On what Records we most rely in this enquiry on lyable to no exception are certain and no other than the very Authentique Depositions of Faithful Witnesses rigidly and severely examined in the Processe of our Saint's Canonization The Original Records I mention carefully preserved to this day in the Vatican Library at Rome sent thither by our King and all the Bishops then in England Those two worthy men often cited Godesridus Henschenius and Daniel Papâ—brochius after their visiting many Libraries up and down the world in order to their great Work now in hand had Licence granted by Pope Alexander the VII freely to make use of what Manuscripts they pleased extant in the Vatican and about 14. years past besides other Collections gathered sincerely out of the Original there all the juridical proved and approved Miracles which God wrought by this glorious Saint in number about 429. This Extract or Copy I have now by me very long 't is true Yet pleasant to read where you may see an ingenuous candour and plainenisse on the one side Through the whole Processe And so rigid à Search made to find out Truth on the other as if Damnation had been concerned and it was no lesse in case of Perjury or giving in false Evidence Not one past for an approved Miracle But under Solemn Oath which the examined Witnesses deposed to be most true upon the Holy Gospel laid open before them Some Choise ones mong many most clear and Evident you shall have presently In the mean while it will not be amisse for the Readers better Satisfaction to touch briefly upon à few Particulars whereby more light may be had of the whole Procedure in the Processe concerning our Saints Canonization 11. No sooner had those many Signal Miraculous Wonders wrought upon the living and dead by the Intercession of S. Thomas raised his Sanctity and Miracles to à publick Of the addresse the English made to the See Apostolicke For the Canonization of S. Thomas Fame all England over but the whole Nation as well Prince as People the learned Bishops also with the Clergy and Religious joyntly concurred and petitioned the See Apostolick to have their Bishop declared à Saint in Heaven by whom God had certainly wrought Innumerable Miracles here on earth The most active in this pious Enterprise was the Lord Bishop Richard Successor to S. Thomas who had long lived with the Saint and knew much of his Virtues The Other was Henricus à Schorha deputed Procurator by the Chapter of Hereford that presented à Writing to the Lords Commissioners containing the great respect and Veneration all had of the Saint grounded upon his Virtues and frequent Miracles wrought in à manner dayly at his Monument To this Transcript or Writing ten Bishops all named set their hands where upon the publick Processe in order to his virtuous life and Miracles began The Commissioners appointed by the Popes Holinesse for the hearing all that passed in the Processe were first two Bishops Mimatensis saith my copy Londinensis and one Arch-Deacon called Wilhelmus de Testa besides four Authoriz'd Notaries by the See Apostolick The Notaries Authority stood without limit of time but the Lord's commission Dated the 13. July 1307 lasted only 4. Months and Therefore no more were examined by them The depositions sent up to Rome obtained the CanonizatioÌ„ but 39. Miracles whereunto they subscribed The Notaries Commission continuing irrevocably brought the whole Processe to an end Depositions made and exactly reviewed by the Commissioners à clear Information of every particular was in due and Legal Form sent up as the manner is to the Congregation of Rites for à Further Trial if necessary whereupon saith the Relation his Holyness Pope John the XXII having had by what was done full Satisfaction at the Instance of our King and Prelates procedeed to à Solemn Canonization which was Celebrated at Rome with great joy with greater in England chiefly in the Carhedral Church of Hereford Thus much premised 12. The mainest Point remain's and it is The depositions made by sworn Witnesses are many to give the Reader satisfaction concerning those innumerable Depositions made by sworn Witnesses who brought in Evidence of our Saints Virtuous life and Miracles The Work would be Immense and not suitable to à short Treatise should I run throught all the Depositions with their Circumstances as they are in my Manuscript I must therefore content my selfe with à few only And if these most undeniably manifest prevail nothing upon our Sectaries Incredulity the whole Manuscript I have though I should Transcribe all particulars with their Circumstances as they lie in order would prove inefficacious and do them little or no good at all 13. The first Deponent or sworn Witness The first deponent was the Lord Bishop Richard was no less à man than Richard Lord Bishop of Hereford and it is à Wonder to see how rigourous an Examination pass't upon him in this Tribunal had he been one of the Vulgar sort the Lords Commissioners could not have used greater Severity The Holy Gospel as my Manuscript has it laid open before him with the forme of an Oath presented to every one rich or poor Noble or ignoble He swore according to that Tenor that his Answer to all Interrogatories in this weighty matter should be without fraud and fiction exactly true The very most of the Questions proposed Bishop Richard being one who had long conversed with S. Thomas chiefly concerned the Sainct's Charity Sanctity Prudence Mortification Sobriety abstinence c. where in the Commissioners received full Satisfaction That done the Bishop also gave in Evidence of 3. or 4. Miracles wrought by S. Thomas after his bones had been translated from our Ladies Chappel to his other Sepulcre But because I find the Relation of these Miracles very long having no time to run over The life and Gests of S. Tho. Cantelupe c. 20. from p. 238. the tenth part of all I wave them and pitch upon Some more compendiously set down no lesse choise and clear They are an Overplus to those Six or seven you have already very faithfully recounted by Mr R. S. Cited 14. One clear Miracle was wrought by S. Thomas upon à Child about two years and three Months Old called Roger Son to one Gervase One memorable Miracle wroâ—â— hâ— by S. Thomas upon à Young Child that served in the Castle of Coneweye in Walrs The Child unfortunately fell down in the night time from à Bridge belonging to that Castle into Ditch under the Bridge distant from it 28. foot the mischance happened in the year 1303 and 6. of September The Mother of the Child called Dionisia living in à little House neer the Castle thought her little one had lodged that night with his Father in the Castle but next morning making enquiry after him the found to her Sorrow the Child half naked and dead upon à hard stone in the bottom of the Dith where
call to mind how the Divel had like to have strangled him in the attempt had not violence been used to rescue Luther The story written by Staphilas Luther's Luther's and Calvin's Iugling own Scholar is known as well as Calvins fourb who suborning one Bruleus to feign himselfe dead pretended to raise him from death crying out Adolescens tibi dico Surge Young man I say rise up when behold à just punishment of God manifested the double fraud Bruleus was dead indeed and Calvin Shamed You Bosius de signis Ecclesiae liâ—sig 11. have another fearful story recounted by Bosius of à chief man among the Anabaptists neer the borders of Polony that Called many to be present at his Baptism and said they should see wonders that day the Holy Ghost descending and what not No sooner had the wretch set his foot in the Bath but in place of the Holy Ghost à fearful Divel appeared and first carried him into the air then to the horrour of all the Spectators strangled him in the water These things I briefly relate out of approved Authors chieflly to show how different the genius of these men was from our Dr s they fancied Miracles so strong à support to their new Gospel that nothing could set it off better or more advance it our Dr contrary to his Progenitors spirit will have all later Miracles blasted or of no account because forsooth he has none to glory in Thus much only in passing 3. We now go on in our discourse and show an absolute necessity of Miracles chiefly at the first propagation of the Gospel because the high Mysteries of our faith which require à firm assent and an humble submission to the first Verity revealing truth cannot stand fast unless it rely upon à most certain foundation and this must either be an Evidence of the truth revealed not granted in this life or the most Supream Authority imaginable I mean the Divine veracity which neither can deceive or be deceived To advance By what Motives God induces to beliefe therefore our faith to the highest certitude and infallibility whilst God gives us not Evidence of the sublime Mysteries believed far above our reach and natural Capacities it was necessary to lead us on by Sign 's and Motives suitable for that end but no external Signe or Motive can be more perswasive or make à stronger impression upon minds than Gods own Seals and Signatures of truth undoubted Miracles By these great lights he raises us out of our natural drowsinesse and by them as most attractive Inducements prepares hearts to believe without hesitancy though the Mysteries of Faith seem strange to nature and would be rejected unless set forth adorned and confirmed by prodigious Sign 's Hence all De Lingend Fer. 4. Domin 1. quadrag P. 7. acknowledge à mighty force in Miracles nay some Authors observe that God never proposed any new Doctrin without rational Inducements in making it credible by manifest Sign 's and wonders Who saith De Lingendes is ignorant of the stupendious Miracles wrought by Moses All How and when Miracles were Shoâ—â—n know when the Law was published in the Mount how many new and great Miracles were exhibited The new Priesthood of Aaron had its confirmation by Miracles Solomon's Temple gained great repute upon the sight of Evident Miracles when S. John the Baptist preach't the Baptism of Pennance himselfe was the Miracle Miraculously conceived Miraculously exulted in his Mothers womb Miraculously loosened his Father's tongue and many years lived in the desart more like an Angel than à man without house cloths meat or humane conversation Thus Miracles strengthened and made every new Modern Sectaries never wrought Miracle Doctrin truly proposed credible only our Sectaries are the priviledged persons that without Mission or commission brought à new learning into the world yet never had the good luck I use Erasmus known words to cure à Lame horse much lesse to work à Miracle on man woman or child 4. Courteous Reader please now to consider à little Is it true that God endued his Prophet Moses with the grace of working Miracles Did he manifest great Sign 's at the Promulgation of the law in Mount Sina Did he the like when Aaron was ordained Priest Did he shew wonders at the Baptists preaching Pennance Did he ennoble Solomons Temple with illustrious Miracles Ecce plus quam Salomon hic We are now to mind you of à more miraculous Prophet than Moses of à more Miraculous Priest than Aaron of à more Miraculous Preacher than the Baptist of à Lawgiver as Miraculous as ever published law finally of à more Miraculous Edifice than Solomon erected I mean the noble house of God the Militant and Triumphant Church of Christians founded by no other than our great Thaumaturgus our ever glorious and renowned Lord JESUS God and Man whose Miracles manifested here on earth surpassed in true worth and excellency all the wonders of men and Angels Of this subject I am now to speak and will endeavour so to clear our Saviours Miracles and those the Apostles wrought from all doubts and Cavils that none shall hereafter oppose them upon any rational Principle This performed we will proceed to the Miracles done in the Church 5. Dr Stillingfleet Seem's to make short work Dr Still pag. 66. with the Miracles of our Saviour and his Apostles It is saith he agreed on both sides that the Miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles did sufficiently prove that they were Teachers sent from God Then he insist's something of the assurance we have for them by the universal Testimony of all Christians and that Christ and the Evangelists declared they were wrought for this end that men might believe Dr. Still Slip's by the main difficulty Christ was sent from God It is agreed saith our Dr on both sides c. But Sr give us the rational Ground of this agreement otherwise you prove nothing against Iewes and Heathens who here undervalve the agreement of Christians neither are the passages of Scripture produced by you in behalfe of those primitive Miracles or the end they were wrought for of any account with these Aliens from Christ You tell à Iew that our Saviour cured one born blinde and did it for this end that men might believe he was sent from God the Iew answer's the Divinity of that Scripture cited has no more weight with him than the Miracle has you would prove by it yet you know à Proof should be alwayes clearer than the thing proved Here is an equal uncertainty for no more doth such à man believe your alledged Scripture to be truly Gods word than the Miracle to be à true Miracle Whoever therefore pertinently handles this matter must in à contest with these Adversaries of Christian Religion first distinguish between the different Principles of Iewes and Heathens those admit the old Testament as true Heathens no true Scripture at all Next he is to prove
more in the place Cited above was either brought to passe by Virtue of true Miracles or not if by Miracles we have our intent if not plain reason witness S. Austin teaches that no greater Miracle can be conceived than to behold à sinful and unbelieving World converted without the Miracles we plead for Answerable hereunto others Argue and methinks pertinently These Blessed men who wrote the History of the Gospel and registred our Saviours Miracles with their own at last as all know couragiously endured violent deaths to Testify that the Doctrin and Miracles they wrote of were no Leger-de-main but sincerely true In doing this we must either judge them horridly impious or stark mad if they registred matters of Fact that never were or contrarywise own them Divinly inspired and faithful Ministers of their great Lord and Master Say they were impious besotted or mad you utter the greatest Paradox that ever mouth spake and must confesse that whole multitudes wise and learned were converted to Christ by wicked and mad Impostors which proves him or them impious and utterly bereaved of Judgement that dare upon no ground avouch à Fiction so shamfully incredible These first followers of Christ therefore proceeded with all Sincerity and registred their great Masters Doctrin and Miracles most faithfully 17. A third Proof methinks Very convincing may be thus proposed Should à Stranger come amongst us from the furthest Parts of the world and tell us he hath heard much in his Travels of great wonders done by à man called Jesus Christ as also of Strange Miracles wrought by some poor followers Christ had named Disciples and very willing he is to be better informed concerning the truth of these divulged Wonders To give this man rational Satifaction I would in the first place put into his hands the History of the Gospel where these Matters of Fact are recorded and next demand whether he can more rationally call into doubt the truth of that History owned by innumerable How à Strâger may be satisfyed that doubts of Christs Miracles multitudes à true Book at least upon humane faith than in prudence Question the verity of any other History he own 's true In case he boggles at the History I must know Why and upon what rational ground he boggles Now this ground after some little discourse will appear so remote from being rational that it can come at last to nothing but à selfe conceipted Fancy because it is utterly impossible to make any more just or reasonable exception against the plain History of the Gospel than against any other known or received true Story Thus much cleared which no Enemy of Christ unlesse most unreasonable can deny our Stranger casts his thoughts upon Iewes and modern Sectaries and finds these by their own confession so destitute of Miracles that none among them can pretend to any since Christianity began Next he peruses the Gospel see 's with what Candour the Evangelists recount our Saviours Miracles and seems willing enough to hold all true upon humane Faith because he finds no reasonable exception against them yet stick 's much at one Passage where we are told of greater works to be Iohn 14. v. 12. done by those who believe in Christ than he had wrought If this can be made out and verifyed saith the Stranger Christ did not only foretel future things which is proper to God but it followes also that after his death and leaving the world He did as if present with some choise Servants impower them to perpetuate the like visible Wonders he had wrought Christ therefore Saith he was either very unwise in promising so largely while he lived if he never performed it or if he really made all good he worthily deserves credit and ought to be believed before any that hitherto taught the world for though we read of some Heathens who gloriously set forth their own Wonders yet none of them dared to Prophesy of doing Miracles after death by others neither did they for ought I know work any by men of the like Belief or Profession with them Thus the Travaller discourses and urges to have these latter Miracles wrought by Christs Servants rationally laid forth to an unbyassod Judgement To Satisfy the difficulty here proposed 18. All know that matters of Fact as Miracles where of we now discourse are not proved by Principles taken from natural Causes or the deep knowledge of Metaphysical learning for who will go about to show that Caesar was à glorious Warrier or Cicero an Eloquent Orator by Metaphysicks or natural reasoning None can attempt this All therefore that Argue pertinently must rely upon other proofs and plead as we have done for Apostolical Miracles by the publick Fame of them spread the whole world over or finally Reason thus It is manifest that those first Blessed men however weak in them selves without force of Armes ruined the Idols of the Gentils and converted innumerable to Christ Ergo they wrought great Miracles answerable to that Ruin and the admirable Conversions done by them 19. To give more force to these and the like Vpon what Principles Miracles are proved Proofs I doe not only as S. Chrisostom advises take into my hands the Apostles Acts written by S. Luke where we read of stupendious Miracles but I also reflect upon our Saviours antecedent Promise concerning greater Works and further evince the real truth of that Prophesy by the consequent visible Wonders which those first blessed men wrought here on earth And first I might tell you it is clear from the Prophesies of the old Scripture that the ancient Priesthood among the Iewes was to fail and à new King and Priest raign for ever that à Church once barren should have many Children as we proved above It is again clear that these Prophesies were fulfilled when Christ our Lord established his own glorious Kingdom the Christian Catholick Church and though Iewes seek to darken the light of those clear Predictions yet it is evident that Christ has had à glorious Church in the world above Sixteem Ages which as Tertullian observes stood not confined to one Tertull. lib adversus Judaeos cap. 8. or more places like the Empire of Nabuchodonosor or Alexander but Vbique porrigitur c. has à vast extent is believed every where Reign 's every where and is reverenced in all places Hence I Argue When innumerable worthy How Worthy Credit those VVitnesses are who defend Miracles Witnesses within one only Kingdom against whom never just exception was or can be made unanimously averr à matter of Fact assented to as an undoubted Verity That is held Unquestionable So all prudently judge such à Prince as Henry the. 5th to have once gloriously reigned in England because many worthy Witnesses never rationally excepted against Avouch it as à certain Truth but à far greater cloud of worthy Witnesses members of Christ's glorious Church against whom their was never any Just exception openly declare and
England and the Indies to the Catholick Faith were as I pleaded done by Miracles or not if so done we have our Intent if not it was the greatest Miracle of all to see so many Aliens from Christ gained to the true Faith without Miracles Again those painful Missioners whom God made his Instruments to work so many admirable Conversions through the whole world were in the vulgar esteem of the Nations converted held Sots Impious and Cheats or contrarywise Loyal and faithful Messengers of Christ and his Church if loyal and faithful none can cast à blemish on them if judged Impostors Sots or impious you utter the most shameful Improbability that ever Tongue spake or heart harboured and must say that the wisest Nations of the world were all stark mad when listening to the Doctrin of these supposed Fools they abandoned their Errours believed in Christ and ever afterwards lived and dyed in the Roman Catholick Faith This Argument alone is so stronge that twenty Dr Stillingfleets shall never break it in pieces 7. Lastly for à Close of these rational Arguments I introduced à Stranger yet far from yeilding assent to our Church Miracles and because he knowes that Iewes and Sectaries lay no claim to that gift nor ever did any since the Apostles dayes this man much of Dr Stillingfleets mind stand's earnestly for à cessation of all Miracles though if misled he is willing to quit his errour My endeavour is to unbeguile him and therefore I ask whether he denies or grant's the Miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles In case he stumbles here you have his full refutation already set down if contrarywise he owns those as true upon publick Fame and the great Conversions God wrought by them I put into his hands the best and choisest Records whereby we prove prodigious Miracles to have been wrought in the Church and am content to undergoe publick Disgrace before à whole learned University if I make not this Assertion good viz. No other rational exception shall this An application of the last Proof insisted on above man bring against the verity of these Catholick Records than à Iew or Heathen produces aginst the Truth of the four Evangelists where our Saviours Miracles are recorded That is to say as à Iew or Heathen shall never speak rational word against the first wonders registred in the Gospel so our supposed Stranger will be as much silenced in his undertaken quarrel against latter Miracles recorded by Authors of unquestionable Fame The Fame of these Wonders by reason of the larger extent of the Church now than anciently is more Universal and the Conversions made by Her laboriours Messioners sent up and down the world in latter Ages are far more numerous than those the Apostles wrought Now if we appeal to Witnesses as we pleaded above for the Apostolical Signs and Miracles there is no Kingdome under the Sun that ever brought to light so many grave Writers against whom no exception can be made for any matter of Fact that happened in it as we produce in the present Controversy For all the learned Doctors and vigilant Pastors of Christs own far extended Kingdom no lesse numerous than worthy credit teach and have ever taught that true conspicuous and undeniable Miracles have been wrought in this great moral Body and the Church Herselfe upon her own humane Authority still we abstract from Divine Relation asserts the same and to this day preserves à Memory of her long since past and present Wonders in the minds of all her Children Therefore he or they who undervalve so many incomparable clear Giveâ—â— in of Evidence never excepted against by Orthodox Christian what Gods Enemies and the Churches Adversaries babble out upon no rational Proof carries little weight I say such men ought to be dismissed without Reply as unworthy to be dealt with and reckoned among Protest without Princ. Dis 1 cap. 1. Reason and Relig. Dis 2. cap. 8. those in whom the light of reason iâ— fearfully eclipsed I quoted many of these approved Witnesses in my two Treatises and am now lesse willing to transcribe all again You shall have more and choise ones hereafter And thus much of the Parallel of Arguments Rational proofs For Miracles alledged in my other Treatises 8. We are now as the Title promises to insist upon other proofs and these following I chiefly urged in the Treatises cited 1. We find by experience à strange confusion of different Sects in the world and se that all pretend to serve God in Spirit and Truth whereas most certainly one only Society doth so for as there are not many Gods but one true so there cannot be many Religions dissenting Miracles denote and mark out that Society wherein God teaches truth in Fundamentals true but one only or none at all In this horrid Confusion while every one laies claim to Truth it is as I said absolutely necessary to have that happie Society clearly marked out wherein Divine Faith is taught but no Mark can be more palpable or better avail to discern this Society from false Sects than glorious Miracles Gods own Seals Christs own Cognisances and the clearest Characters of Apostolical Doctrin 9. I Argued 2. A Church not marked with these illustrious Signs is as dark à thing as à Sun without light whence it is that though Two unlucky Rebels Luther and Calvin laboured with might and main to set à false Glosse of Miracles upon their new Doctrin yet God crossed their designe made the Authors of the fraud infamous and would have the new Monster appear as it truly was dark without light dull without life and so totally strip't of all Supernatural Signs that Shame and ignominy only covered that naked nothing whereas his Sacred Providence for the quickening of Faith and Devotion in the Church both inwardly plyes our hearts with Divine grace and outwardly also excit's us to fervour by à frequent sight of such visible wonders as made the world Christian I Argued Iewes and Infidels gained to the Church by the force of Miracles 3. If Miracles as all confesse were necessary for the Conversion of Iewes and Infidels when Christ and his Apostles taught the world it is à Paradox to hold them uselesse or unnecessary in after Ages when Iewes as hard hearted and Gentils as barbarous and uncivilized that never knew Christ have been instructed and innumerable gained to our holy Faith not because they barely heard Verities preached but upon this Inducement that they often saw all confirmed by Evident Signs and wonders from Heaven 10. To goe on in this discourse I would know whether Dr Stillingfleet can allow the Divel liberty to ranger up and down and to do much mischiefe upon innumerable possessed with unclean Spirits and whether he will grant also that Christ our Lord like one carelesse The freeing possessed Persons from Divels proves Miracles leaves his Militant Church destitute of all help and means whereby such enslaved Persons
there was no water at all or earth but à hollow rock from whence stones had been dig'd to build the Castle Simon Waterford Vicar who had Christened the Child John de Bois John Gyffen all sworn Witnesses took their Oaths upon the Gospel that they saw and handled the Child dead the Kings Crowners Stephen Ganuy and William Nottingham presently called for went down into the Mote found the Childs body cold and stiff covered with à little hoary frost stark dead indeed While the Crowners as their office required began to write what they had seen one John Syward à Neighbour not far off went down into the Grot gently handled the Childs body all over and finding it as dead as ever any was made the Sign of the Crosse upon it's forhead and earnestly prayed after this manner Blessed S. Thomas Cantelupe you by whom God has wrought innumerable Miracles show mercy upon this little Infant and obtain he may return to life again if this grace be granted he shall visit your holy Sepulcre and render humble thanks to God and you for the favour No sooner had Syward The dead Child restored to life spoken these words but the Child began to move his head and right Arm à little and forthwith life and vigour Came again into every part of his Body The Crowners and à world of other Standers by saw the Miracle and in that very place with great Admiration returned humble thanks to God and S. Thomas for what they had seen The Mother now overioyed taking the Child in her armes went that day to hear Masse in à Church not far off where prostrate on her knees she with à greatful heart Justly attributed the Life of her Infant to God and S. Thomas Her Devotions ended She returned home and the Child feeling no pain at all merry and joyful walk'd as he was wont to do up and down the house though à little Scarr Still continued in one cheek which after three dayes quite vanisht away All these Particulars with many more the lesser I omit were proved upon Oath before the Lords Commissioners who subscribed to the Miracle a Truth not to be doubted of Two great Miracles wrought by Saints Thomas 15. Robert Russel brought before the Lords Comissioners by the Procurator of Hereford was commanded to depose upon Oath what he knew true concerning à Miracle said to be wrought upon his Son Galfrid Robert depossed that three years past upon wednesday in the Passion Week he drove à Cart heavy laden with earth drawn by four Oxen and passed through à Court-yeard where Galfrid his son about à year and an half old lay sleeping upon the ground His wife Letice then present by chance espying the danger Galfrid was in cryed out though too late O Stop Stop or you kill the Child Robert not able to stay his Oxen soon enough the misfortune happened for one cart Wheel passed over Another great Miracle wrought upon à dead Infant the Child 's very head and Temples and downright killed him in so much that he neither groaned or ever made noyse The afflicted Parents fearing some trouble might follow in case the ill Accident were known abroad laid Galfrid on à bed in their house till Evening and often that day sought for Signs of life but found none neither Pulse breath nor Motion With in night they measured the Child as the custome was and piously addressed Themselves by earnest Prayer to S. Thomas Cantilupe still hoping that God who had very lately wrought many great Miracles by the Saint would hear their Petition and restore life to the dead Child And thus they continued in Prayer all night long when Behold at the break of Day they heard à small childish wailing as Infants use in pain or Sickness The Parents drawing neer with their Candles burning all night long saw the Child open his mouth draw breath and move his Eyes The Mother taking him into her Armes gave him her Breast to suck which he did and three dayes after was perfectly well Some wannesse remained about his Eyes bruised by the Cart wheel but that also in à short time ceased This Miracle attested upon Oath was approved by the Lords Commissioners as an undoubted work of God above the force of Nature A fourth Miracule 16. John Alkin brought before the Commissioners to give in Evidence of à Miracle wrought upon one John Holourton having first laid his hand upon the Holy Gospel and taken his Oath that he would depose nothing but Truth then Said He had known Holourton alwaies reputed an honest man ten whole years before the Miracle I shall now relate happened And that during so long à time he was much afflicted with à fearful Wen or red Bunch of flesh hanging down in his neck fully as big as à great goose Egg which not only he had seen and handled frequently but knew also that many more had done so He said more over that the distressed Patient hearing of the great Wonders wrought at S. Thomas his Shrine repaired to Hereford and lodged in the house of one Agnes de Port where he uncovered his Wen and Of à Wen or à great bunch of flesh Miraculously taken away upon Prayer Made to S. Thomas show'd it to many hanging at his neck The next day being munday in Easter week Holourton accompained with Alkin and others went to the Church and there with tears falling down before the Bishops Shrine petitioned the Saint to take away that troublesome Bunch and for that end like the poor Widow in the Gospel offered up à small piece of silver my Manuscript calls it Denarius that is à penny of English coin which Mr Gilbert who had then care of the Monument à sworn Witness also took from him in the Presence of Alkin and other Standers by That done Holourton put his whole head and neck into an open Passage close by the Tombe of S. Thomas and there held it while one might Say three times over Pater noster and Ave Maria thus old de Catholicks spake and so do I. Then in the Presence of all those VVitnesses twice or thrice Proetentans manu groping with his hand for the Bunch to his great joy found it not Next he sought for it in his Gap or Hood worn perhaps to cover that deformity but no appearance of it there neither in his Coat which he put of nor any where else In à word Holourton was perfectly cured and in that very place both he and all the other present very numerous rendred humble Thanks to Almighty God and glorious S. Thomas for à Miracle so palpable that malice it selfe strucken dumb shall never speak probable word against it 17. A world of People had seen this Deformity hanging in the poor Patients neck for many years together and many Ey-witnesses present at the cure in the Cathedral Church of Hereford saw it quite taken away there immediatly after Holourton had made his earnest Prayer to S. Thomas
God not due to mans Nare and lastly temporal Sicut modo geniti Infantes c. As now new born Children Writes the Apostle These things are so plain to every young Student in our Schools that the meanest Wit would be ashamed to propose them as difficulties yet our Dr magnifies all as great matters yea high Blasphemies Much Patience believe it and no little labour is necessary to rectify halfe Scholars when the matter concern's à Speculative point above their skill 7. More trash followes in the Dr not worth mentioning The Divel saith he once threw à stone at S. Dominicks Head and hit only his Cowle That is much like you Mr Dr the Divel missed his Mark and would have hurt or killed the Saint you would decry his Miracles neither throw succeed's both Casts are in vain Another time the foul Fiend came to Confession to S. Dominick But the Saint saith our Dr presently smelt him out And so may any soon smel out your Spite against the Saint that slightly ponders your new strange way of impugning his Miracles It is worth the while Courteous Reader to have this one point briefly laid forth 8. Who ever will peruse Fr. Munio his command Munio 7. Generalis Ordinis S. Dominici Apoldia in vita S. Dominici laid upon Theodericus de Apoldia and Apoldia's letter to Nicolas the IX General may find the life and Gests of Blessed S. Dominick Written by three or four Generals of that Holy Order men famous for Sanctity The Venerable B. Jordanus S. Dominick's Immediate Successor Great Authors who have Written of S. Dominicks Miracles was the first Fr. Constantinus another S. Humbertus à third to say nothing of Fr. Gerardus Provincial who returning from à General Chapter held at Luca in Tuscany brought with him Authentical Testimonies of S. Domincks Miracles many were sincerely attested by à Person that lived with that Saint Others were collected out of most credible Authors These collections presented to Pope Gregory the IX certainty being given of their Truth by sworn Witnesses prevailed so far with his Holines that he approved all as rare Examples of Virtue and clear Signs of Sanctity All approved by the See Apostolick Hence I argue He that takes on him to impugn Miracles Written by grave Authors and hopes to decry all by only relating what is said without producing one Witnesse against them Shewes neither VVit nor Learning and thereby becomes ridiculous but Dr Still evidently proceed's thus Ergo he shewes neither VVit nor Learning No VVit because he only tell 's us what Authors have VVritten of things known before he ever set pen to paper No Learning because he refutes none of these matters of Fact upon any Authority or reason but only tell 's us his incredulity is so strong That he will not believe them Observe his Proof He saith the Dr that can believe those Miracles reported of Dominick need 's not stick at any of the rest Viz. Of the Saints Books being preserved dry in the midst of water of his VVritings kept dry in Surius cited the midst of Storms of his earnest Prayer in behalfe of forty English Pilgrims going to Compostella Surius p. with me 533. unfortunatly cast away in à River neer Tholouse whom the Saint Miraculously rescued from drowning by his Tears and Prayers before whole multitudes Of his raysing from the dead the Cardinals Nephew called Napuleon Surius page 540. seen and attested by innumerable Spectators of the Miracles wrought by S. Domnicks Rosary c. 9. Now having said thus much that is barely related what great Authors recount of this blessed Saint our Dr that never wrote any thing solidly in his whole life very wisely end 's thus He that sees susficient reason to believe the reports The Dr's simple exceptions against these Miracles of these things upon their bare words must rest satisfyed that S. Dominick wrought Miracles Can any thing be more bare Blunt and simple Ey-witnesses saw these Miracles many have been attested upon Oath Saints and learned men have left them upon Record the See Apostolick never proceeded to Canonize S. Dominick for à Saint without great Moral certainty first had of his Miracles No Author of credit ever contradicted them yet all this Moral Evidence grounded upon humane Faith our Dr unworthily call's Reports and bare words Judge Courteous Reader who Word 's it The Dr cheats his Reader most those Witnesses or the Dr They as you have heard give in their Proofs The Dr without the least hint taken from Authority or reason tell 's you upon his own Parole not worth à rush you are not to believe them Therefore he and not they cheat's you with bare Words I never yet saw Sectary like the Dr mighty bold in asserting but most cold and faint at his Proofs when called on to make his Assertions Good He must therefore either Judge those he Writes for horribly simple and reckon of them as Sots Or like one puff't up with à vain Opinion of himselfe perswade us that his bare word is to be taken while he run's on in an endless Tattle and proves nothing 10. In the next place our Dr has two or three blowes at the humble Seraphical S. Francis but so unhandy or little dexterous that I am ashamed to read him The humble Saint is said to have tamed à wolfe by making the Sign of the Crosse upon him and S. Tecla witnesse S. Ambrose tamed wild beasts ready to devour her What greater hurt in either VVonder than in What triâ—slâ—s the Dr Produces against S. Francis Daniel's asswaging the fury of savage Lyons Again saith the Dr whereas Christ and his Apostles thought it enough to Preach only to men and women S. Francis his Charity went beyond theirs and by the Counsel of Brother Sylvester and Sister Clare goes to Avagna and finding there great multitudes of Birds preached to unreasonable creatures Saying My Bretheren such was the language of the humble Saint you ought to praise your Creator who has given you wings and provided for you without your care The humble Saint assures our Dr that long before he preach't those three blessed men in Daniel Sidrach Misach and Abednago taught Daniel 3. 77. him to exhort as he did who invited not only the Birds of Heaven but the Mountains the fountains the Sea and all the fish in it to blesse and Praise their Creator And is this either haynous or Criminal in the Dr ' s Divinity O but but the Birds stretched out their necks clap't their wings opened their Bills and looked earnestly upon S. Francis To satisfy the Dr I 'le tell you à Certain Story attested by innumerable Ey-witnesses You have it in the life and Gests of that Admirable Saint S. Thomas Cantilupe Bishop of Hereford cited above 11. It happened that Edmund Earle of Cornwall once invited S. Thomas to say Masse at his Castle of wallingford on the feast of Pentecost whereunto
places These done before Ey-witnesses were spread abroad some few first hearing of them held all upon humane Faith credible Passing further from hand to hand They became more known and induced many to Assent upon this Motive that prudent men not suspected of Guile said they had received them by word of mouth from Persons very pious who saw such matters of Fact or at least had them from others that conversed with those Ey-witnesses 14. Now further This humane Tradition Why our Saviours Micles became more famed than others for Still we abstract in our Discourse hitherto from Divine Revelation concerning Christ's Miracles which at first took its rise from Few as the multitudes of Christians encreased became more Universal and generally received because all that owned our Saviour to be the true Messias and most deservedly the greatest Thaumaturgus that ever was held it their Duty to make his admirable Wonders known all over Fathers preserved them in the Memory of their Children These Age after Age left them to Posterity the Christian Doctors and Pastors every where spread them abroad in their Writings and publick Sermons before whole multitudes Both Iewes and Hereticks also concurred not à little Here in briefe though much more might be said you have the true Reason why our Saviours Miracles were famous the whole world over and therefore handed down by Universal Tradition which you se cannot be so General in behalfe of Miracles wrought in the Church afterwards Though they be most unquestionable So Providence has ordered so Reason also Dictates That God and man should be more Universally honoured for his admirable Works than man only the Lord of all more than his Servants Thus much premised 15. You shall see how far the Parallel goes between our Saviours Miracles and those wrought by Saints S. Thomas Cantilupe for example most certainly raised many from the dead So did S. Dominick as is proved above Others restored sight to the borne blinde c. These like our Saviour's done before many Spectators in particular Places were Divulged abroad and upon humane Faith gained at first Credit with those who saw them not Because prudent Persons of unspotted Fame boldly avouched they had seen the Wonders Thus our Saviours Miracles became at first famed and induced others no Spectators to believe them upon humane The fame of Miracles first grounded on sight and experience Faith From this Fame first grounded on Sight or experience Tradition took its rise and ever since Those Miracles were wrought preserved à memory of them among men Very Universally as to our Saviours though lesse general in behalfe of Saints for the Reasons now given But this as I said impair's nothing the Moral certainty of latter Miracles seing the first Ground where on all true Miracles rely if we keep within the bounds of humane Faith is one and the same That is They were manifestly seen and most faithfully related to others 16 If therefore our Saviours Miracles became thus Publick before Scripture registred them and the Miracles of Saints seen and attested by Ey-witnesses were in like manner spread All true Miracles apt of their own Nature to gain Vniversal assent abroad before Records preserved them It followes that all of their own Nature are apt to gain an Universal Assent had all been alike Famed and Vniversally Published but because this Publication an effect only of the Wonders by Accident or Providence rather was different very general for some not so general in others Hence our Saviours Miracles as they highly deserved gained credit Universally others not so Generally which as I said nothing abates their certainty while the foundamental Grounds Viz. Sight and common Humane consent make all alike morally certain And thus I argued Page 1. c. 9. num 16. against Mr Dr in the last little Treatise If the common humane Consent among Ancient Christians supposed neither Divine Revelation nor infallible raised our Saviours Miracles to an Evident Credibility in those Dayes why should not the like common Consent of Christians now advance our approved Miracles to the same certainty or Evident Credibility O but many boggle at the Miracles of the Church And did not more boggle at those wrought by our Saviour The Procedure in both cases is alike Blameable While clear Evidence taken from Sense and common consent makes either All or none credible and morally certain 17. A second Degree of certainty and lesse Two other degrees of Certainty is had when Those who write of Miracles received not Information from the Ey-Witnesses Themselves but as we say at the Second hand from such as Treated and often conversed with them Of this nature Bollandus cited saith many are recounted by Iohn Moscus S. Gregory and our Venerable Bede A third Moscus in◠prato Spirituali S. Gregory in Dialogis Beda in Historia Anglicana Degree of certainty depend's on such Historians as either made their Collections from those who Saw Miracles or Testifyed they had heard of them from others that had seen Them or finally from undubitable Monuments Attestations and Commentaries published by Ey-witnesses Or at least from prudent Persons who said They wrote nothing of Miracles But what they had received from such as had conversed with the Spectators Hence you se That when these matters of Fact are examined The last Proof while we plead by Humane faith only is brought to those who were Ey-witnesses Now whether Capgrave and Colganus ever rely on so sure à Foundation unlesse we had à View of their Monuments and Martyrologies cannot I think be easily decided However to End all that relates to their strange Wonders you shall se how fairly I deal with Mr Dr. 18. Let us Suppose that the Very most are more than doubtful or that many for all cannot Though particular Authors fail in the account they give of Miracles yet the Church is at no losse and why possibly be so far recede from the Purity of Truth or finally that à great number of Colganus his recounted Miracles appear not to à Judicious Reader Probable I say notwithstanding so many foul either real or imagined Blurrs The Roman Catholick Church is yet at no losse while She can make an exact Inventory of à thousand other Evident Miracles wrought only in Her and by Her faithful Children which neither Dr nor any Maugre all the Spite in Hell shall once dare to gainsay by Authority and reason So ponderous They are and so powerfully convincing that the more Malice strives to Eclipse their Glory they more glorious the appear Of these I have given you many above though not halfe of all The Tenth part whereof would require volumes and large ones too 19. Most justly Therefore may I stand astonished Reas and Relig. Disc 2. c 8. from n. 3. to n. 31. and. c 9. at the Dr's strange Proceeding with me upon this Subject I pressed him again and again to Deny if he durst such plain Miracles as
by the very Page he cites 641. Answerable to mine Paris print 1606. 22. Now Reader you may Bless your selfe vvith the Sign of the Crosse at à strange Wonder Dr Stillingfleet will needs have it sink into our Heads that no lesse à man than the great S. Austin much opposed the Continuance of Miracles in the Catholick Church Should we slightly passe over this grosse Errour without reproof There can be no Paradox no Improbability so monstruous which our Dr. may not ere long hope to fashion better to varnish over and set forth as sound and saleable Doctrin In à word the Errour is Gross and in plain English more than intolerable None more stoutly Defend's Miracles wrought in the Church Than blessed S. Augustine 23. For your better Satisfaction turn to S. S. Austin lib. 22. de Civit. Dei c. 8. petrotum Austins Treatise entituled the City of God where in the first place he Asserts Twice over that â—tiam nunc even in those dayes glorious Miracles were wrought in the name of Christ our Saviour by the Sacraments by the Prayers and memory of Saints departed And although saith he They are not so famed the whole world over as Those we read of in Holy Scripture yet They are manifestly clear and cannot be denyed And he doth not only Assert this in general Terms But proves the Assertion by so many Examples that à Reader must either give S. Austin the Lye or confess himselfe evidently convinced 24. When I was à Milan saith S. Austin One Miracle wrought at Milan the Emperour being then there that Miraculous cure was wrought upon à blind man at the Holy Bodies of S. Protasius and Gervasius and this innumerable People who flocked to the bodies of those Saints were Witnesses of I omit that great Miracle there largely set down wrought in Carthage upon à pious woman called Innocentia who had à Cancer in her breast Judged by all Physicians incurable yet after She had powred out her earnest Prayers to God for assistance was in à moment of time heard and Miraculously cured This I passe by with Intention to recount yet greater Wonders and Ask what the Dr thinks of an other Popish Miracle there related Hesperius saith S. Austin Another on à house infested with Divels one of the Tribunes had his House much hanted with Evil Spirits to the great molestation of his Servants and desired some of our Priests to repair thither who did so one taking with him à Piece of the Holy Earth which was brought from Hierusalem where our Lord was S Austin's own Relation of this Miracle buried hung that up in the Chamber to secure himselfe from the danger of those Divels He said Masse offered up the Sacred Body of our Saviour and earnestly prayed that the Vexation Very afflictive to that whole family might cease And by Gods great mercy it ceased The house thus happily freed from Divels Hesperius out of Reverence not willing to keep that Holy Earth longer in his chamber Ask't me Saith S. Austin and another Bishop whether it were not best to preserve it in some place and erect an Oratory where Christians might meet together and serve God we condescended saith the Saint And all was done accordingly A third on à young man strucken with à Palsey When behold à young man strucken wlth à Palsey hearing of this Oratory petitioned his Parents to carry him to the Oratory where the Holy earth lay and after earnest Prayer made to Almighty God for his recovery in à moment stood upon his leggs wholly sound and perfectly cured Reflect Reader how many Points of Popery we have here approved by S Austin Vndoubted Miracles the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse and the use of Reliques passe here for sound Doctrin Had Colganus Capgrave or any other Modern Writer told these wonders now related would our Dr think ye have spared his Jeers and not rather scornfully laughed at all Let us se whether he dare deal so rudely with S. Austin 25. There is yet one Miracle more which A fourth done for à poor Taylor may perhaps make the Dr sport done for Florentius à poor Taylor of Hippo. The Vertuous Good man saith S. Austin had lost his Cloak and not having wherewith to Buy another addressed himselfe to the Twenty Martyrs whose Memory was there Very famous and begged with à lowd voice that those blessed Saints would supply his want and procure him à cloak Certain young men then casually present hearing that simple Petition Jeered and followed and poor Taylor with biting words But he quietly went away and happily found à great Fish newly cast upon the Shore which he took and brought to à Cook called Carchosus à very good Christian who cutting the Fish open found in it à golden ring which he partly out of Compassion partly for conscience sake gave poor Florentius with these comfortable Words Ecce quomodo viginti Martyres te vestiverunt se how the twenty Martyrs have cloathed thee 26. S. Austin soon after recount's the famous More Miracles recounted by S. Austine Miracles wrought upon many at the Reliques of the glorious Martyr S. Stephen I only set down and briefly Three or Four most remarkable There at S. Stephen's Reliques à blind woman who brought with her flowers and presented to the Martyr soon after applyed them to her Eyes protinus vidit and forthwith had her sight restored There also Eucharius à Priest of Spain lay dead and by the help of this blessed Martyr was raised to life God wrought this Miracle by the Priests Tunick cast upon the dead Body There à little Boy playing in his Mothers Court-yeard had his tender Body so bruised by à cartwheel that he presently dyed The sorrowful Mother carried the Corps to S. Stephens Reliques where the Child saith S. Austin not only recovered life but appeared perfectly sound without Bruise or Scarr as if he had never been hurt There one Bassus of Hippo having his Daughter mortally sick hastned with the sick womans Garment to the Martyrs Reliques and earnestly prayed for her recovery while he was on the way or at his Prayers The daughter dyed returning home he found his whole Family lamenting the deceased What did he He cast the Garment presented to S. Stephen upon the dead Body which done She without delay revived and so also did another there mentioned whose dead Corps being anointed with the Martyrs Oyle came to Life again 27. S. Austin goes on What Shall I do saith he I promised to commemorate the Miracles wrought by blessed S. Stephen But cannot set down all and am sure no few when they read these will grieve because I have passed over many more known to me I Ask their pardon for if I should enumerate all the Miracles wrought by the Martyr S. Stephen to say nothing of others in the Colonie of Calama and here also many Books might be Written These I specify all upon Record to
upon Scripture Miracles the whole Story of Samson for example or of Eves conference with à Serpent render those in like manner contemptible Nothing seem's more easy than to flout it is the Dr's Usual strain where there is no gain-saying Truth 3. I Say the Dr waves S. Dominicks great Sanctity and choisest Miracles and never tell 's you of his fasting à whole Lent together with bread and water only of his admirable Charity of his desire of Martyrdom of his profound Humility in rejecting Ecclesiastical Dignities three Bishopricks one after another He Saith nothing of the blessed mans Patience in enduring the affronts of those wicked Albigenses when they spit upon him cast dirt in his face and tyed straw upon his back to make him Contemptible But did he Therefore repine No he went away as the Apostles did rejoycing in being thought worthy of suffering these reproaches for his Lord and Master Christ JESUS Not à word have we from the Dr of the Saints admirable Power over Divels though by making only the Sign of the Crosse he cast seven unclean Spirits out of one woman that afterward consecrated herselfe to Almighty God Not à word The Dr Waves the greatest Miracles â—rought by S. Dominick of his ardent zeal for the Conversion of Souls not à word of his great Austerity when most frequently he made choice of the bare ground for à bed to lie on Finally you have nothing of his stupendious Miracles though it pleased God to make the Saint renowned by raising three dead Persons to life again 4. These and innumerable other certain Surius de de S Domin 4. Augusti Wonders Authors of great credit have recounted of S. Dominick and are faithfully collected by Laurentius Surius but our Dr neither daring to deny the greatest nor to discover fraud in any for that 's impossible guilfully waves all and content's himselfe with breaking á few Iests upon the Divel who as the Dr will have it Twice Still page 491. vexed S. Dominick in the shape of à Sparrow while he preached to Religious women and once in the guife of à Monky The sparrow pitifully abused and insulted over by S. Dominick had all his feathers pluck't off and the Monky that play'd some Monky Tricks before the Saint when he wrote late at night was nodded at to hold the candle till his Toes began What things the Dr picks out And laughs at to burne With these two Stories merrily told the Dr sport's himselfe and his jocular telling them must be thought an ample confutation of all S. Dominicks Miracles Though he can neither blame the Saint for using the Divel hardly much lesse evince that such matters of Fact are false or forged I wish the Dr would peruse the life of the great S. Antony January the 17. Written by S. Hierom where he will find what different Shapes the Divel assumed to vex the Saint with 5. It is time meerly lost to follow the Dr through the rest of his senceless and weak Efforts against S. Dominick For your Satisfaction here is one All Authors recount that his Mother near the time of her Travel had à Vision that She bore à whelp holding in his mouth à Torch which set the world on fire à true Presage as the real effects Shewed of his illuminating the world with the light of his Doctrin and burning Charity No saith our The Dr's virulent words uttered against S. Dominick virulent Dr misconstruing all that Authors Write S. Dominick was à true Fire-brand having not near so much light as heat in him And thus he misinterpret's others that call the Saint à Lyon upon the account of his undaunted courage in preaching boldly Christ's Doctrin to those pernicious Albigenses and how effectual his Preaching was manifestly appear's by the innumerable Conversions wrought upon them This Truth confessed by all Writers is à clear Testimony of the Saints light and ardent Zeal prognosticated by that burning Torch which his Vertuous Mother saw before his Birth 6. Again saith our Dr Lewis of Granada Lud. Grana Con. 1. de S. Domin recount's that S. Katharine of Sienna had by Revelation or saw in some Vision the eternal Father producing his Son out of his mouth and S. Dominick out of his Breast and said the one is my Son by Nature the other by Adoption The most Blasphemous comparison of all other saith wise Dr Stillingfleet Yea horrible blasphemy to se à Firebrand compared with the Son of God Answ The most ignorant Cavil that ever came from Dr. Pray you tell me when Divine Wisdom the Second Person of the B. Trinity The First begotten before all Creatures avouches of it selfe Ego ex ore Altissimi Prodivi I came out of the mouth Eccl. 24 5. of the Highest and the most learned Expositors upon this Passage teach with Lyranus that by The Dr's ignorance discovered Os the mouth of the Highest is meant Mens Divina the Divine understanding whereby the Eternal Word is produced as our sensible words are by the mouth Tell me I say what blasphemy lies here Now that the word Mouth according to the Phrase in Scripture properly signifies Mens or the Intellectual faculty is manifest Psal 39. 30. by the Royal Prophet The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom id est The mind or understanding Meditates not the mouth that only speak's what the mind conceives Neither is there the least shadow of Blasphemy in the other Part of the Vision where S. Dominick is said to be produced out of the Breast or charitable heart of the eternal Father Answerable Hier. 31. 3. to that of the Prophet Charitate perpetua dilexi te I have loved thee with everlasting Charity and the manner is signisicantly expressed by S. John Sic Deus dilexit mundum c. So God Joan. 3. 16. loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son for us If the Dr tell us God hath neither Breast nor heart he bewrays his ignorance and knowes not that even Scripture it selfe and so may Saints often speak AnthropapathwÌ„s For example Cor meum ad Moab saith Jerem. 4â— v. 36. God Tactus dolore cordis with à hundred like Expressions O But the comparison between the Divine word and S. Dominick seem's horrid Pitiful Adopted Children by Grace are rightly called filii Dei Sons of God and the increated Rom. 8. 17. Word is also called the Son of God Filius meus es tu Ego hodie genui te Doth this comparison offend No Because there is no comparison between Infinit and Finite Eternal and temporal Know therefore Mr Dr that the Generation of the Divine Word was is and ever will be Infinite necessary natural to God and Eternal The Filiation or Generation of No comparison between the eternal Generation of the Divine Word and the filiation of adoptive Children by grace God's adoptive Children by Grace is quite contray purely free to