it is 3. When the world lay as it were in à dead sleep of sin and ignorance thoughtlesse God knowes of casting so much as à thought towards Heauen or of louing any good but what sense and corrupted nature liked of A new Doctrin sad to sense and mighty difficult to reason was heard of Blessed are the poor in spirit Humility scarse heard of before was then cryed vp for à great virtue wrongs were to be forgiuen lawes obeyed iustice obserued c. But was sensuallity only thus Crossed in its propensions No. A load of high Misteries besides was laid on Reason also which seemed to rack and torture it God one in essence and three distinct persons God an Infant born of à virgin A Lord Iesus true God and man after à wearisome life Scourged by impious hands and finally Crucified such with much more was the strange Doctrin of Christianity How euer and here is the Miracle or prodigious work it got ground spread it self far and neer and though contrary to sensuallity and aboue Reason yet millions of souls so firmly belieued it though austere and hard that innumerable haue dyed for it Now if this be not à wonder or à prodigious work aboue the force of nature we may well conclude with S. Austin lib. 22. de Ciuit. c. 5. This to be the greatest Miracle of all that God conuerted the world without Miracles 4. The. 2. consideration yet encreaseth the wonder of this admirable work We know great effects require proportionable causes of like strength and virtue A weak child lift's not vp à weighty burden nor can à mean handful of naked men defeat à puisant Army Ponder well the Propagation of Christs Gospel and the Conuersions of Nations to Christian Faith visible to our eyes the work is without dispute great noble and glorious But say by what cause by what instruments or Ministers did God effect it Did he send Angels from Heauen to preach a Trinity à Crucified Sauiour c. or force Christians to à belief of those Mysteries by strength of arms No. Rex noster Pacificus Our Diuine Iesus is the God of peace Non in Commotione Dominus No tumultuous spirit brought in his Doctrin Caluins tragical proceedings in the late begotten Heresy was not heard of when Christ our Lord and his Disciples preached the Gospel Some perhaps will say that Gods great intention when he first laid the foundation of Religion was to destroy Idolatry and to establish à Ty what instruments the Gospel was dilated new law against Iudaism and therfore proceeded as the world vsually doth in weighty matters He surely made choise of most expert Aduocates of the wisest Philosophers of the profoundest Iudges and most eloquent Orators on earth and by these pleaded for Christianity 'T is an errour all was contrary Our euer glorius God did his own work by twelue poor Fishermen ignoble ignorant friendlesse and destitute of all that the world makes account of yea and he shewed this power more by these weak Instruments and their successors in after ages than he did before whilst he liued with them to manifest that the work was his Principally and theirs instrumentally This Doctrin is so fully deliuered by the great Apostle of the Gentils that we need not S. Chrisostoms Eloquent Discours on the subiect in his sermon Christ is God To illustrate it further though that also merits à serious reflection I will destroy saith S. Paul 1. Cor. 1. 19. The wisdom of the wise and reiect the prudence of the prudent c. Hath not God made the wisdom of the world foolish for because in the wisdom of God the world did not by wisdom know God it pleased God by the foolishnes of Preaching to saue them that belieue c. For that which is foolish to God is wiser then men and that which is the infirm of God is stronger then men See your vocation Bretheren that not many wise according to the flesh not many mighty not many noble but the foolish things of the world God hath chosen that he may confound the wise and the weak things of the world that he may confound the strong and the base things of the world and the contemptible God hath chosen and those things which are not that he might destroie those things which are that no flesh may glory in his sight Which is to say humane power had no hand in this glorious work and therfore it is as manifestly aboue the force of nature as if Christ Iesus had sent 12. little Children to conuert the world for 't is no lesse à miracle to see so great à work done by 12. poor fishermen then by 12. young Children 5. 3. Consider the number and quality of souls gained to our Christian belief and ask whether they were à few only or of so flexible à temper as to credit any thing vpon hearsay You will answer they were not few Witnesse the conuersion of whole nations and if we Consider nature no lesse obstinate than numerous Incredulum illud genus humanum saith Arnobius lib. 1. Contra Gentes Mankind most stubborn and incredulous contrary to its former liberty and education submitted to the yoke of Christ which truth The number gained in numerable as this Author obserues were it not as euident as day light would haue been thought impossible Perhaps you 'l say though many they were yet simple and ignorant and therfore easily wrought on No. A Learned Dyonisius à Clemens Romanus and innumerable other great capacities called on came in to the Church such choise ones God cooperating with his weak instruments were drawn out of errour and darknesse to the light of the Gospel Now if you ask in the last place by what means these conuersions were made The Gospel answers Mark 16. 17. By signes and manifest wonders from Heauen Going into the world preach the Gospel to all creatures c. and them who belieue these signes shall follow In my name they shall cast out Diuels speak with tongues as the Apostles did in the feast of Pentecost They went forth saith the Text preached euery where our Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes which followed Signes therfore and Miracles works of Diuine virtue without violent hands or humane industry cast down Idols outed Iudaism and induced Aliens from Christ to belieue his sacred Gospel These Arguments as I now said so forceably euidence à power aboue nature in the establishing of Christianity that if we had no other Proofs for the Existence of God these alone without dispute Conuince most sufficiently the being of à Numen aboue vs who has demonstrated his prouidence in laying the foundation of Christian Religion so firmly CHAP. IV. VVhether Christian Religion since its first Propagation hath not been in like manner preserued pure and further spread by Diuine Prouidence aboue the power of Nature 1. I Answer Affirmitiuely and say that the Augmentation or further growth of Christian
assumed Corps as haue been seen in many Miraculously restored to life Be it how you will We are sure God can doe yea and hath done great Miracles when therefore all imaginable Circumstances forceably induce vs to belieue that they are his own glorious works it is I hope more wisdom to Ascribe them to an Omnipotent Power than to Father them vpon Diuels 3. Some who plainly see it s à degree of madness to doubt of so much humane faith as Testifies of Miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church grant many haue been done But then Obiect 2. God did them to manifest that Christ is the true Messias or to work à Belief in vs of so much Doctrin only as is Common to all Christians but not to confirm our Popish Errours of Praying to Saints Purgatory c. Contra. This Argument also impugn's our Sauiours great Miracles which were not wrought one may say to confirm all the Doctrin he taught but à Part or parcel of it only Contra. 2. If Miracles Mark out à Doctrin common to all or confirm so much truth And no more It seem's strange that Arians Pelagians and Protestants work not Miracles as frequently as the Church doth For these men own à Doctrin common to all Christians yet show none of these wonders Contra. 3. There is not one Miracles truly alleged for euery Doctrin the Church teaches Doctrin taught by our Church and held erroneous by Sectaries which is not Sealed Signed and Attested by euident Miracles We haue innumerable for Christs Real and substantial Presence in the Eucharist As many for the Inuocation of Saints as also for the Honour due to holy Reliques Innumerable proue that third place of Purgatory c. All these may good Authors deserue Credit are vpon vndoubted Record And what iust Exception haue Sectaries against so great Authority I 'le tell you Their own incredulous Humour Here is all Whereas could they speak to the cause they should giue vs weight for weight and Oppose what we Allege in behalf of Miracles vpon grounded Principles That is they Should euince positiuely that our Authors are meer Cheats and fain Stories when we read of Miracles wrought in confirmation of praying to Saints the Real Presence And this in all law of Disputation they are obliged to do vpon solid Proofs indeed distinct from their own Incredulity or à meer Saying Such Records are false But do what ye will Sectaries can neuer be driuen to dispute vpon Principles 4. A third Obiection S. Austin Lib. de Vnit Ecclesiae Saith We therefore say not we belieue because so many wonders are done all the world ouer in holy places for what euer we find in this kind Ideo sunt approbanda quia in Ecclesiâ Catholicâ fiunt are to be approued S. Austin alleged against Miracles Speak's nothing for Sectaries because they are wrought in the Catholick Church Hitherto the obiection is of no force For the Saint only Saies No new Miracles ought to gain certain credit But such only as are wrought in the Church or such as confirm Her Doctrin or finally haue the Churches Approbation Now because he disputes against the Donatists and supposeth the Church known vpon other grounds expressed in Scripture Her Vnity Chiefly and vniuersal extent ouer the world before these latter Miracles were heard of Let us Saith S. Austin waue this Plea of Miracles you Donatists allege yours and I mine and Argue by Scripture only and see what Church Scripture commend's antecedently known before these latter Miracles came to our knowledge Which is to say though the after Particular Miracles added to others formerly done may much strengthen our Faith yet absolutly How the Saint pleaded against the Donatists Speaking Faith depend's not of them Because the Church we belieue in is sufficiently manifested by Her Vnity Perpâ—tuity and Vniuersallity expressed in Scripture Haec sunt causae nostrae documenta hac firmamenta Here in sies all we haue to Say Whilst we contest with you Donatists that own Scripture with vs yet Cauil at our Miracles Who euer read's this one Chapter exactly And drawes any other sense from the whole Context than what is now briefly hinted at will much oblige me may he please to discouer it 5. One yet may Obiect S. Austin Saith more and it seem's much against vs. Non ideo ipsa manifestatur Catholica quia haec in ea fiunt The Catholick Church is not vpon that Account manifested to you Donatists because these Miracles are wrought in it I Answer 1. The words vnderstood as Sectaries interpret Euert as wholly the Miracles of our Sauiour who said If you will not belieue me belieue my Works 2. The Sectaries sense impugn's also the express Doctrin of S. Austin de Vtilit Credendi C. â—7 Where He Asserts that Hereticks are condemned by the Maiesty of Miracles Besides Their sense is nothing to the purpose because in this very Passage He speak's of latter Miracles known to S. Ambrose at Millan And Saith Hee will no more insist on These than permit the Donatists to talk of their False-visions For the Church is sufficiently manifested without them vpon à Surer Principle the Holy Scripture which the Donatists admitted and therefore Why Heâ— waued the proof of Miracles with the Donatists whilst They pretended to Miracles as well as S. Austin did Hee prudently waued that Discours and Argued by Scripture only leauing Miracles to their own worth and weight I Say to their ovvn vveight which is gathered from this great Doctors Discourse 6. Our Lord Iesus saith he arose from the dead and manifested Himself to his Disciples and offered his sacred body to be touched by their hands yet least that might be thought à fallacy he iudged it meet to confirm his Resurrection more Principally by the Testimony of the law the Prophets and Psalms showing All things were now accomplished â—n him Whence I inferr as the touching his Sacred body was Proof enough though not the chiefest of his Resurrection when Scripture was at hand to make that most manifest So Miracles also The true Reason giuen wrought in the Church manifest that Oracle but not Principally to the Donatists who ought to haue belieued more firmly the Churches Doctrin vpon that one potent Proof of the Apostle 1. Tim 3. 15. The Pillar and ground of Truth than for all the latter wonders done in the Church Yet these haue à mighty force and are stronge Inducements so far as Motiues can reach but not the chief and Principal cause of any mans Belief or Assent Read then S. Austin's words thus The Church is not made manifest by her latter Miracles to à Donatist who Cauils at such wonders but Principally by Scripture which he admit's and will like Protestants be tryed by You haue the Saints full Sense and à great Truth with it whereof there can be no doubt at all when Lib. Contra Epist Fundamentâ— C. 4. 5. He Demonstrat's the Church by Her Miracles
à most sâ—uere Examination and finally to make the Glorious vvorks of God knovvn Sentence vvas Iuridically pronounced by à vvorthy Arch-Bishop as is novv said Quod si rei tam notae contradicere ausint And if Sectaries yet dare contradict so manifest à Verity Quis illos c. who is there that vvill not look on them As impudent and list them among incredulous Iewes 21. Yet our Mr Stillingfleet forsooth Shifts all off with à Ieer. It is an easy thing for à Stump to grovv à leg in its passage from Spain hither What will not this man write to his petty purpose if 't come in his way What will he not pare away Mr Stillingfleets cheat and open fraud and add to à Story remote from the knowledge of the vulgar His book is full of such fraud Will he not think ye say any thing before the illiterate and ignorant in the high Mysteries of Faith whilst he blushes not to cheat and deceiue his Reader in à matter of Fact Notorioussly known to the world If he thinks I haue forged this Relation Hee shall haue the very indiuidual Copy I made vse of sent him the Bulk is not big If he doubt's of the Authority of these witnesses already produced and say yet all is à Fourb I 'll say as easily I am fooled in belieuing there is such à man in the world as Mr Stillingfleet whom I neuer saw And next will force him to exchange Principles with me à little You Sir say its à fourb à pretended no real Cure What 's required of Him I say Contrary The Cure was real and à great Miracle Proue now you Your Assertion vpon as good Humane Authority as I haue proued mine And we come to Principles fit to decide in the present Matter Fail to do this your Assertion hath not so much as one leg to stand on besides fancy or something worse CHAP. X. Other Marks and Signes peculiar to the Roman Catholick Church proue her Orthodox And make Her Doctrin euidently credible These laid forth to Sense and Reason distinguish the true Church from all Erring Societies Inferences drawn from the Doctrin Here deliuered 1. VEry little may suffice concerning the first part of the Title our Catholick Authors hauing done the work to my hands whilst they treat most largely and learnedly of the Amplitude and Vniuersallity of the Roman Catholick Church of the continued and Succession of Her Bishops Pastors and people of Her Vnity in one and the same Faith of Her Sanctity of the efficacy of Her Doctrin in conuerting whole Nations to Christ which S. Austin justly hold's miraculous The Largeness of this great moral Body rightly called by Sectaries à growing Religion which no persecution of Tyrants could hitherto suppres For time extends it self without dispute to all pass'd Ages since Christ And The Largeness of the Catholicks Church if we speak of place the growth successiuely was so great That In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum it hath been preach'd with immense fruit to all Nations Answerable to that of the Royal Prophet Psalm 2. where the eternal Father speaking to Christ our Lord as man giues him an ample Kingdome spread all ouer for his Possession Ask of me and I will giue the Gentils for thy Inheritance and thy possâ—ssion the last ends of the earth 2. Hence we first distinguish the Church of Christ from the lewish Synagouge limitated to one time till the comming of our true Messias And to one place also For the Sacrifice essential to that Religion could not be offered but in the Temple of Hierusalem only We distinguish both Church and Doctrin likewise from Mahumatism Nestorianism Eutychianism and other Heresies in Distinguishes Her from all false Sects the East which neuer got any considerable footing in these Western parts of Europe Finally we distinguish it from Lutheranism Calvtanism and Protestanism à confused Mixture of both and other late Doctrins These and their dissenting Heads stay in our Northin Climats without fruit or Progress made into Asia Affrica Greece or the like remote Countries wherefore some doubt not to auerr and most truely That the Holy Orders of S. Dominick of S. Francis and of the Society of Jesus are further spread more diffused through the world at this day â— than all the Sects or Subdiuisions of Protestants euer yet were or I think will be But the Kingdome of Christ's Church as Tertullian Cited aboue Chap. 1. n. 6. well obserues Vbique regnat reignes euery where and is The Amptitude of Christ's Keingdome euery where belieued Nor can these latter Sectaries now in an aged world hope to Propagate further For if S. Austin De Vnit. Eccle. C. 14. Thought it enormously improbable that Donatism then so early could diffuse it selfe the whole world ouer much less can our confined Protestants very late Teachers after so many Centuries when Heresy euery where lyes à gasping Hope to draw forreign Nations to à Belief of their Nouelties 3. The reason à Priori is A greater extent à further increase seem's inconsistent with the very Nature of those who professe this Religion For once liuing in the Vine and drawing Nutriment from thence they wilfully cut them selves off and separated from the Church Therefore as S. Austin saith they lie where they are Withering and dying without Lustre or any Enlargement Again as they began this new learning without Gommission to teach So they can send none hereafter Authoritatiuely to spread it further Hence I Argue That Church only is Christ's true Spouse which euer Protestancy increases not And why was from the first Rise of Christianity and successiuely got Possesin the four Parts of the world But thus the Roman Catholick Church was and is Still diffused here is Christ's promised Inheritance Therefore She is the only true Church Contrarywise the narrow confined and iarring multitudes of Sectaries scattered vp and down in à few corners in Europe All late Beginners and shameful Desertors of this Ancient Society neuer had so ample an inheritance and Consequently Their pretence of being the true Church of Christ is more than improbable 4. VVe may yet subioyn to the Amplitude of our Religion the euer visible and neuer interrupted Succession of Bishops and Pastors in the Roman Catholick Church from Christs time A Mark no less euident to sense than openly destructiue of Heresy This succession long since Prophesied by Daniel Cap. 2. Christ Kingdom shall neuer be dissipated and foretold by the Apostle Ephes 4. 11 He gaue some Apostles c. Sett's forth the Glory of it VVe need not in this place to weary the Reader with the known Authority of S. Austin positiuely Asserting Contra Epist fundam The succession of Lawful Pastors vrged C. 4. That the Succession of Pastors from S. Peters time held him in the Catholick Church and the Argument is more fully urged again Lib. de utilit Credendi C. 17. VVee need not tell any with
S. Cyprian Epist 76. That that man is not in the Church nor can be thought à Bishop who succeeds to none but hath his Authority and Origen from himself These and other forceable Testimonies we waue and urge Sectaries as the ancient Tertullian did the Hereticks of his time Lib. de praesc Evolvant ordinem Episcoporum suorum c. Let them vnfold the Catalogue of their Bishopr from this day to Luther and from Luther vpward and here we call not for Hussits VValdenses or such like men but for à continued descent of Bishops and Pastors Lawfully ordained and commissioned by Authority to preach Protestancy VVe Protestants haue none call indeed but hear of none before the daies of that vnfortunate Luther Therefore as I said aboue they are sons without Fathers they would be thought spiritual Children but are so vnbegotten that no body own 's them 5. Reflect à little Gentle Reader and cease not to wonder at the greatest Paradox I think that euer entred into the thought of man Holy Scripture Ascertains vs that Prouidence hath appointed Bishops to gouern his Church Pastors and Doctors to teach till the Consummation of Saints for the edifying A Paradox maintened by Sectaries of Christs Mystical body The Roman Catholick Church gives in Her Catalogue of Bishops and Pastors euer since Christ The first Apostolical Pastors receiued their learning from an Infallible Master God and man These conueyed it to their Successors They to others till this very age And to proue that They both kept and faithfully conueyed the same Doctrin without Change or Alteration you haue not only Church Authority the greatest on earth but more Gods own seal set to this Doctrin Christ's owne signes and Marks Miracles vndeniable Miracles Conuersions of nations c. Now start vp à knot of late vnknown strangers called Protestants without Bishops without Pastors for 1â— Ages These pretend to haue receiued new letters new learning from Jesus Christ That is an other sense of Scripture than was formerly deliuered This Letter is read This learning is published to the world VVe Ask what lawful Pastors taught it four Centuries since VVhat ancient Church owned it They Answer none VVe demand again To haue at least à Demands proposed to Sectaries sight of God's Seal set to this Letter some visible Marks of Christ Miracles for example to make the doctrin accepted They haue not any Ergo say wee The letter is forged the Doctrin is false uneuidenced improbable 6. All that 's pleadable against this Discourse is That our Doctrin once confessedly Orthodox was changed by the Church in after Ages Answ VVe are both willing and ready to discuss and that most rigidly this particular with Protestants but before hand giue them one Caueat Viz. That no Topicks but sound Principles enter here or bethe last Probation If then wee produce and most euidently à list of our Bishops and Pastors euer No Answer giuen since Christ as Witnesses of our Faith They are to do as much and produce as many for Protestancy If we as we do euer force Sectaries to name some known Orthodox Society of Christians that condemned our Doctrin in any Age they are obliged to vnbeguile vs and show vs where or when or by whom we were condemned If finally we vnexceptionably euidence most glorious Miracles to haue illustrated our Church euen after Her fancied Falling from the Primitiue truth after she became What sectaries are forced to grant the whore of Babylon our new men must either deny her such Miracles if so we vrge them to ground the denial on Principles equal to our contrary Probations or will certainly be forced to confess That God wrought Miracles in à Church which had brought in shameful Errours and quite forsaken the Primitiue Doctrin Obserue well the force of our Argument It s improbable to say That God fauoured this Church with the Glory of Miracles Had She falsifyed His reuealed truths And it is as wholly improbable to deny Her the Glory of Supernatural wonders Sectaries worn-out Obiections are not worth taking notice of Some oppose the Greeks though now not of the Church pretending to à Succession We answer if the Pretext be true Their cause vpon that Account is better than Protestants But withall say though Succession bee euer necessary to demonstrate the Church yet it followes not where we haue it There is the Church For Other Errours may vndoe all And de facto Vnchurch the Greeks guilty and condemned in three General Councils See Bellarmine de Notis Ecclesia Lib. 4. Cap. 8. 6. secundo 7. Enough is said aboue and in the other Treatise also Disc 1. C. 10. n. 4. 12. of the Vnion and Sanctity of our Church Vnity à Mark of the Church Vnion in Faith the greatest Blessing hearts can desire asserted by S. Hierome Epist. 57. ad Damasum Those are prophane who â—ate not the lambe in the Roman Catholick Church And innumerable other Fathers knit's together this whole Moral Body amongst so many different Nations different judgements different manners different Education different times different places from one end of the world to the other All belieue as the Pope himself belieues or is no Member of this Church And here is our Glory Wheras if on the other side we cast à sorrowful Vtterly destroyed by Sectaries thought vpon all the Hereticks who from the beginning rent themselues from the Roman Church we shall find Diuisions and subdiuisions Foreruners of Ruin endlesly following which at last destroyed them From one Luther as Bellarmin now cited obserues Cap. 10. à hundred Heresies sprouted vp And since his time there are more added to that number in our Mr. Thorndicke true Obseruation once most Catholick England He that can take measure saith Mr. Thorndicke in his late little Book of Forbearance P. 33. how much of common Christianity is lost by these Divisions in thirty years time since our troubles began euen among them that call them selues Godly and Saints will easily belieue that it he means Christianity hath not long to liue in that Isâ—and vnless Diuision be put to death 8. A iust iudgement of God vpon them pointed at by the Prophet Isay Cap. 19. 2. I will make the Aegyptians to run against Aegyptians and à man shall fight against his Brother euery man against his friend Citty against Citty and Kingdom against Kingdom Such confusion such an Abomination of desolation we Englands Diuision remediless vvithout returning to the Roman Catholick Church see now standing in that once holy Nation Hee that reads let him vnderstand which might iustly draw teares of blood from Compassionate Eyes Were it not that as S. Hilary notes Bellum haereticorum pax est Ecclesiae The Dissensions of Hereticks brings peace to the Church This some what asswages our Grief and stint's our teares But the Euil is desperate and incurable do what Sectaries can without returning to the Church of Rome which causelesly
à Power Omniscient known for that power which comprehend's things future much more comprehend's all past and present and therefore has an infinit Extent which we call Omniscience Now I subsume But an Intellectual power is in being that by virtue of his own light knowes future Truths wherof none can doubt because he has actually communicated part of his knowledge to others For example to the Ancient Prophets who most exactly fortold things to come relating to Christ our Lord and the Glory of his Church Such Secrets highly Diuine they had not as men nor were they known by any Principle within the bounds of Nature therefore God Omniscient imparted all And he did so not in vain but for this great End That mortals may see how an infinit Goodness condescend's to inform vs of Truths whereby he manifestly tender's our Happiness And this alone demonstrat's Prouidence That the Prophets foretold truths to come is euident by the books of Scripture writ whole ages before they happened and the Euent visible to our eyes proues the verities of the Predictions What haue your Astronomers who more often miss then hit in their Predictions comparable to these Prophesies in Scripture Nothing at all if which deserues reflection we consider the Eminency the Depth and high importance of the Mysteries reuealed 7. My last proof taken from one Manifest Absurdity is no less than demonstratiue Suppose Prouidence be denyed it followes That those Millions of men who since the worlds Creation adored God whereof innumerable were wise vpright and holy haue all been besotted and stupidly beguiled in Adoring that which is not Nay more This also is consequent A third and most conuincing Proof That à few abiect ignorant and despicable Atheists are only indowed with the light of à Truth which once established makes Virtue odious Honesty and Goodnes highly contemptible I proue the consequence If Prouidence be à chimera All our acts of Reuerence of Fear Obedience Religion and Gratitude tendered to God essentially blessed with that fore-seing Power are dissonant to reason and in themselues abominably sinful Contrarywise All acts of Contumely of Blasphemy and Contempt of Prouidence are consonant to reason and most laudable The more therefore we blaspheme contemn Diuine Prouidence the more laudably we operate and as highly merit praise as one doth that contemn's an Idol set besore him to worship For Prouidence Say Atheists is an Idol Ergo to adore it is madness to contemn it most Praise worthy These and Harsh sequels granted by Athâ—eists other like Sequels are so harsh so Abominable and contrary to the light of nature that I think the boldest Atheist now liuing dare not in à serious moode own them as Truths And thus much briefly of reasonable Arguments in behalf of Prouidence to oppose that slight Plea of Atheistical Spirits already Proposed and dissolued 8. The third Proposition As Atheists plead fallaciously against Prouidence so Heathens Iewes and Hereticks follow closely the like Strain in euery Argument proposed against the Mysteries of Faith taught by Christ and his Church Atheists and Heretiques argue à like I would say As the Atheist run's headlong with his weak Iudgement vpon Difficulties so these now named erre as he erreth They make Direct Reason to see more than it can see to Comprehend Mysteries incomprehensible and quite cast asside that Prudent reflex Reason which allayes all and giues most Satisfaction For example The Heathen Comprehend's not that great Mystery of the Trinity and there stand's puzzled Good cause say I for if à Cockle shell contain's not the whole Occan why should thy shallow head comprehend the Trinity Were this possible either thou must be God or God leaue of to be what he is The Iew vnderstand's not how God became man and dyed ignominiously vpon à Cross Obserue à strange Stupidity saith Diuinely S. Chrisostom Lib. Quod Christus sit Deus towards the end These Aduersaries of Christ read of contempt and Disgrace and credit all They read in the same Scripture of our Sauiours Admirable Miracles and belieue nothing Here is want of Reflex Reason The Heretick boggles at the Doctrin of Transubstantiation and wonders that à Church made vp of fallible men can be held infallible And from whence comes The Assertion proued this boggling What cause is there of wonder He Answer 's Transubstantiation seems contrary to Sense and Reason Very good I Ask again to what Reason is it opposit Grant gratis the Vtmost it only seem's contrary to that not wel-sighted Reason which more often beguils than learns vs Truth or which loseth it self in the Search of deep Mysteries where it can find no Exil But Answer I beseech you Is the Doctrin opposite to that Other wise Prudent iudgement whereby all know or should know That reason is neuer more reasonable than when When Reason is reasonable it leaues off reasoning in high matters aboue reason No certainly For deny once this one clear Christian Principle or say that 's only belieuable and no more which weak reason Approues We destroy the very Essence of Faith and can belieue nothing The Doctrin of Gods Free-acts of à Trinity of the Incarnation of Transubstantiation and the other like Mysteries is quite renounced if so much only gain's belief as weak reason puzzled in the Mysteries see 's Reason for 9. I say therefore This Direct purblind reason cast's vs vpon Difficulties Reflex reason solues them The first makes vs meer What effects weak reason produces Scepticks yea and followed Atheists too The second good Christians The First remains in darkness the second finds light The first would turn all faith into Science the second saith No Si non credideritis non intelligetis Vnless you belieue you shall not vnderstand The first though no more but à handmaid would rule bear sway and command the second curb's that petulancy and bids Her Obey Now the only difficulty is to show what is meant by Prudent reflex Reason and of what consequence it is in matters of Faith 10. Briefly this reason stands not long vpon the Mysteries How the reflex and prudent reason proceed's reuealed but leaues off that lost labour and relies wholly on the Authority of one Master that reueals them Hence Clem. Rom. in Recogn D. Petri giues this wise counsel Ante Omnia c. Before all things examin well by rational Motiues whether he be à Prophet that speaks This done ponder no more but belieue boldly all he Saith And wonder nothing at the principle for it is far more easy to find out the Prophet by his marks and signes than to vnderstand the sublime Doctrin he teaches S. Irenaeus Lib. 9. C. 9. 1. speakes conformably Non enim nos aliter discere poteramus quae sunt Dei nisi Magister noster verbum existens homo factus fuisset We could not otherwise learn those Secrets God has reuealed vnless our great Master the Diuine word had been made man
Blessed Ladies to whom immortal thanks are due for the fauour Giuen at Madrid Ibid. Mart. Anno 1642. I haue besides the Licence of the Vicar General Don Gabriel de Aldama appointing the whole Narration to be Printed which begins Nos el Licenciado Consultor del Sanctâ— officio c. Subscribed Lic D. Gahriel de Aldama And vnderwritten Por su mandado Martin de Lual Notariâ— 13. Yet more I haue the Attestation of Hieronimus Brizids Testimonies of that Stupendious Miracle who had order from the Vicar General to pervse and censure the vvhole Relation presented to the said Vicar Dâ— Gabriel de Aldama Legi saith he libellum de stupendo Miracâ—lâ—â—stro saeculo inaudito Diuae Virginis de Pilari quod verum esse scio c. I haue read the little book concerning that stupendious and strange Miracle in this our Age of our Blessed Lady of Pilari which I know to â—e true I knew the youth at Caesaraugusta or Zaragosa when he had but one leg and there begged Almes at the Church door I saw him afterwards at Madrid whither he came at the command of his Catholick Maiesty and saw him going on both leggs I saw the Mark which the Blessed Virgin had left where the leg was cut of And not only I but all the Fathers of the Imperial Colledge beheld this I might add vpon certain Relation innumerable other Eye-witnesses and of noble Men too then in the court of Spain I knevv the young mans Parents I knevv the Chirurgion that cut of the leg Giuen at Madrid 12. Mart. 1642. Vnderwritten Hieronimus Brizids 14. We may add herevnto the Approbation of F. Ioseph Crespo The licence of His Catholick Maiesty Prior of S. Martins Monastery in Madrid who knew as he saith this Miracle to be most true and witnessed it vnder his own hand 4. Martij 1642. Lastly Facultas Regia or his Catholick Maiesties Licence is thus annexed Signata à D. Augustino de Arteaga Cannizares Scriba Camerae Regiae You shall see presently how rigidly the Miracle was examined and afterward approued by the Lord Arch-Bishop of Zaragosa The particulars whereof are briefly as follow 15. This young man called Michael Ioannes Pellicer about nineteen Who this young man vvas years of age was born at Calanda à Village in Aragon Son to Michael Pellicer à Husbandman and Mary Blasco Inhabitants of that Village Whilst he serued his Vncle Iames Blasco His right leg broken being in à Cart loaden with wheat by chance fell down and one of the wheels ran ouer his right leg and broke it His Vncle and Friends being poor Conueyed him first to the Hospital He was Carried to the great Hospital at Saragosa at Valentia where remedies were applyed but without success Thence brought to the great Hospital at Zaragosa Hee was Committed to the care of Iohn de Estanga à most expert Surgeon and publick Professor of Phisick who finding the His leg cut offingnâ— legw holly rotten cut if of four fingers below the knee and buried it When the wound was some what healed the lame maâ— went on Crutches to our Ladies Church and there both begged Almes and earnestly implored the Blessed Virgins fauorable Assistance He was well known to all there for the space of two whole years In the year of our Lord 1640. He went back to his Parents at Calenda and going vp and down as well as he could begged sustenance for Himself and poor Parents 16. On the 19. day of March Anno 1640. well wearied with gathering vp Hay sitting with his Father Mother and two others he laid aside his crutch and went to bed About à 11. of the Clock that night his Mother entring the chamber where he was found one in the bed with two feet and suspecting him to be some souldier for then à whole troop lodged in the Village presently ran to her Husband who came in knew his son well wakened him out of sleep 17. On à sudden the yet not too well awaked youth brake Was Miraculously restored forth into these words I dreamed I was in our Ladies Chappel of Pilari and annointell my leg with the oyle of the Lamp burning there The poor Father ouerioyed replyed Render my Child immortal thanks to God our Blessed Lady hath restored thee thy leg Hitherto the youth before his Father spake reflected not on the Miracle All this noysed abroad drew in many Eye-witnesses that night and the next day more who accompanied the young man to the Church where to the end all might behold the The Miracle diuulged Miracle His foot which yet stood much wrested to one side came before à Multitude of people to its ovvn natural Posture and those who saw him the day before wanting one leg obserued him now walking strongly on two sound and whole 18. Thus much noted by à publick Scribe and spread abroad soon after called the youth to Caesaraugusta Where he had his Iudges assembled witnesses examined Lawyers pleading and the Was rigidly examined whole cause most rigidly discussed All which performed The most Illustrious Lord Arch-Bishop of Zaragosa D. Petro Apaolaza publickly gaue Sentence the 27. day of April Anno 1642. The sentence finally giuen that the restoring of that leg was à Work aboue the force of nature and therefore might without doubt be deseruedly esteemed A prodigious Miracle Those who attested the same after due examination and subscribed their names were as follow 19. Don Antonio Xauirre Prior of S. Christina D. Ioannes Perat official of the Metropolitan Church at Zaragoca Don Subscribed by many Virto de Vera Archdeacon there Don Ioan Plano à Frago also Official D. Philip Bardaxi Interpreter of the sacred Canons D. Didacus Chueca Canon of Caesar augusta D. Martinus Irribarne Canon and Reader there F. Bartholomeus Foyas Prouincial of S. Francis order F. Antonius Ortin Prouincial of the Minims of S. Francis de Paula D. Dominicus Cebrian the first Reader of Diuinity at Zaragosa The sentence Published giuen was published and declared by great Doctors of the Canon and Ciuil law D. Aegidius Fuster and Michael Cypres à publick Notory also It was signed by D. Antonius Albert Zaporta the Apostolical Notary and chief scribe of the Ecclesiastical And now extant in the Spanish Annals Court at Caesar Augusta D. Thomas Tamayo de Vargas the Kings Historiographer of Spain and the Indies has published it in his Annals extant in the Spanish language Printed at Alcala 20. The Relation end 's thus Videant haeretici an hoc tam facile c. Let Hereticks look well to it whether they can as easily The end of the Relation slight this and other strange Miracles done in our time among the Indians as they scorn the restoring of S. Iohn Damascens hand at the Intercession of our Blessed Lady This we novv speak of is Testifyed by Eye-witnesses Both Spaniards and French vvere Spectators The vvhole cause lasted long vnder