avail to corroborate the Faith of Believers now The Churches Approbation impaires not in the least the Doctrin of the Church where they are wrought But of this more afterwards You will Say again if Miracles wrought in the Church make her Doctrin credible S. Austin did not well in omitting to plead by Miracles I answered the Saint proceeded most wisely in taking his recourse to Scripture For had he insisted upon Miracles not owned by those Hereticks The whole Contest would have been whether such as Optatus and S. Ambrose attested had been true or no which would have caused an endless Dispute and Therefore he falls upon an undoubted Principle The Testimonies of the Law and Prophets owned by the Donatists and upon that Ground strongly refutes them leaving Miracles to their own weight and Efficacy The Dr having very lamely cited this passage out of S. Augustine vainly Triumph's and thinks that never two more plainly contradicted each other in this Point than S. Austin and E. W. who saith he appeal's to Miracles for à Proof of the Catholick and infallible Church and such as are equal to those of Christ and his Apostles Of this Equality I have treated already and told Mr Dr wherein Church Miracles The Dr's vain brag as raising the dead curing the blind and healing the infirm are equal and how they differ from the like wonders done by Christ and his Apostles As for your Triumph Mr Dr before the least Shadow of Victory all I say is if it comfort your heart hold on Till you have better perused S. Austin and these my short Notes upon his Doctrin That done you will I am sure have little heart to brag the second time 10. The following Quotations our Dr gathers out of S. Austin are either not found at all in the Passages he cites or so wholly impertinent that I verily believe he never read S. Austin or set them down at random to the great vexation of à Reader For who would not be vexed to se an Author magnificently cited in different Characters and when he turn's to the Dr Still page 582. place pointed at find's nothing like it Thus the Dr Quotes S. Augustine to this purpose Viz. That Miracles are no Proof of the true Church for S Aug. trac 14. in Joan. cap. 3. though Pontius and Donatus might do vvonders and see visions yet Christ has forevvarned us not to be deceived by Miracles First there are no such words in this place or any thing like that Sence 2. Were the sence found els where you have thus much only Asserted and it is very true False Miracles are no Proof of the true Church 11. The Dr ' s next Quotation is nothing De verbis Dom. serm 18. to his purpose Briefly S. Augustine in that place compares the Miraculous cures wrought by our Saviour on Souls now with those which he anciently did upon Bodies here on earth and calls these the lesser cures grounding his Discourse upon this Principle As the Soul is more excellent than the Body so à cure wrought in that nobler part of man is greater than Miracles done upon à Body which our Lord did to draw men to Faith Now saith the Saint when Faith is spread all the world over He work 's those greater wonders in Souls And for Spiritual Cures esteemed greater than Corporal that cause shewed those lesser done on Bodies Now he open's not the Eyes of the blind yet open's the blind hearts of men by the Preaching of his Doctrin Novv he raises not dead Bodies yet brings à foul that vvas dead to life again Novv the deaf hear not yet the hearts of many shut to his sacred vvord are so opened that they Believe and live in obedience to his Lavves before neglective of that duty Thus S. Austin whose main Drift is not to deny Miraculous cures wrought upon the infirm for these he evidently own 's above but to give Preheminence to our Saviours own proper Spiritual cures dayly wrought in the Church of God by Divine Grace and the preaching of his word which the Saint deservedly esteem's greater wonders 12. To the End you may see this was the S Aug. l. 22 de Civit. c. 8. only thing S. Augustine aimed at Turn once more to his eight Chapter where you read of the dead raised to life of the blind restored to their sight and of desperate diseases perfectly cured You read moreover of one Martialis à Prime grave man most averse from Christian Religion Martialis cured in soul and body who by the earnest prayers of his Pious Sonin-Law made at S. Stephen's Altar from whence He took some Flowers and in the night time laid at his Fathers head With the successe he wished The very next morning He was found à Paenitent Convertite called for à Priest and was reconciled having ever afterwards S. Stephen's words in his mouth to his last breath Lord JESUS receive my soul Thus you see that both corporal and spiritual cures were wrought in those Dayes 13. The last Testimony our Dr Quotes out Quaest ex novo Testam c. 63. of S. Augustine may passe for one of the most famous or infamous rather That ever man cited You have the place pointed at in the margent where the Saint is supposed to Assert and he speaks fully to this Purpose saith the Dr that Signs and Miracles vvere vvrought by the Apostles to bring men from Insidelity to Faith c. No harme hitherto then followes this Addition for the Dr's purpose Amongst Believers Signs and Miracles are not necessary but a firm hope If this Author speak of an absolute Necessity it might be answered All latter Miracles are not so necessary though God of his great mercy hath pleased to show them for other Reasons and à main one is to distinguish the true Church from all Heretical Conventicles Yet I have not said all Know Reader 1 These Questions out of the old and nevv Testament full of grosse Errours are not S. Augustin's but the work of some Heretick as Bellarmin observes Perhaps of one Hilary à Roman Bellar. de Script Eccl. verbo Aug. Bell. verbo Ambrosins Deacon who wrote many Books and propagated the Luciferian Schism See Bellarmin cited Hence it is that these Questions in the Lovain Edition of S. Austin printed in à different Character are there also taxed of many grosse Errours the like you may se in Frobens The Dr's quotation not found at all Edition Yet here is not all Worse followes And t' is my greatest Exception against the Dr. Reader I have perused that 63. Chapter as the Dr Entitles it others call it the 63. Question which is very short and do assure you there is not so much as one word or syllable like that which the Dr imposes upon this Author Is this fair Dealing think ye 14. From these Testimonies of S. Augustin Dr Still page 584. saith our Dr laid together we observe
disgrace upon the Authors 13. Upon this ground also we evidently Nor in those who writh the Gospel clear our sacred Writers of the new Testament from all fraud and forgery in their plain Narration of our Saviours Miracles Reflect I beseech you what man endued with common prudence can work him selfe into this perswasion that the four Evangelists who candidly set down the sufferances the opprobrious death of their Lord and Master wherein as all confesse they speake truth in some strange Frolick or other met together and agree'd to tell à false lye of Lazarus raised to life of infirme restored to health that were never What prejudice fraud would have done the Evangelists sick Had this fraud been invented they had not only notoriously prejudiced their own cause but the Interest also of their great Master nay the very Iewes would have decryed all the Miracles they wrote of as publick impostures and if feigned might justly have pleaded No eyes ever saw them wrought whenas the contrary is manifest for they highly dreaded our Saviours Miracles and held them so attractive that if permitted to go on the whole world would follow him Hence it is that that ungodly People never dared in any Tribunal juridically to call into doubt the truth of his greatest Miracles though some whisperers said he cast out Divels by the help of Divels No all knew they condemned him to death not because the cure of the blind man or raising Lazarus from death were judged Impostures but upon this account that final Sentence was given because he made him selfe the Son of God 14. By all hitherto said we se 1. How and in what manner true Miracles objects of sense gained repute in the world and became credible First witnesses worthy beliefe not suspected of By what means Miracles gained esteem Guile saw them wrought and upon their faithful word communicated with other 's the wonders they had seen as certain and undoubted 2. Those first Hearers finding no reason to question the fidelity of Ey-witnesses justly reputed honest prudently yeilded assent to the Narration and imparted to others what they had received from those who saw the Miracles In Processe of time the Report of those wonders spread far and neer gained more ground till at last à publick Fame owned them certain This Fame held on Age after Age handed down by constant Tradition never as I said rationally contradicted is now general the whole Universe over and every way Comparable with the Fame we have of Alexander the great Julius Caesar and other known Heroes whereof no prudent man ever doubted Observe I beseech you how equally the Parallel run's in both cases Caesar and Pompey plain Objects of sense are proved to have had once being in the world because seen by many But Christ our Lord and his Apostles no lesse objects of sense were as visible the parity therefore hold's good 2. The Gests and noble Acts of Caesar first seen Records afterwards preserved None can force himselfe to deny à truth owned upon Vniversal Fame and as good Records are extant for the admirable works and Wonders of our Saviour 3. The Fame of those Heroes and their Gests taking its first rise from Sense became in time Universal and handed down by Tradition lives yet so vigorously in the minds of all men that no owner of this publick Fame can by any violence force himselfe to judge that Caesar never was in being never fought battle the whole Story of Alexander is à fourb c. Thus also the Fame of Christ of the Apostles and their Wonders once sensible and yet upheld by à perpetuated Tradition still remain's so fixed in all minds that unless this publick Fame perish which is impossible the matters of Fact supported by it are without Contest undeniable Hence I propose this Question whether à Iew or Gentile can by violence force his intellectual Power to judge Such à man as Christ such men as the Apostles were never in the world You will say No because they are Truths Universally received notwithstanding the very most of Unbelievers boldly deny the Miracles we speak of and why should not their Authority as much evince A Negative or prove no such Miracles done as the contrary Testimony of Christians avail for the Affirmative in saying Christ really wrought Miracles 15. To Answer the difficulty you have here an undoubted Principle Clear Positive proofs manifest for an Affirmative quite bear down over-weigh in true worth à contrary Negative bluntly maintained without semblance of Proof Should therefore the greatest part of men now living barely deny without Proof Alexander or Caesar ever to have been or done any memorable Action the contrary Positive Arguments alledged for their being would manifestly Show that ungrounded Denyal to be not only weightless but senseless also and improbable And thus I discourse in our present case Positive Ground 's irrefragable reasons whereof you shall have à few hints rationally prove our Saviour and his An objection answered Apostles to have wrought true Miracles therefore all contrary Opposition without Grounds and proofs appear's frigid senceless and improbable Some Critick may object Had as many from the first rise of Caesar opposed his being and Heroical Acts as have gainsaid the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles from the beginning of Christianity that certainly would have much abated the humane Beliefe all have now of Caesar of Alexander Cicero or who you will I answer no Abatement at all while on the one side and this is ever to be noted the Positive grounds for the Affirmative stand in vigour as they now stand and the Denyal rigidly examined for want of proofs comes to nothing but to this vain empty and Idle Assertion Caesar forsooth never was or did any thing worth à man Christ never wrought true Miracles Positive proofs therefore brought to light in behalfe of these Miracles enervate the contrary unproved Assertion and show it void of Strength futile in à word worth nothing 16. Now if you enquire after these Positive Reas and Relig. Disc 1. cap. 3. proofs all clear and convincing whole Volums might be written Some as I argued Reas and Religs remonstrate the Cause by its real effects and set before us à manifest Truth the known Conversion of the world made by Christ and his Apostles without force of Arms or any earthly Allurement Nay upon the greatest disadvantages imaginable because however poor and despicable in the eyes of all yet They prevailed against the rich and powerful and brought innumerable to believe in à Crucifyed man Was it not now that the greatest Philosophers the most Eloquent Orators were deem'd less wise than twelve unlearned Fishermen and did not God set à mark of folly upon humane wisdom in the noble Conquest made by the Divine Spirit that speake in these very men reputed Idiots This prodigious Work most certainly A Proofe taken from the Miraculous Conversion of Nations done whereof see
but Saith some one we Protestants credit Papists when they tell us that the Gospel is à true Story and believe them also in the Report they make of Christ's Miracles Most unreasonably done for if those men never told you true word of Miracles wrought in the Church but quite contrary cloy'd your eares with forged Stories their credit utterly lost deserves nothing but contempt as to Christ's Miracles if false in the one of mighty consequence hold them boldly fallacious in the other 15. What will you say if Dr Still to help himselfe in à present Exigency draw back à little and tell us He never yet plainly denyed all our Church Miracles Very good newes if true whence it followes that unless he will quite suspend his Judgement as doubtful of all he must necessarily grant some great Miracles those chiefly approved by the Church my desire is to know which and how many he will yeild us having upon his Concession certainty of so many I shall thence infer that either All approved Church Miracles are to bee admitted or None Some perhaps Either all approved Miracles must be allowed or none may here propose this Question what if the Church had never had Miracles done in it would not our Saviours admirable Wonders either written in the Gospel or conveyed down by Tradition have been sufficient to check Antichrist's pride and the legerdemain of that false Prophet Were this supposed Christians would have been in no worse condition than now though the Church tell false Stories of her Miracles I Answer the Supposition which notoriously impaires the Churches humane Authority and consequently takes off that high respect all bear to Christ's Miracles is à meer Impertinency Observe my reason It is one thing to Argue upon à false Supposition by imagining no Miracles wrought in the Church and another What followes if the Church had been without Miracles to make this Oracle an upon Lyar. In the first case had none been wrought the Church would never have divulged any but in the other Supposition She is perfidious while she ascertain's us of Miracles which Sectaries say were never done and therefore loses all credit and can gain beliefe of none 16. We come at last to the true fundamental Ground of Miracles wrought in the Church and prove them absolutely necessary None upon à bare owning those ancient Wonders wrought by Christ and his Apostles true can show who among so many dissenting Christians in the fundamental matters of Faith make at this day Profession of Christ's Doctrin Therefore other Miracles are absolutely necessary to mark out and distinguish Miracles proved necessary in the Church she true Professors of Christ's Doctrin from false Sectaries Whoever denies Miracles absolutely necessary for this end must either say that the Christian Societey where Christ's Doctrin is truly professed cannot be known or distinguished from false Sectaries though it gives in Evidence of undoubted Miracles Or which is as bad he must grant that all Hereticks are here-upon proved true Professors of Christ's Doctrin because forsooth they acknowledge Christ and his Apostles to have wrought such and such Miracles and this is evidently false for condemned Hereticks as Arians and Pelagians easily assent to that owned Truth but are not therefore to be listed among the true Professors of Christ's Doctrin Much more therefore is required and it is that Christ's true Society doth not only talk of primitive Miracles or own them true but besides really show you the like admirable distinctive Signs as raising the dead curing the blind and lame manifested by Christ and his Apostles peculiar to it selfe not Common to others of à contrary saith But this Prerogative whereby Faithful Believers are marked out and differenced from Hereticks belong's only to one living Oracle the Roman Catholick Church which took its rise from Christ and his Apostles and ever since stood Age after Age gloriously illustrated by known and renowned Miracles And thus we have it clearly distinguished from all Hereticks Whenas Sectaries men utterly forsaken like dirt cast out of the house of God lie under disgrace altogether unable to confirm their Novelties by one true supernatural wonder Thus Providence showes them no lesse naked and bereft of true Miracles than cold inefficacious and unlucky in their Conversions and drawing Infidels to Christ 17. By what is now Said you may discover Dr Still p. 665. no little lamenesse in Dr Still Discourse The Doctrin of Christ saith he being confirmed by the Miracles wrought by them there cannot be any such necessity in succeeding Ages to confirm the Much Lamenesse in Dr Still Discourse same Doctrin by Miracles The same Doctrin Sr You speak at random pray you tell us in this confusion of different Religions while every one lay's claime to Christ's Doctrin who are proved the true Professors of it by avouching Christ to have wrought great Miracles Or make this Consequence good Christ Cured the blind lame and deaf Ergo Arians who contradict Protestants in the Essentials of Faith or Protestants that contradict the Arians are proved the faithful Professors of Christ's Doctrin because both Judge well of Christ's Miracles If so Catholicks may come in with the best and show themselves sound in Faith upon this account But thanks be to God we can say more for our cause and rest not only in à bare Beliefe of those ancient great Wonders but as I noted above demonstrate à Church Characterized and gloriously marked out by the like supernatural Sign 's which those first great Masters evidenced when they preached to the world and thus our Church is distinguished from all false Conventicles 18. There is no shifting of the force of this Argument but by one of these two desperate evasions Either it must be said that publick Miraculous works evidently done by one or many Authoritively sent to teach Christ's Doctrin are not at all marks of Truth and this is contrary to the Gospel Our Lord working with them the Apostles and confirming the Mark 16. ◠19. John 20. 30. word with Signs that followed These Signs are written add's S. John that men might believe that Iesus is Christ the Son of God c. Or 2 You are flatly to deny the Church ever to had one true Miracle wrought in it which is evidently false as has been proved whereof more presently The only owning ancient Miracles Maintain's any Religion In the mean time you se that to plead for Christ's true Doctrin by only owning those ancient Miracles true licenses all dissenting Christians in Fundamentals to maintain any Religion true or false as they please The Arian may teach as he teaches and so may the Monothelit without Reproof if he tell us he hold's Christ's Doctrin confirmed by primitive Miracles though he cannot say upon à bare owning those Signs what Christ's Doctrin is whether for an Instance the Divine Word truly assumed Flesh or that God is one Essence and three distinct Persons
evidently laid before all mens Eyes in Italy and the famous City of Naples 24. Bolognia all know where you have an Archbishoprick and à famous University in the Popes Dominions is renowned over Christendom and had its Fame much encreased by the life and happy death of à most Holy Virgin called S. Catherine of Bolognia who dyed S. Catherin's Body at Bolognia still preserved entire there about three hundred years agone and lâ—es not in any Sepulcre as the dead are wont but still sit's up richly cloathed in a Chair as if she were living Her whole Body entrails Lungs and all never touched or cut open remain entire and her flesh is yet as supple soft and delicate as when she lived By no Oyntment but her own Sanctity by no perfumes but by her Holy Prayers by no Balsam but her Virgin Purity by no Myrrhe but by her own frequent Tears is that Holy Body in appearance living without à Soul preserved as if it were Immortal nothing decayed nothing putrifyed 25. The Religious Virgins of S. Clares Holy Order whereof S. Catherine was à member often change the Garment she wear's and when The hair of her head growing long is cut and reverently preserved the hair of her head growes longer as sometimes it doth they cut it and Reverently keep the exsect Parcels as precious Reliques Reader These things though strange are most evidently true seen by Thousands not only the Inhabitants there but also by innumerable Travellers who passing through Bolognia have with great admiration beheld the Saint enthroned in her Chair more like one living than à dead Carkasse I have spoken with many Ey-witnesses of this wonder And perused that larger Relation Written by Albergatus whom Petra Sancta cited above c. 12. Petra Sancta cites and wish Dr Still after his other two Pilgrimages courage enough to undertake â third towards Bolognia where if his Eyes dazle not at the sight of à Saint's Body he will find what I here write most certain That done I would have him dive into the Secrets of nature and show me those natural causes whereby à Body dead three hundred years since though exposed to the open Air yea often handled when cloathed and uncloathed can without Incision ever made in it or any Balsam applyed last so long wholly entire as sound and incorrupt as when the Soul was in it 26. That other Miracle seen at Naples where the head and blood of S. Januarius à most Holy Bishop and Martyr are preserved with great Veneration is so certain and famous the whole world over that to write more of it than is known were only to tell you the Sun shines at noon Day In à word the Miracle is thus When the Martyrs head enclosed in à Sylver shrine is taken out and placed on the right end of the high Altar and the blood likewise usually concrete and thick shut up in à little glasse Cruet or viol stand's directly Opposite at the other end the blood visibly Liquifies Bubbles Mount's up and cover's all the sides of the glasse to the very top of the Cruet the Another known Miracles seen to this day in the liquifying blood of S. Ianuarius head removed it fall's down again and remain's concrete as before Thrice every year you have this Miraculous liquifying Blood exhibited to à world of People to wit upon the first Saturday in the Month of May kept in Memory of S. Januarius his Translation and the 19.th of September the very day he was beheaded And finally upon the 16.th of December yearly solemnized at Naples by way of Thanksgiving for à most Signal and memorable favour obtained by the Saints intercession in delivering the City from the burning flames of Vesuvius when some years past it threatned ruin to all Thus much for the usual showing this liquifying blood 27. But the extraordinary Occasions of seing it are more frequent as when Persons of quality or Strangers from remote places come to Naples then with leave of his Eminence the Archbishop the Miracle has been often and is to this day shown to many I VVhen and upon what occasions Shown have treated with four or five of these Ey-witnesses and found all agreeing in one and the same Relation though none more exact than F. Godefridus Henschenius and F. Daniel Papebrochius to whom we may justly add that large and full Relation penned by F. Iohn Rho à great Preacher who after his Lent Sermons ended at Naples anno 1644 was so singularly favoured by the Archbishop for à reward of his labours as not only to se the Blood boil up which he diligently observed but also to hold the glass Viol in his hands for à long time together and show the Motion of it to à world of People then present You have F. John Rho's ample Silvester Petra Sancta Cited under the Title Miracula perpetua p. 118. Relation in Petra Sancta where he call's God to witness that he Writes nothing in his letter to F. Silvester but what his own Eyes with many other Spectators beheld and most carefully took notice of and whoever Saith he had seen the stupendious bubling up of that Blood as we saw it and had not been strucken with à Sacred horrour would have been thought no man but à block or stone unworthy humane Conversation 28. F. Rho also tell 's à strange Accident which happened that very day he saw the Miracle Some of the prime Nobility saith he brought along with them two Turks Captives Then in the service of the Noble Princesse Squillaci These two by the Cardinals command placed neer the Altar attentively observed the Miraculous motion of the blood and returned home with many sad and pensive thoughts The one next morning came to the Jesuits Convent in Naples and told the Fathers VVhat once happened upon the sight of this liquifying blood he had à strange Vision the night past and à Command also forthwith to become Christian having seen enough the day before to work that change in him for said he the stupendious motion of that Blood I clearly saw has made so deep an impression in my Soul that I cannot rest until I be Baptized and professe my selfe à Christian The other of à harder heart ingenuously confessed he had clearly seen the blood rising up to the top of the Viol there boyling and bubling but that he could not desert Mahomet's Doctrin because he thought both Christians and Turks may be saved though of different Religions Quid ego hîc mi Silvester dicam What shall I say here dear Friend add's F. Rho ' but that according to our Saviours words one was assumed and the other left abandoned because negligent when called to Repentance 29. Great Multitudes have been coâ—â—erted to the true Catholick Faith by the Sight of Greâ—t Conversions wrought by it this undeniable Miracle which works so powerfully upon the minds of all who se it saith Franciscus Petri in his excellent
favour and Therefore it was meet in those dayes when Paganism recovered Strength to vindicate the Innocency of Martyrs Mr Dr Ex ore tuo te judico The whole cause shall be decided by your own words Were the Martyrs then Innocent Holy and Vertuous None doubt's it That Innocency and Vertue therefore supposed them endued with the true Faith of our Christian Verities And is it not most evident that they lived and dyed in that true Faith which they openly professed before the People and the worst of Tyrants No envious heart can Deny this Say then and you touch the Miracles wrought by Martyrs as well witnesse their faith as Innocency point in Question whether the Miracles wrought by them when persecuted might not as well to use your word be Signs whereby they testifyed to the world that their Faith vvas true as that they were Innocent and vertuous Why therefore do you Sr without any reason or Authority nay contrary to clear Evidence mince matters so as to make their Martyrdoms Attestations of their Innocency only and not of their Faith as if Forsooth either Like the silenced Divels mentioned they could not Speak or would not open their mouths to Professe Christ's Doctrin for which they dyed and God impowred them to make Publick Pretended Objections taken out of S. Chrysostom Answered Dr Still grosly abuses Iohn Gerson Chancellour of Paris 9. It is now high time to examin our Doctors S. Chrys in 1. Epist ap cor Homil. 6. Epit. Graecè Latine Heruch Aurel. Interp. Henr. Savil. Graece Edit Pariens Basiciensi Latine Quotations found as he thinks in S. Chrysostom against Church Miracles And first we are remitted to the Saints Commentary or exposition set forth in three or four Editions upon S. Pauls Epistles Reader I have exactly Perused every Edition and can never sufficiently wonder how it came to passe that the Dr Saw not his own fraud or had the face to produce S. Chrysostom against S. Chrysostom when it 's evident he owned as you have heard undeniable Miracles done in his Dayes and in all precedent Generations 10. I say first It is far more certain that true Miracles have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church than that S. Chrysostom wrote this very Homily the Dr quotes For all Universally the Fathers Greek and Latin yea S. Chrysostom himselfe all Christians Generally even Hereticks and Turks likewise ever owned latter Miracles as most unquestionable but there is no such Assurance had of S. Chrysostom's penning this Homily And far lesse certainty that the Dr hit's upon it's true meaning wherein S Chrysostom in the Homily cited one Word against latter Miracles if there be à mistake the Dr ' s labour is lost I say 2. S. Chrysostom in this whole Homily has not one word contrary to the common Sentiment of Catholicks who positively Assert true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church over and above those done by Christ and his Apostles 11. To prove my Assertion Know Reader that S. Chrysostom's chief Aime in this Homily is to Show the wonderful work of God in converting the world by Twelve Poor unlearned Fishermen which yet his Alseing Providence effected as the Saint Demonstrat's in the precedent Chapter when God made choise of the weak and most abject so the Apostle speak's to evacuate and destroy the Pride and wisdom of 1. Cor. 1. 19 the world to the End no Flesh might glory in his sight Hence it is that the Apostles were honoured with two great Priviledges the one saith S. Chrystom was to receive by Divine Inspiration The Apostles honoured with two special Priviledges what ever they taught We now living not so priviledged want that particular Prerogative and deliver Christ's Doctrin set down in Scripture which we received from those first great Lights of the Church The 2. Grace granted the Apostles was to work Miracles as the Gospel expresses Having called the twelve Disciples Matth. 10. v. 10. together he gave them Power over unclean Spirits to cast out Divels to cure all manner of diseases and all manner of Infirmities Observe well the Priviledge conferred upon all and every one That is as They had ample Power to preach the whole world over without restraint to write Canonical Scripture to constitute lawes for Christians so likewise they had Power to cure all manner of diseases and all manner of Infirmities Now this Se Prot. Apol Tract 2 c 3 sect 7. subd 2. p. with me 530. n. 2. Power as Authors observe being made an ordinary Gift to the Tvvelve or then annexed to that set number of Blessed men only was never granted to any other like multitude since Christ's time For as Brerely cited notes well the Gift of working Miracles after the Apostles Dayes vvas never ordinary or common to the Churches Pastors But peculiar to certain Persons and at certain times according to the special Dispensation of Gods Pleasure sometimes granted often denyed Thus much premised 12. Read S. Chrysostom and begin with that Question 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For vvhat cause is it That the Apostles Signs are now forbidden The Saint expresly speak's of the Apostolical wonders not à word there of any like Power given to particular Persons in the Church Doth thou ask this Question saith the Saint not yet believing those Apostolical Wonders or as One desirous to learn the true Cause If as an Unbeliever Tell me how those blessed men neither rich nor Eloquent nor noble but contemptible in the Eyes of the world gained so many to the Christian Faith contrary to their natural Inclination when pampered up in all Delights and Pleasures Hovv did they accomplish this admirable work Speak plainly By doing Miracles or not If by Miracles I have my intent if not This is the greatest Miracle of all other that they persvvaded to Christ's Doctrin vvithout any Miracles He goes on That therefore such Apostolical Miracles for upon these his whole context fall's are not done novv is no Argument that they vvere not then done for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then it vvas expedient and profitable they should be done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now not expedient useful or profitable Why then Expedient and profitable He Answers because God then manifested both Power and wisdom in reclaiming whole Nations from Infidelity by Choosing out twelve poor unlearned Fishermen to doe an admirable work in converting the â—e the Apostle cited world and humbling the pride and greatnesse of it No wonder Therefore if those blessed men had Priviledges above all other Teachers Why the Apostles special Priviledge in working Miracles wâ— once useful and now not But why not now either Expedient or useful S. Chrysostom Answers Because were such evident Signs annexed to Twelve men now and publickly shown the merit of Faith would be much abated for the more manifest à Miracle is Faith though still Faith loses something of its reward witnesse our
the Coffin hoping to find the naked bones only When Behold contrary to all expectation not only the whole Body but his Priestly Habit likewise were then as fresh and free from corruption as when first laid in the Coffin and moreover saith my Author sent forth à most fragrant and delight some Odour Could Lime give this good Saviour The Body again placed in the same Chest and transported to Malaca was received with all Veneration of the People when another Miracle happened S. Xaverius his Body Miraculously preserved in corrupt For upon its entring the City à violent Plague which had Cruelly raged there before wholly ceased and gave great comfort to the afflicted Inhabitants Had Lime such vertue in it Some Months the Holy Body remained at Malaca and thence carried to Goa by Gods special favour did strange Wonders in that Navigation The Vessel wherein it lay Twice in great danger of Shipwrack by running upon Quick sands caused both Mariners and Passengers to implore No vertue in Limes to work these Miracles the Saints Assistance which was no sooner ask't than obtained in so much that presently freed from all danger they sail'd on joyfully to Goa The Lime I think did not this Miracle You may read in Acosta Cited with what great Celebrity and Pomp the Body was received at Goa where it remained to that day without the least Sign of Putrifaction To God's glory and the Saints honour be it Tell me Reader will the Dr yeild assent to this short Relation made by the same Author that recount's the Miraculous Incorruption of the Body If he doth he grants Miracles If not I said right he is forced to quit Authority and run to his old Plea à want forsooth of sufficient VVitnesses that is There are sufficient when he likes when not there are none 19. Hitherto I have born much with Mr Dr Still page 617. Dr but am now almost at an End of Patience in the perusal of his uncivil and rude Calumnies First he tell 's us that the Relation of S. Xaverius his Miracles comes from the Jesuits in the East Indies as if forsooth none had attested them but Jesuits A vast untruth when King John of Portugal as you have heard caused them to be examined by several great Prelates VVere all these Iesuits Did the deputed Cardinals at Rome who ordered another new strict Trial commit the charge to Jesuits only No. Did his Holinesse when he published his Iesuits not the only Informers of the Saints Miracles Apostolical Letters and declared that the matters of Fact plain Miracles had been attested upon undoubted certainty rely wholly on the Jesuits information Evidently no. What then shall we say of this Dr But that without regard to Truth and honesty he cares not what he Writes Yet worse followes Jesuits Saith he are men that think it lawful to Lye for à good cause as no doubt the Honour of the Society is such with them And how can we vvith any tolerable Discretion rely upon their vvord Answer Dr I call you to account before God and the world I here accuse you of à Malicious Detraction Speak out if you Iesuits Calumniated by the Dr. can poduce me but one Jesuit that ever wrote or taught it is lawful to Lye in any occasion either for à good or bad cause and I will will proclaime you Victor In case you shift This one Spiteful Calumny contrary to Evident Truth Showes the Dr cares not what He Writes off this just Challenge the Reader shall Judge whether you or Jesuits deserve the foul Imputation of Lyars 20. Your Errour Sr lies here And proceed's from malice ignorance or both in not distinguishing between à Lye alwaies sinful and the ambiguous use of words in certain Cases of danger and other vveightr Concerns whereof I treated largely in my Book against Dr Taylor This ambiguous use of words yea and some kind of mental Restriction also most grave and learned Divines no Jesuits t' is well known A discovery of Dr Taylors untruths c. 26. p. 184. printed anno 1665 maintain as Lavvful which is as remote from à Lye as your Calumny Dr imposed on Jesuits is from Truth though never to be made use of say Divines but when Necessity and just reason requires And this both you Sr and Dr Taylor vvith his Excellent use of Confession in England must acknowledge as is proved in the Discovery now cited I say vvhen Necessity and just reason requires For example if à Judge ask à Priest whether à Paenitent confessed such à Sin truly confessed and be further urged to Answer directly Yea or No If he saies Yea he betrayes the Penitent and sacrilegiously breaks the Seal of Confession If No in your Divinity he tell 's à Lye Learned Divines deliver contrary Doctrin and Therefore find out à way not to Lye on the one Side and on the other to keep the Seal of Confession sase and inviolable If à Confessor saies S Austin lib uno de mendacio ad consent c. 13. post medium nothing in such an Exigency S. Austin rightly observes in à like case of Danger the Secret is too openly discovered By all now said you see that to use mental Restriction in Contracts Leagues Promises Vovves or Oaths justly tendered is impious Yea and à horrid Sin in those who attest Miracles in publick Tribunals before Popes and Princes known false and forged or never to have been as the Informers declare 21. One word more Suppose which is utterly false that the relation of S. Xaverius his Miracles had come only from Jesuits à long time Missioners among those Barbarians can any one without shame or the deepest Malice Imaginable Perswade himselfe That men who went upon à most generous Design left Country Relations Friends and whatever is dear to Nature That ran to the furthest Parts of the world where they knew they should endure Hardship misery contempt neglect imprisonment And besides live in continual danger of dying upon Gibbets as many did And all this to reduce Souls to Christ can any man I say of Common sence perswade The Dr's Calumny cast on Iesuits highly Improbable himselfe as our unconscionable Dr doth That such laborious Missioners after so many Heroical Acts performed would down right Damn their ovvn Souls tell Lowd and abominable lyes Feign Miracles which they knew were never wrought just matter of Damnation And avouch these now supposed fourbs as real Truths before Kings Princes the Court of Rome and the vvhole vvorld I say the Imputation is so extravagant the Calumny so horrid that no mans head would once have harboured it but only Dr Stillingfleet's Had the Dr said S. Xaverius was never in the Indies King John of Portugal never made Enquiry after his Miracles The Catholick King of Spain never promoted the Saints Canonization the Apostolical letters cited above were all feigned c. He had Methinks gone every whit as wisely to Work as now
know on whom the blame lies Dr Still page 635. the Accusers or the accused Mr Dr I say demand's VVhat credit these Reporters of Miracles in the Roman Church deserve from us when such Persons who are by their own Order cryed up he alludes to Joannes de Vincentia for workers of Miracles are by others of their own Church condemned as Seducers I Answer in such Opposition when How we Proceed when Authors contradict Authors in their relation of Miracles Authors contradict Authors the gravest and the more rational ought to Sway most with every prudent Reader In case Testimonies stand equally poysed on both sides both Assertions will in à rational appearance have their Probability as Gerson cited above observes Though the Truth of the Miracle considered in it selfe lies yet out of à clear sight Perhaps it was and perhaps not In such cases S. Hierom cited prudently advises rather piously to doubt than rashly to Define any thing which all Authors do in their contradictory Judgements concerning probable Opinions Now if the Authority be far more pregnant for the denying Party than the other the Miracle in contest will be prudently esteemed little worth because very doubtful and the Reporters of it Can never gain much credit But Say Reader How doth our good Dr advance his cause by railing at the Reporters of false and doubtful Miracles decryed by all How doth he hence prove that Miracles never called into Question by the wisest of the world are in like manner to be accounted fourbs or listed with those other doubtful This he aimes at or speak's nothing to the Purpose 11. Upon this Ground all those other Bundles of trash in the Dr's following Pages appear in their own likenesse meer Impertinences Grant then That the Dominicans at Bern were Impostors in forging Miracles which is yet denyed by many Admit upon Sleidans word worth little that the Franciscans at Orleans counterfeited à mute Spirit acting the part of à dead womans Soul as if She had been damned for being à Lutheran Say truly for so it was That Maria de la Visitation Prioresse de la Annunciada in Lisbon deceived many by her feigned Sanctity and false wonders And for that cause Nothing more impertinent than to decry true Miracles because some have forged False one when the Truth came to light was condemned and severely punished by the Inquisitors Add hereunto more of the like stuff Written long since by Catholick Authors I Ask and require an Answer what Advantage gain 's this Dr by his painful heaping up so much Filth together Are therefore true Miracles owned by the best of Christians never boggled at never called into doubt prejudiced in the least because Fools have forged false ones It is too lame à Consequence for any rational Discourser Thus much truly followes that such abominable Hypocrisy most justly call's for Vengeance and unrepented infer's Damnation Therefore the Prelates of the Church highly deserve commendation who when such frauds are discovered both rigidly condemn and inflict severe Punishment on the mischievous Impostors 12. O but saith the Dr many wise and learned men set forth the Prayses of this Mary de la Annunciada No wonder at all wiser men than Dr Still have often met with Cheats and been beguiled How many Princes gained by à fair Demeanour have placed their Trust upon false hearted Subjects that afterward turned Traytors and sought their Princes ruin while God Very often and in good time unmask's the Treason And brings the Traytor to condign Punishment By this you se the Dr's pretty Dr Still page 626. cheat detected where speaking of Fulco he saies that Persons found guilty of Impostures have been countenanced and encouraged by some in the Roman Church Pray Sr reflect à little was ever any one countenanced after à clear Discovery of their wickednes though when supposed Innocent they might be favovred Was ever any one encouraged to play the Hypocrite and forge Miracles No The Church and all her Prelates execrate That as horrid and impious Therefore Mr Dr though your words of countenancing and encouraging seem to sound big in à Vulgar eare they are in real Truth without edge and void of Substance 13. The Dr Quotes Elias Hazenmiller à Dâ— Still page 648. frontlesse gracelesse fellow twice over an Apostata from his Order wherein he lived about Who Hazenmiller was 18. Months Then ran away hid himselfe and soon after fell from the Church The Book we are referred to entituled Historia Ordinis Iesuitici was published after Hazenmillers death by one Policarpus Leyserus à Lutheran Minister probably thought to have added and changed many things It is all over so stufft with horrid impudent Lyes that some Sectaries neer us cry shame upon the Author F. James Gretser in his refutation of Hazenmiller Gretseri refut at Hazen Ingol stadii Typis data Ann. 1594. and Policarp is forced upon the account of their shameless Lying to court them in no better Language than Impudentissimè mentiris Impudentissimè Calumniaris Vides Lector os frontem hominis Mendacissimi c. I will not foul my paper with the hundreth part of these Grosse and palpable Lyes which Gretser cal's unexcusable in his Answer to Millers Eleven chapters A few only shall serve for an Essay 14. This frontlesse man saies 1. That Gretses page 40. when S. Ignatius was in France he said his Masses gratis or for nothing Gretser Answers à shamelesse and most filthy Lye for at that time he was no Priest and therefore could say no Masse He saies again that the Jesuits wrot not their own Rules A manifest Hazenmillers lowd Lies Lye saith Gretser as appear's by the very Original of their Rules yet extant He saies 3. That the Jesuits in their Constitutions and Rules call their Order Venerabilis laudabilis Iesuitarum Societas The Venerable and laudable Society of Jesuits Utterly false saith Gretser There are no such words in either Rules or Constitutions S. Ignatius ever gave the Order à more humble Title Minima Societas The least Society He saies 4. If any one among the Jesuits break à Rule it is held à greater sin than if he had broken God's commandements A lowd Lye saith Gretser for Page 81. the Jesuits Rules as all know oblige not under sin He saies 5. Some Jesuits teach that Page 269. Faith is naturally bred and born with men Most false as Gretser showes 15. But no Lye can be more infamous than that told of S. Ignatius who saith this false Elias called to à possessed Person went not himselfe but sent à Brother with à Grain Se Gretser page 217. consecrated by Pope Pius the V. the Grain no sooner toucht the Energumena but the Divel fled away A long lowd Lye S. Ignatius as every one knowes dyed in the year 1556. under Paul the IV. yet this Miller saies he lived in Pius the V. Reign and made use of Ã
Grain blessed by Pius who was created Pope long after S. Ignatius his death And Dr Still page 649. Still cheated by Hazenmiller was so grosly blinded as to Tell the Story over again and will forsooth have one Bead of the Rosary consecrated by Pius the fifth sent by à Brother at S. Ignatius his command That is S. Ignatius either rose from the dead and sent the Brother or Dr Still shamefully err's in his Story 16. Another Lye followes Ribadineira Still page 647. Gretser page 218. saith this Sycophant denyed S. Ignatius to have wrought Miracles and Dr Still has much to the same Sence Gretser Answers Mentitur turpiter Miller tell 's à filthy Lye Produce the passage where Ribadineira writes so The contrary is Manifest For the Title of the last chapter in his V. Book is of the Saints Miracles And in the 6.th Chapter he recount's many wrought by the merits and Prayers of S. Ignatius O but saith Dr Still They were only such as are liable to fraud and impostures Viz. page 648. casting out Divels in their way A flat Calumny without Proof Show you Sr the fraud or retract your false Aspersion The way was pious by Austerity and earnest Prayer works laudable before God and man Who ever doubts of S. Ignatius his Miracles may peruse Ioannes Maffeius where you have many and great Maffeius lib. 3. c. 14. Miracles recounted 17. For an Upshot another abominable Lye told by Hazenmiller or Policarp may passe after the rest and our wise Dr Still sets it forth in English Ignatius saith he is said to Page 648. have freed à possessed woman from the Divel by rehearsing this profane Verse out of Virgil. Speluncam Dido dux Trojanus eandem c. Gretser Answers it is à wonder that Policarp fancied not that other Verse more proper Tytere tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi Then add's It is à shame to hear these black and blockish Calumnies Could the Calumniators ever perswade Themselves that prudent men would yeild Assent to such paultry intolerable Lyes Away with this Miller and his associats neither worth memory nor Answers What they might justly expect for their folly They have Contempt and Derision 18. There is yet more of the like stuff in another fearful Story the Dr tell 's of the Jesuits in England who under the Chief Contriver one Weston or Edmonds the Jesuits Provincial forsooth employed twelve Exorcist's to show Tricks upon certain hypochondriacal men and hysterical women falsely pretended to be possessed though all at last proved Impostures Dr Still page 650. This saith our Dr happened in the year 1585. and 1586. when I believe very few Jesuits had entred that Isleland And am sure that neither Then nor ever afterwards was there any Weston or Edmonds Provincial of the Iesuits Guileilm Weston à great sufferer in persecution but no Provincial se Morus lib. 4. His Provin Angl. num 215. for the first Provincial of the English Jesuits long after was Richardus Blondus à Grave Venerable and most pious man of whose great Prudence and vertue F. Henry More gives à large account Anno 1619. 19. Our Dr goes on The Forgery hitherto mentioned making à great noise the Persons concerned were rigidly examined and their Examinations entred upon Record in the Court of High commission were soon after published with A Story as false as fearful told of English Iesuits à particular declaration of the whole Imposture Whereunto is added à lowd confession of one Antony Tyrell à Priest who saith the Dr was fully perswaded that Sara VVilliams and Friswood her Sister Anne Smith and Richard Mayney deposed the Truth in such Points as concerned their false pretended Possessions Nay more This Tyrell saith the Dr knew that all was Counterfeit and Judged so of the rest However to gain the Catholick cause Credit They held it lawful to do as they did That is to cheat the world with lowd Lyes Thus Mr Dr. 20. Courteous Reader I justly require à Pro of this foul Calumny laid upon worthy men hitherto never blemished in their Fame and Ask upon whom may I rely for Satisfaction Must I trust the Dr No He is à broken reed I have found him faulty in à hundred other Particulars and herein rationally suspect his Fidelity Shall I credit that supposed Court of High-Commission To me it is yet à thing in the Air our of my reach Nor can I examin the Records or the whole Processe if ever any such Court was in being 21. For as much as concerns Antony Terryl the Priest The true Story which Dr Still tell 's by halves and thereby egregiously cheat's his Reader in relating the mans abominable sin but concealing his humble and hearty repentance Concertatio Eccles Cathol in Anglia printed at Triers by Henry Bock Anno 1588. You have amply set down in à known Book entituled Concertatio Ecclesiae Catho in Anglia There at the Very End of the second Part you will find the guilty Terryl his own Accuser bewailing his false and detestable Calumnies most unjustly laid not only on noble men but on many Innocent Priests also And he recals all Terril his own Accuser bewail's his unjust Calumnies with so much Zeal and fervour that I never read the like humble confession publickly made by any He acknowledges himselfe à horrid Sinner unworthy to appear before God Angels and men deserving nothing but God's just Indignation and hatred from every one upon the account◠of his impudent Lyes and malicious Detractions virulently vented against Catholicks most pious and Virtuous Then he Descend's to particulars and names the Persons he had injuriously slandered The whole Relation some what long deserves the Readers perusal Some perhaps will shed Tears when they se it 22. To be short Antony Terryl was brought Brought to S. Pauls Crosse he Professed himselfe Catholick by the Protestants to S. Pauls Cross in London the last day of January being Sunday Anno 1588. in hope he would there ratify all those false Calumnies and unjust Informations whereof we now speak and withal openly abjure Catholick Religion But the Penitent Soul came thither with another Designe For no sooner had he begun his Sermon but he publickly Professed himselfe à true Roman Catholick and would have retracted his unjust Accusations had not some Standers by commanded him silence Wherupon he quit the Pulpit and was carried again to his Prison yet found means to disperse Terrils humble recantation and the Dr's unjust Dealing some Papers Written in his own hand called Palinodia Antony Terrylli subscribed Per me Antonium Terryllum Presbyterum Manu propriâ Where you have this Penitent mans most humble Recantation and Justice done to those he had wronged Read it in the Author now cited and tell me whether Dr Still has not playd the Cheat in aggravating the Crime without saying one word of Terryls hearty Repentance 23. Some may reply Though the