reason or Authority but you will eo ipso enervate all our Saviour's Miracles which certainly were proved truly vvrought upon Humane Faith before Scripture registred them 2. In this laudable Examination two things may be Questioned The first concernes the matters of Fact whether for an Instance God raised the dead to life by the Intercession of blessed What this due Examination requires S. Stephen of S. Thomas Cantilupe and S. Xaverius The like is of desperate Diseases cured by the Prayers of Saints in God's Church Hereof we have great Evidence taken from Ey-vvitnesses and the undoubted Testimony of those who have left them upon Record Mr Dr certainly requires not when à Miracle is done That God tell us by à nevv Revelation it is à work above all natural Povver or that he work one Mito confirm the Truth of another This would imply à Processe in Infinitum when one may as well Question the second or third Miracle as the first Neither were our Saviours Miracles when done proved after this manner No. They were first seen by credible Witnesses afterwards divulged And that was proof enough The second thing Questionable is whether if such Miracles as are now evinced were visibly exhibited may notwithstanding that exteriour Evidence be held deceiptful Appearances only or wrought by à Power lesse than Divine This the Dr hints at and would fain have all our Miracles thought at most bare Appearances if yet so much 3. I Say in à word VVhat even Reason proves Christ and his Apostles to have vvrought true Miracles by Divine Povver evinces the Very same of all approved Miracles done in the Church God therefore was and is the sole Principal cause of all such Miraculous Effects 4. Before I prove what is here asserted reflect Irenaeus l. 2 c. 57. sine upon the Resuscitation of Lazarus who lived afterwards à long time Call also to mind those mentioned by Irenaeus that were raised from death and perseverantly lived saith this great Author multis annis many years vvith us So also no few did resuscitated by S. Thomas Cantilupe S. Dominick and S. Xaverius All these walked up and down conversed with otthers experienced in themfelves the real Operations of life and therefore either lived or vve Act. 3. 3. live not Now for strange Cures consider in the next place that man lame from his Mothers womb who lay begging at the Gate of the Temple called Beautiful to whom S. Peter saith The dead raised to life and desperate Discases cured Holy Scripture instantly gave health strength and vigour Compare his cure with that of poor John Clement born also à Criple from his Mothers womb that often sate begging at the Gate of our Ladies Church in Montagu And in à moment of time like the other in the Acts lifted himselfe up stood straight on his feet and was Miraculously cured by the Intercession of the ever Blessed Virgin 5. Hence I Argue Christ is rationally proved to have raised Lazarus to life by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature or Divels could produce that strange Effect Ergo those other Resuscitations now mentioned are as rationally proved wrought by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature nor Divels could produce them Again That cure wrought upon the Lame born All done by Divine Power Criple Sitting at the Temple gate is rationally proved Miraculous and done by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature or Divels did it Ergo that cure wrought upon John Clement no lesse à lame born Criple is as rationally proved Miraculous and done by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature or Divels did it But the Antecedents here proposed in both cases are most true Therefore necessarily infer Truth in their Consequences 6. I am first to Show that no Power in nature or Divels can raise the Dead to life and will not entertain the Reader with the open Folly of some Arabians who thought Christ wrought all his Miracles and consequently raised the Dead by the strength of his Povverful Imagination As wholly stupid are those Judiciary Astrologers that ascribe them to the different Aspects or Situations of Stars in which knowledge say they Christ was most conversant Michael de Medina both Medina de rectâ in Deum fide lib. 2. c. 7. largely and learnedly refutes these whymsies and showes that Imagination can indeed work strange Effects in the Body and mind of such as are liable to violent fancies whereof he gives prodigious Examples but can effect nothing Se his page 69. B. upon Things distant or wholly separated from the Imaginative Faculty If therefore one sit's Lame in à chair and see 's à Book à farr off in à Stationers Shop the strongest Imagination in the world will never bring that Book into his hands He refutes also the Astrologers upon this ground that not only our Saviour but the blessed Apostles also dispersed the whole world over under different constellations yea their very The fooleries of some refuted girdles handherchiefs and Garments and the Saints in Heaven when invoked at their Monuments work innumerable Miracles independently of the various motions and Aspects of Stars Finally saith Medina if à strong Imagination or Stars can produce such admirable Effects how comes it to passe that these talkative men were all born under so unluckly Planets as to doe none How happen's it they are so feeble in their Apprehensions that not one among them could ever yet work à true Miracle But enough of Fooleries 7. Some thought more wise tell us that all our Saviours Miracles the like is of those wrought in the Church may bee easily effected by à Secret art of Magick earnestly sought after by many Briefly All Magick is either natural or Ceremonial when done by evil Spirits it is called Necromancy The first Magick makes à Search into the hidden Things of Nature and by à ready application of active Agents to Passive often showes strange Effects yet no vvayes Miraculous For the attaining of this knowledge Empedocles Democritus Apollonius and Anaxagoras travelled far and viewed à great part of the Universe Some by virtue of it produce Roses and ripe Grapes in Winter others by Alchimy have long tried to find out the Philosophers Stone but with what successe I know not Now this Magick add to it that they call Astronomical Effects wrought by natural Magick and Cabalistical being only limited to natural Causes can do nothing that 's above all natural Power as most certainly the raising of the dead is Neither did those who so highly extol this Art ever yet pretend to call men out of their Graves and endue them with the like Operations of life they had before 8. Necromancy whether Goetick or Theurgick practized by Divels and Witches has its Necromancy has its Limits limits also and extend's no further than only to what is previously contained in natural Causes as S. Augustin cited above notes excellently well Now because Angels and Divels
c. And thus all dissenting Christians stand as it were equally ballanced in their Plea for Truth one is no more advanced than another nor shall any ever know where Christ's Truths are taught unlesse he first find out à Church evidenced by Christ's own Signatures I mean glorious Miracles 19. Some may here Ask whether God cannot set other Marks on à Church besides Miracles Sufficient to distinguish it from all false Conventicles I answer the Question by another like Demand Could not God have set other Marks on Christ and his Apostles excluding Miracles sufficient to distinguish them from all false Prophets Reader we enquire not in this place what God can do his Power is Omnipotent but speak of what he has already done and Say that as his Power and Wisdom marked Christ Apostles and the Church marked by Miracles out our blessed Lord and the Apostles by many clear Signs as great Sanctity Purity in Doctrin admirable Conversions and one most choise Gods own Signatures glorious Miracles So also he has set all and every one of these Signal Marks upon his own Oracle the Catholick Church the chiefest and choisest whereof are illustrious Miracles by these she is clearly distinguished from all false and misled Teachers CHAP. III. Some Choise Manifest Miracles proved upon the Deposition of many Sworn Ey-witnesses Of à Late famous Miracle wrought at Calais in Picardy None can call into doubt the Authentick Miracles done by S. Thomas Cantilupe our renowned Bishop of Hereford Other grat Miracles yet obvious to all mens eyes S. Bernard's known Miracles proved most certain 1. MIracles being Matters of Fact and Objects of sense cannot but gain credit when Authors of unquestionable Fame produce many faithful Ey-witnesses who upon Oath attesâ—ed they saw them done Of these I shall chiefly speak in this chapter and remit the Reader to my former Book as also to some ensuing Chapters in this Treatise Reas. and Relig. Dis 2. cap. 8. where I bring to light à whole Torrent of most ancient Fathers not lightly but upon set design teaching That God in all Ages has adorned his Church with renewned and undeniable Miracles Cardinal Bellarmin begin's from the Bellar. lib. 4. de notis Ecclesiae Cap. 14. first Century with the known Miracles wrought by Christ and the Apostles and showes à continuance of them ever after to the 16.th Age when that learned man lived The exact Brerely Protes Apol Tract 2. c. 3. Sect. 7. Sub. 3. pag 534. having proved à confessed want of Miracles in Luther and Calvin and other Sectaries lead's you from the eight Century downwards and points out Miracles so manifestly attested by approved Authors that our very Adversaries as Osiander the Centurists and others cannot for shame either Question the sincerity of these Witnesses or deny the matters of Fact but shamefully recurre to à desperate Plea and say plainly God had no hand in them No. All were done by the Divel's power Now to the Task we have undertaken 2. One glorious and most certain Miracle being but lately done at Calais à Town in Picardy neer England shall first give the Reader entertainment The whole Processe whereof the rigid Examination made the Depositions taken from many Ey-witnesses and every particular at last confirmed by Episcopal Authority those two laborious Writers Godefridus Henschenius Acta Sanct. Mens April Tom. 1. 2. April pag. 229. and Daniel Papebrochius have amply drawn out to whom I must remit you for further Satisfaction and briefly recount the Miracle visibly wrought upon à Gentlewoman in Calais by the intercession of that great Servant of God S. Franciscus de Paula Founder of à most Holy Religious Order Vulgarly called Minims 3. In the year 1661. the forenamed Gentlewoman The nature af Peronna's Infirmity about 30. years old by name Peronna Raoult daughter to an honourable man called Lewis Raoult had been 13. whole years griveously afflicted with à violent cough and stoppage at her lungs caused by á continual Defluxion of humours comming from her head Physicians though often consulted found no remedy saying ingenuously they well knew not the cause and nature of her strange Asthtmatical disease which for the four last years more and more encreasing brought frequent and fearful convulsion fits upon the afflicted Patient whence followed such à contraction of nerves and Sinewes in her left Leg that first it became four fingers soon after halfe à foot shorter than the other This innumerable Witnesses saw and gave Evidence of as also that the bone of her right Leg and Hip put out of joynt gave her such intolerable pain that the could not sit without drawing her body into à round lump in which Posture she suffered many Sowing fits and unexpressible Torments When the most Christian King came to Calais anno 1658 His Majesties chief Physician Mons t Valet and three other expert Doctors were there also and several times visited the infirm creature which done all unanimously concluded the infirmity to be incurable and that poor Peronna was to remain Paralitick all the dayes of her life 4. Thus left confortles still enduring excessive Torment she thought it high time to implore help from Heaven and resolved to make à Novens or nine dayes of prayer by her Peronna implores assistence from Heaven selfe or others to the glorious Saint Francis of Paula and began it in the Minims Church at Calais the fift day within the Saints Octave Now because of her great weaknes she could not repair thither without much pain she often sent her Maid servant to perform the Devotion for her yet encouraged to doe some thing herselfe during the Novens though usually carried to the Church in à chair she called that day for her Crutches and with the help of her Maid to hold her up after many à wearisom step and stop in drawing breath at last got to the Church where she heard Masse said for her intention and communicated When behold at the reading of the last Gospel Peronna felt an excessive pain all her body over but chiefly in her left Leg and both hipps then all her nerves were violently stretched out by à humour as she thought dispersing it selfe through every member and heard the noyse of her bones long out of joint brought again to their natural posture Immediatly after these Torments Peronna Cured in an Instant by Miracle the vigour and agility of her whole body were perfectly restored in à moment in so much that without help or the least sign of weaknes she rose up and knelt before the Altar to the great admiration of all the Beholders The Priest who said Masse by name F. John de Beaumont when he saw her kneeling wondred at it and because he yet knew nothing of the Miracle advised her to fit down O Father said she blessed be God that is now needless for I am perfectly cured and as well as if I had never been infirm Then she went to the
far greater 6. I say therefore the Miracles of Christ our Lord of the Apostles and all those certainly wrought amongst God's People or in the Now true Miracles are distinguished from false wonders Church These I alwaies joyn together are easily distinguished from the slight Signs of Heathens and Hereticks First by their Strength or powerful virtue manifest to all unbyassed Judgements 2. By their vast Number and incomparable Greatness 3. By the Quality of the Persons that did them 4. By the End for which they were wrought All and every one of these distinctive Marks the Signal great Miracles wrought by Christ the Apostles and in the Church ever had and will have And I chiefly speak here of great Miracles 7. Call now to mind all the Wonders done or thought to be done by Heathens lay by them the Donatist's Dreams and Visions suspected saith S. Augustin of fraud even Aug. de unit Eccl. cap. 19. by the most prudent and Judicious Grant which many think false that the Novatians had some slender Miracles among them Summe up I say These and many more like Greater Miracles wrought by two Saints than by All Heathens and Hereticks them what have we but the lowest sort of wonders Imaginable for none surmount's the Power of good or Evil Spirits I dare boldly avouch that only two blessed men S. Thomas Cantilupe and S. Francis Xaverius have by Gods assistance wrought not only more but far greater Miracles than all the Heathens and Hereticks that lived since the creation of the world were all true that 's Written of them whereas God knowes more than the halfe is false 8. Look on the Condition of Persons among Heathens and Hereticks that pretend to Wonders you find them all suspected and of little Credit Infidels knew not Christ and Hereticks like shamelesse Fugitives deserted his Church If Therefore such wicked men do any thing like à Miracle it is done as S. Austin prudently Observes per Signa publicae Iustitiae Lib. 83. Quest 78. 79. that is illegally or by no Lawful but à usurped Power as wrought by them So naughty Souldiers do saith the Saint when Contrary to Military Discipline they extort from honest men what is Publickly forbidden On the other Side the Just endued with supernatural Faith work Miracles by lawful Commission which God's Divine Justice approves because as those others were out of Christ's Church so these are professed members of it See S. Petra Sancta volum 1 prologom p. 27. Austins Quotations further enlarged by Petra Sancta and Judge whether God's Servants that truly doe Miracles are not very differently qualifyed from others cast out of the house of God 9. The end of Miracles ever intended for the Good of others is chiefly to strengthen Faith and encrease Charity whence it is that S. Gregory the Great writing to S. Augustin S Greg. lib 9. Epist 58. our Apostle of England gives this prudent Admonition For as much as concern's the working of Miracles know that whatever gift you have received in this kind it is freely bestowed on you for the Good and Saluation of those souls committed For what End Miracles are wrought to your Charge To this end all our Saviours Miracles and those likewise wrought in the Church were ever and are still chiefly directed Contrarywise Those supposed Wonders done by Heathens were most for à Show only or Ostentation without benefit to soul or Body for what good could the walking of dull Images up and down or the cutting of à wherstone in two produce in any Neither can Miracles as done by Hereticks if yet ever wrought avail one Whit for the encrease of Faith or Charity for how can men that have made Shipwrack of Faith and torn Charity in pieces by Separating themselves from Christ and his Church help to perfect these Virtues in others I say as done by Hereticks for if any good ensues when so wrought That ' meerly Accidental and cannot be ascribed to the Hereticks Faith or any Merit in them 10. Now we Argue further and show by the real Effects which true Miracles have wrought John 15. v. 2. 4. their worth and visible Difference from those other dispirited dead Signs done by Heathens and Hereticks For the Readers better Satisfaction I here make use of our Saviours Powerful Argument against the Iewes whom he told If he had not done greater works among them than any other they had been without sin excusable but now having seen his Miracles and after all to hate Miracles proved by real effects him and his Father no Excuse could be made Pray Ponder seriously The Iewes had once great Miracles among them wrought by Moses and the Prophets yet our Saviour plainly Assert's he had then done greater and these words I conceive were spoken before the Miracles shown at his sacred Passion and Resurrection Is it true had he then done greater than Moses and the Prophets Far greater Therefore were they by much did they Surpasse in true weight and value all the pretended Wonders of Heathens then living or that afterwards should appear in the world This our Saviour Assert's or nothing 11. Some Iew or Infidel may reply Christ said here much of his Miracles but how prove we that he spake Truth I answer we prove this manifestly by Arguing from known Effects to the cause that is we evince the Cause Christ's Miracles I mean to be more vigorous Strong and attractive than all others by those real Admirable effects palpable to all Eyes which ensued upon their being wrought by the Son of God Cast therefore your Eyes upon the known Conversions made by Christ and his Ministers the blessed Apostles look also What these admirable effects are upon the large encrease and strange Growth of the Militant Church during the first Age of Christianity call to mind the Ruin and destruction of Idols Signal Effects of the primitive Miracles and you will find by these and the like innumerable Wonders that the Miracles then done never exhibited to be gazed on had Influence upon all Could ever yet Heathen or Heretick show you the like Miraculous Works following the Wonders they boast of 12. Hence we proceed to Miracles wrought in the Catholick Church and show also by many real Effects their Worth to be far above all the pretended Wonders done by Infidels and Hereticks Tell me did ever any of these or all together show you by Virtue of their Signs such à united Society of men in one Faith as our Church showes Did ever any fast Effects real and palpable prove the Churches Miracles pray and curb their Passions like those in this Christian Society Did ever any show the like Contempt of the world their whole life long as thousands and thousands have done amongst us No God knowes so many noble Heroick Actions fruits of Divine Grace and known Miracles Grace working inwardly Miracles more outwardly were never seen or heard of with the like
the whole world over an undeniable Miracle This Mr Dr the only Thing I insisted upon page 478. you shamefully wave and neither grant nor The Dr waves what I insisted upon plainly deny well content to cheat your Reader with à few dull dark words of Miracles done in corners and shewed to ignorant People who have no skill in Opticks nor Iudgement to difference the boyling up of à thing from à natural cause and by à Miracle What 's here but one witlesse Calumny after another Have all who for so many Ages have Shown the Vial to others practized like Rogues and Impostors False dealing or Legerdemain Were there never any Spectators all this vast while judicious enough to discern between jugling with an Optick if yet such à jugling be possible and the real boyling up of concrete Blood But above all Mr Dr Satisfy my Curiosity in one doubt Point me out that natural Cause whereby Blood mingled and congealed with earth boyles up upon good Friday in the Holy week at such à precise Nothing in nature can cause congealed blood to boyle up at such an hour on good Friday houre and you will show your selfe more skilful in Nature than ever Aristotle was There goes à pretty story of Galen the Physician who once meeting with S. Mary Magdalen understood by Her that Christ restored sight to one born blind If so replyed Galen Christ knew well the Virtue of mettals fetcht out of the veines of the earth No sooner Sr shall you find out the Natural cause of the boyling of this Blood but Galen will be ready with his Minoral that cured the blind mans Eyes which is to say never Yet upon this fourh and the now mentioned Calumnies you vainly exhort For Truths sake if your Church hath such Miracles as Christ and his Apostles had never send us to Loreto or Compostella or S. Maximins in France 27. Thus much noted concerning the true State of the Question between the Dr and me which is whether there be such à Miraculous Vial at S. Maximins we might were we minded to Write as I said Volumes further enquire how it came thither whereof I shall give some few hints leaving the Decision of the whole matter to Authors who have largely handled this difficulty 28. Joannes Launoy à learned Dr of the Launoy de commentitio Laz Maxim Mariae Martha in Provinciam appulsu Dr Still page 486 Sorborn saith our Dr hath proved in à set Discourse that for à thousand year 's after Christ it was the constant Tradition of the Greek aod Latin Church that Lazarus Martha and Magdalen all dyed in the Eastern parts and not à word of Maximinus and that the whole Story is taken out of à fabulous Book pretended to be Written by Marcella the Servant to Martha in the Hebrevv tongue translated by one Synthex into Latin Hence followes à grosse Forgery not only in the whole Story of these Saints comming into Provence But this is also consequent as Launoy and the Dr pretend That the fourth and fifth Lesson in the present Roman Breviary of S. Martha are meer Fables unworthy to be registred and so likewise is all that Vincentius Bellovacensis recount's of this Subject Vincen specu tom 4 Histor lib 9 cap 94 95 and more in the ensuing Chapters out of the Gests of S. Mary Magdalen of Lazarus and that whole Holy Company 29. Courteous Reader Note in the first place the fraud of Dr Still who guilfully Seem's to content you with relating à Story by halves He tell 's you indeed what Launoy Saith without The Dr's fraud the least mention of three other grave Authors who have made it their work to refute Launoy This Dr Still could not be ignorant of if he ever read Launoy One is Joannes Baptista Guesnay otherwise called Peter Henry in his Elaborate Annals printed at Lyons Anno Guesnay Annal sive Masilia Gentilis Christian 1657. Towards the End of this Tome you will find the Authors close Observations made upon à Decree set forth by the Supream Senate of Aix against Launoy implying à full Condemnation of all he has Written against the Arrival of S. Mary Magdalen at Marseils calling it false impious and pernicious Doctrin and finally commanding that his Writings be suppressed that no Stationer sell them nor any read Them for the future All this was done upon long Deliberation and consultation had with the most learned of the University at Aix John Launoys second Antagonist is Monsieur Denys de la Saint Baume in à French Treatise entituled Le Triomphe de la Magdaleine en la creance veneration Denys Gentil homme Provancal second Edition des ses Saintes Reliques â—n Provence suivie embrassé par toutes les Nations du Monde c. The last Adversary Launoy meets with upon this Subject is Theophilus Raynandus potens opere Sermone one that can both Write and speak home when justly provoked and occasion requires Raynaudi Polemica Tom. 18. sub Titulâ— Hercules Commodianus page 332. As it is not saith Raynaudus citing Irenaeus necessary for any to drink up the vvhole Ocean to knovv whether that Water be salt so it is needless to cloy you with too much of Iohn Launoy's Elucubrations à tast only of them rudely disgested by this turbulent and seditious mans VVit born to make discord in the world will be enough Thus Raynaudus 30. Have you ever heard saith Launoy of Se Rayn quaesito 1 old women sitting by the fire side in à long winters night and telling Tales No better is the Story of Mary Magdalen and Martha recounted in the Roman Breviary Again As Dr Still slights the Relation of S. Mary Magdalen's preaching to the People at Marseils because forsooth S. Paul allowes not à woman to preach so Dr Launoy deeply reproves the Roman Martyrologe Rayn quaesito 2. 15. Decemb. where we read that S. Christiana à Servant woman preached to the Iberians and converted many to Christ Raynaudus tells you how this frontless man Opposes no lesse than twenty Popes who approved the Reliques at S. Maximins Church Saying they all erred and were fâ—lthily deluded by the Dominicans grosse Lyes and Impostures Launoy's unworthy dealing with general Councils chiefly the Councils of Florence and Trent you have Rayn quaesito 3. laid forth by the same Author Of his vilifying Saints Canonized by the Church se Raynaudus Rayn quaesito 4. cited where he calls S. Antoninus Arch-Bishop of Florence pecus mulus à beast sheep or Mule as you Please Speaking of S. Lewis Launoy's boldnesse the IX the Gem of Kings who devoutly came to visit the Solitary place called the Holy Balme where Blessed Magdalen retyred herselfe in the height of Contemplation Sic saith Launoy Mendax fama incepit Thus the lowd Lye of Magdalen began imposed on the too credulous King by the Dominicans Whoever desires more of Launoy's siding with Hereticks
like one on horsback Abaris rid and passed through places where no man could goe Nay with his Arrow He rid over Rivers standing waters Fenns or Marish grounds and flew over Mountains when he pleased Crafty Pythagoras like one scorning the The whole Story of Pythagoras and Abaris proved à Fourb Gift took the Arrow but never Ask'd Abaris vvhy he gave it For he vvas the God supposed to knovv all things Then he shewed Abaris set at distance from him his golden Thigh proving thereby that he had not told any Lye at all In Fine he took the Priest Abaris to his Tuition and imparted so much learning as he found him capable of Here you have briefly Iamblicus his Story of Abaris and Pythagoras Epitomised Judge Reader whether all circumstances duly weighed you find any thing in the whole But fraud or Necromancy What To hear of an old Idolatrous Priest riding on à Stick over Rivers and Mountains not feasible by humane Power either Argues as I think fiction in the Story or that the Divel had à hand in Abaris hit Travels 27. For as much as concerns Pythagoras showing his golden thigh or rather as Beyerlinck Beyerl in Theatro vitae â—â—mâ—â—sâ— verbo Magia S. Aug. l. 7. de civit cap. 35. observes bragging of it S. Augustin well versed in the Writings of Heathens touches upon the very Truth and plainly Saies Pythagoras vvas à Conjureâ— or one that Practized Hydromancy or Necromancy as Numa Pompilius did Numa saith the Saint to whom neither Prophet nor Holy Angel ever came used Hydromancy to the End he might see the Images of the Gods or rather Pychagoras Iudged à Conjurir by S. Austin the deceipts of Divels in vvater This Divination Witness Varro vvas brought from the Persians vvhich Pythagoras the Philosopher practized adhibito Sanguine adding blood to the vvater Etiam inferos perhibet sciscitari and said Divels were best enquired after others read suscitari or easily raised up by such Charms Well therefore might Pythagoras while Abaris was placed at à distance call up à Divel and in appearance show him à golden Thigh for if Divels as I noted above can by Necromancy make men sitting at à Table to appear like Blocks of vvood or carrying Asses heads on their Shoulders and spread on à Sudden à fair branched vine through à Dining-room They may as easily delude ones Senses and cause that à thigh made of flesh and bones seemingly look like Gold God I am sure wrought not this Wonder upon à Magician Philosopher if yet it was à wonder Nothing in nature can joyn à Thigh of gold to à humane Body the Divel therefore did what was done if the whole Story scorned by all Christian Authors be not as I said à Dream or à Heathenish fiction 28. Whoever would know more of Pythagoras and Abaris the Priest may peruse Malchus de vita Pythagorae in Iucem edita à Cunrado Ritters husio J. C. Porphyrius or Malchus where you have the same stuff told over again after Iamblicus here and there enlarged and as much laugh't to Scorn Malchus Page 43. Tell 's you of Pythagoras his taming the Daunian bear and à Tarentine Oxe adding the Salutation which à River gave Pythagoras as he passed by clarâ humanâ voce in à clear and audible Malchus corn's Pyâ—hagoras his Wonders voice Such things saith Malchus you may list among Lucian's Stories Nam quid non Graecia mendax audet in historia In the very next page this Author Quotes S. Chrysostom who thought some wonders done Chrysost Hom 1 in Joan Evang by Pythagoras were true but thence proves with S. Austin cited that he was à Witch à Juggler à Cousener and what not Thus much of Pythagoras and Dr Stillingfleets two Stories CHAP. XVII Of many other Quotations partly impertinent partly false produced by the Dr. Arguments against Miracles Answered 1. THe Dr very copious in his Quotations Dr Still page 673. Philosostory apud Photium cod 40. first introduces Philostorgius Saying that the Arian Bishops wrought Miracles and he attributes the same Power to the Bishop of Nicomedia to Agapetus the Bishop of Synada who is said to have raised the dead And to many other known Hereticks Yet this very Dr tells us at the End of the same Page that S. Chrysostom teaches There is not so Philostorgius cited much as à footstep of that Povver of Miracles left in the Church vvhich vvas in the Apostles and moreover assert's that God has put à stop to Miracles that they vvere intended for Infidels not for Believers novv setled in Christianity 2. I never yet saw man lay together à louder contradiction in one page Philostorgius saith the Dr ascribes the Power of working Miracles as raising the dead to Hereticks yet S. Chrysostom tell 's us God has put à Stop to Miracles and will have no more done If Philostorgius speak's Truth in granting Miracles The Dr drives on two plain Contradictions wrought by Arian Bishops S. Chrysostom understood as the Dr would have him grosly mistook when he teaches God has put à stop to Miracles The Dr not content with one contradiction drives on another The Arians saith he the Eunomians and Novatians all challenged the Power of Miracles to themselves but the Catholick Bishops pretended no more to them than the Protestant Bishops do now Reader this Dr writes he knowes not what Observe I beseech you Did those Hereticks falsely lay claim to à Power of Miracles So it is saith the Dr. How then durst your famous Philostorgius play the knave and peremptorily assert that an Heretical Bishop raised the dead and healed all sorts of Diseases or with what face could you Sr bring in an Author as deserving Credit when your own Judgement tell 's you he writes loud untruths Me thinks this Discourse is plain You either Judge the Arians and Eunomians to have had the Power of working Miracles or not If not you should have said plainly Philostorgius cheat's us in setting down Miracles which were never done And you Sr may be ashamed of your own Writings where you so highly extol Miracles wrought by Heathens For if Hereticks as you here seem If Hereticks never wrought Miracles much lesse did Heathens to Suppose never did any much lesse did Heathens and Infidels Therefore Aesculapius his Miracle wrought upon à beheaded woman And the whole Story of Pythagoras his Thigh ought in your Judgement to be decryed as fourbs and fictions or as Charms of Necromancy To what purpose doe you fill so many Pages of your Book with Lyes known as such to your selfe 3. Now if on the other side those Eunomians and Donatists had the Power of working true Miracles you force à Lye upon S. Chrysostom saying as you interpret That God has put à stop to all extraordinary Signs The Saints own words Mr Dr confute your Glosse There is not saith S. Chrysostom The like Power of Miracles in the Church which