à most laudable Missioner 6. In like manner I Answer to the Exceptions made against the Story of the B. Virgin Dr Still page 618. where the Dr as God would have it manfully refutes himselfe F. Xavier saith he took what he had out of à Silly Book attributed to S. Hierome rejected by Baronius and others Is it so Did he take Baron Appar n. 44. what he had out of à Silly Book Prove you Sr that he presented the contents of that Book to Acabar under rhe Notion of God's revealed Wherein De Dieu and the Dr fail Word or as Written in Scripture and you Satisfy us But this neither De Dieu nor you shall ever make Probable 7. In the next place our Dr falls foule upon the Father for asserting Issachar to have been High Priest when S. Joachim offered up his Sacrifice in the Temple It is true Baronius cited saies Issachar could be no high Priest Then But tell me Reader is not this à pardonable fault in à poor Missioner who if mistaken thought he had S. Hierom's Authority for his Assertion And then neither did nor could know what Baronius had Written of this Subject Were the Dr's grosse Errours when he Quotes Authors falsly as I have Demonstrated When he produces Testimonies for the ceasing of Miracles in the Church though he saw those very VVriters he cites most expresse for glorious Miracles in latter Ages When he looks back upon his Jugling and foul perverting the plain Sence of Authors When he call's to mind his unjust Calumny Laid on Jesuits as men Forsooth who think it Lawful to Lye for à good cause c. These and many more Abominable frauds I have discovered in the Dr though to use his own words upon another Occasion he little thought they would ever come to light Were such grosse falsities I say as minute and pardonable as that one small Oversight is of F. Xavier Mr Dr might rejoyce And read these my Writings over with à merrier heart than he is like to do But his Errours are horrible and without serious repentance unpardonable The rest that followes in the Dr of the Blessed Virgins retyred life in the Temple of her vow of Virginity which grave Authors affirm The Baron Appar n. 47. c. 56. Dr laughs at all you have plainly asserted and proved in Baronius 8. Our Dr willing to make his Imputations cast on F. Xaverius relishable and to gain his precious Author De Dieu credit cites Philip Alagambe who saies the Text of Dieu his Translation is not unfaithfully done some few things Alagambe Biblioth Scrip. Societatis page 188. Animadversiones De Dieu page 537. excepted It is very true But Alagambe add's That De Dieu's heretical Observations or Animadversions one great part of his Book comming from à naughty heart deserve to be burnt with his Preface and marginal notes This Mr Dr conceal's yet Methinks if Alagambe merits credit in the one his word also may well be taken for the other The Dr at the close of Dr Still page 623. his Discourse thinks he hath said enough not only to stop the mouth of E. VV. for the future but even of impudence it selfe An idle brag of à defeated Adversary Peruse Reader this Treatise and you will see to whom Impudence as due belong's in this place I say no more 9. The Dr from his Page 624. to 663. afford's little worth reflection or any Reply In à word he seem's much like some poor Fellowes in our Cities that goe up and down the Streets and cast into nasty Carts all the filth and Dirt they meet with And I verily think gain more by that Sordid Employment Than the Dr gets Forged Miracles introduced by the Dr. wholly impertinent by his long and tedious Narration of forgeries and false Miracles impiously Pretended to have been wrought when none were This I call Dirt busily Scraped up by the Dr and cast into the Pages now mentioned But for what End or Purpose is hard to say Is it to tell us that Cheats and Counterfeits have sometimes plaid their prancks and abused others No great Doctorship is required for that which the whole world knowes Is it to Decry true Miracles because false ones have been forged A plain Degree of Madnes For so we should decry true Scripture because false Scripture has been Fathered upon the very Apostles Is it to prove à Religion naught because some that professe it Se Eusebius Hist lib. 3. c. 19. and l. 6 c. 10. And S. Austin contra Adversar Legis prophetar lib. 1. c. 20. Se Reas. and Relig. Disc 2. c. 8. num 11. counterfeit Miracles By this Art and Arguing Protestancy is ruined For not only Luther and Calvin as I shewed feigned Miracles but others also of the English Ministery have done so Witnesse that egregious fourb practized by John Dorrell in his pretended Possessions and Dipossessions of William Summers at Nottingham of Thomas Darling the boy of Burton of Cadwall and of Katharine Wright at Mansfeild c. Whereof whole Books have been Written laying open the frauds as you may read in Brerely who also introduces Dorells notorious cheat of à Spirit Brerely Tract 2. c. 3 Sect. 7. subd 5. p. with me 546. speaking in à wall against Queen Mary with the sleeping Preachers forgery Discovered by his Majesty King James VVere it worth the while to gather up more of this filth justly attributed to Protestants we could easily match Mr Dr and bespatter as many Pages with it as he has done But who besides the Dr can endure this Nonsense Some of such à profession have plaid the Knaves and forged Miracles Ergo the Religion that decryes the Forgery is naught Or true Miracles whereof Christians never doubted are to be looked on as False 10. Mr Dr after two tedious Stories of Falco and Joannes de Vincentia held by many Impostors by others not so hardly thought of But rather freed from the guilt for our purpose it imports not to
on him Fevardentius saith he confesses the Church has never determined that Hereticks cannot work true Miracles He makes no such open confession either in words or Sence much less doth he Say as you Sr unworthily Cite That those who hold the Affirmative have plain Testimonies of Fathers for them It is utterly false Fevardentius barely relates the Sentiment of others who seem to teach that Hereticks may work Miracles Some saith he think Tertullian favour's the Opinion others bring in Sozomenus and Socrates others seek Patronage from S. Augustin Doth this lessening way of speaking import that those who hold the Affirmative have plain Testimonies of the Fathers for them 17. Had you Sr perused Fevardentius in Fevard in cap. 8. lib. 1. Irenaei another place he remit's us to you might have been ashamed of this Jugling There he expresly denies the Power of working Miracles to Hereticks and grounds his Denial upon the Authority of Clemens Romanus Iustin Martyr and S. Augustin Then he tells you There is not one Doctrin of our Catholick Faith which Almighty God has not confirmed by most evident Miracles Which Miracles saith he wrought in every Age Some Chief Hereticks have gathered together written of and divulged to the world yet you Sr building upon one Testimony of Fevardentius would fraudulently perswade us that Miracles prove nothing as to the Truth and Infallibility of the Church And that they may be only wrought when the Communion of Christians are different from each other for the Verifying of some Common Truths received among all Christians With what Countenance can you avouch this when you see the Author quoted Miracles saith Fevardentius have confirmed Every Catholick Doctrin c. 16. n. 4. by you point blank against you Most evident Miracles saith Fevardentius have been wrought not only to attest some common Truths amongst Christians but to confirm every Doctrin held by the Catholick Church VVhereof see more in à foregoing Chapter 18. The Dr in the Page cited drives on à Lingendes in Conc. quadr to 2. Conc. 2. long Quotation borrowed From F. de Lingendes very true Doctrin as delivered by the Author But Mr Dr's Inferences drawn from it which as strongly impugne Miracles wrought by Christ and the Apostles as any done in the Church have been already weighed in the foregoing Chapter and are there fully Answered Lingendes saith the Dr grant's that to all outward Appearance Hereticks may do as great Miracles as any And you Sr grant or you cheat the Reader that Heathens have done Miracles to appearance as great as ever our Saviour or Apostle wrought Now Sr as you Difference Christ's Miracles from such false Signs we also difference and distinguish Of the Difference between all false Signs and true Miracles Miracles done in the Church and Oppose their vast number manifest in all Ages their Majesty and Greatnes in raising the dead restoring sight to the blind and curing mortal Infirmities to those few inconsiderable dull wonders pretended by Hereticks whereof if not all more than the halfe are False The Circumstances also accompaning our Miracles add à singular Lustre having been wrought in à Church ever owned Orthodox and by men of eminent known Sanctity who upon their invocating the Saints in Heaven obtained what they prayed for But enough of this particular in the precedent Chapter cited 19. The Dr think's we cannot show our Page 684. Church Miracles wrought for no other End but to prove the Church Infallible Answ No more can the Dr prove that the Apostolical Miracles were wrought only to prove Apostolical Doctrin Infallible as I have clearly shewed above Now that c. 16. n. 1. innumerable have been done to testify the Truth and consequently the Infallibility of Catholick Doctrin is so manifest that nothing but Impudence can deny it VVhy have so many glorious Martyrs joyfully suffered bitter Persecution before Tyrants why have they openly professed to dy for our Catholick Faith why has God evidenced so many Miracles not only at their death but afterwards at their Shrines and Monuments Were not these things done to testify that the Faith they dyed for was True and Infallible If any doubt be made hereof Ecclesiastical History will clear all Peruse Reader among others Victor Vticensis who Victor Uticens l 1 wrote three Books of the VVandals Persecution where he set's forth the admirable fortitude of Martyrs Se also Eusebius Nicephorus Tertullian and Eusebius lib 5 Hist per totum Niceph lib 3 c 29 l. 9. c. 17. Tertull in Apolog. S. August lib. 18 de civit c. 50. Chiefly S. Augustin who recount the horrid Persecution of Martyrs living after the Apostles dayes And Say that God made his eternal Truths known Signis portentis variis virtutibus by Signs prodigious wonders and sundry sorts of Miracles which those blessed men wrought before Kings and Tyrants that formerly endeavouvred to destroy the Church 20. In the next place the Dr has another fling at the poor Boyes restored Leg in Spain and most simply Ask's What signifies this to the Proof of the Roman Churches Infallibility I Answer it signifies very much and manifestly proves one Article of Catholick Doctrin The Invocation of Saints The Miracle surpassed all natural Power Divels when the blessed Virgin was called on did not doe it God therefore who cannot Employ his Power to confirm à falshood approved by that Prodigious Cure page 684 the Catholick Doctrin of praying to Saints CHAP. XVIII VVhether it be reasonable to have Missionaries now sent into England and work Miracles there The Dr wishes this done More of the Dr's many false and impertinent Quotations Antichrist's VVonders no true Miracles Miracles known upon Moral Certainty sufficiently induce to Faith 1 IN the same the page Dr Proposes what he would have done Let their Missionaries saith he come here among us whom they account Hereticks and do the same things that Christ and his Apostles did in raising the Dead and healing all manner of Diseases But let them not think to put us off with painted strawes and counterfeit Trances Good The Dr's uncivil Expression Mr Dr speak I beseech you more reverently were all the stupendious Miracles related by S. Irenaeus S. Augustin S. Hierome and S. Chrysostom painted Strawes and counterfeit Trances Was that great Miracle wrought lately at Calais upon cap. 3. n. 3 à young Gentlewoman whereof you have à full relation à painted cure or the Boyes restored Leg in Spain à painted Leg Were all those dead raised to life at the Intercession of Blessed S. Thomas Cantilupe manifest in your own England counterfeit Resuscitations Nothing but impudence can Judge so Know therefore Sr and it is your Duty to know it that all these admirable All the Miracles wrought in the Church were done for Hereticks Works of God with innumerable more were wrought for you and for this End that you if not perverse may se how gloriously Christ our Lord has beautifyed