course whereof saith Boord was so Stupendious and above all reason And the cure so evident that it cannot but be attributed to the virtue of those Holy words which the Priest did speak over that Daemoniack Thus our professed Adversaries 3. Is it true that the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles plain Objects of Sense were first proved by the Testimony of those that beheld them and that those who saw them distinct Ey-witnesses at different times cannot be imagined willingly to have conspired in à Forgery or basely given out Lazarus for à dead man raised to life that was not dead Is it also true that the Evangelists who afterwards registred these seen Wonders had they told so many horrid Lyes in matters of Fact open and publick where fiction has not easily place would not only have prejudiced their own cause but also been lyable to Publick infamy and the disgraceful Clamours of Iewes and Gentils If these Truths be undeniable we have the like rational Evidence for Miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church Reader consider An application of the third Proof things seriously Was not that Miracle wrought by the Reliques of S. Gervasius and Protasius in Milan witnesse S. Ambrose an Object of S. Ambros Epist 85. Sense and seen by many Were those stupendious wonders effected by the glorious Martyr S. Stephen whereof S. Austin speak's largely S. August lib. 22. Civit cap. 8. done in the dark without the Attestation of innumerable that saw them Was not S. Bernard's Miracle after his blessing certain loaves of bread whereof we shall speak presently so memorable and manifest to Sense that whole Multitudes having eaten of the bread finding themselves cured ran forthwith to the Saint and with all submission praysing God owned the Favour John Clements cure at Montagu the young youths restored Leg at Zaragosa and the Miraculous cure of F. Mastrilli at Naples were all Sensible and visible Works of à Divine power Say now I beseech you to goe on with the Parallel can any Imagin that either those who saw or wrote these Miracles damnedly conspired among them selves to delude the world with open Lies It is impossible because Spectators or writers of such matters lived far more distant for time and place from each other than the Apostles that registred our Saviours wonders If therefore those blessed men cannot be supposed wickedly to have feigned Christ's raising Lazarus to life or cleansing the Lepers it is more impossible to conceive that S. Austin for example perswaded those who lived many Ages after with S. Bernard to tell à forged Story of his miraculous Loaves Did those think you who saw the youth 's restored leg at Zaragosa suborne the Ey-witnesses of John Clements cure at Montagu to feign that matter of Fact which happened many years before the Miracle at Zaragosa It is Folly to Judge so 4. O but say Sectaries we doubt much whether the supposed Ey-witnesses of Latter Miracles and the Writers of them spake truth in what Those first are said to have seen That is They 'l doubt whether any saw the Miracles recounted by S. Austin and S. Ambrose and Question as much these Saints Sincerity in writing them And cannot á Iew or Heathen move all these doubts Concerning to Eywitnesses of our Saviours Miracles and the Evangelists Sincerity that wrote them Yea every whit as wisely Reader in this place we only compare the humane Testimony of those who saw Christ's Miracles before Scripture registred them with the humane Testimony of latter witnesses that visibly beheld the Miracle at Milan at Montagu or Naples and say no more rational exception can be made against the latter Ey-witnesses than the first Now because in discoursing with the Adversaries of Christ and his Church it were folly to suppose the Gospel God's Divine Word we clearly evince by reason that the Book at least deserves as great Credit upon No exception can be made against those who write of approved Miracles humane Faith as any other true plain History And then tell Sectaries that they in reason can-no more except against the approved Writers of our Church Miracles S. Austin for example or S. Ambrose than à Iew or Heathen against the Evangelists that wrote Christs Miracles and hence you have the Primitive Miracles and those in the Church prove alike Lastly would not the Evangelists now supposed to write candidly their Story without any fraudulent Combination have justly exposed them selves to publick Infamy in setting down matters of Fact had they singly considered recorded things newer Seen or heard No lesse publick Infamy Censure and Clamours those would have justly Incurred in relating Church Miracles had they brought to light strange Wonders never known in the world Would publick Clamours think ye or Censures have spared S. Austin or those that recorded John Clement's Cure if forged and feigned Stories No certainly men both wise and prudent would have excepted against them as Impostures had not Evidence cleared their Truth 5. Is it true that the Miracles of Christ first seen by Ey-witnesses and afterwards recorded raised them to à Publick Fame the whole world over which hitherto continues in force by à never interrupted Tradition The like publick Fame say I first grounded on Sense and hitherto continued by Tradition we have for Miracles wrought in the Church Speaking of Fame alone or of à humane universal Report these The fourth Proofe above applyed to the Churches Miracles Miracles are as certain as that the Historry of the Gospel recorded by the four Evangelists is Gods word or written by Divine Inspiration Sectaries it is true are found that Question the Truth of some Church Miracles none for ought I know unlesse Dr Stillingfleet denies all and no few Desertors of the Church Question also whether many Parts and Passages in the new Testament are God Sacred Word But the great Fame of clear Miracles and the new Testaments Divinity is even upon the Churches humane Authority upheld as indubitable by all called Catholicks and therefore very universal yea answerable to the Fame of Apostolical Wonders 6. Is it true that Positive proofs alledged for this Affirmative Christ truely wrought Miracles quite discountenance and bear down the contrary Negative barely vented without any appearance of proof Christ never wrought any The Principle is undoubted and clearly evinces that God has wrought many true Miracles by the Professed members of the Catholick Church Our Positive proofs you shall have afterwards more fully and the contradiction of those who deny Miracles demonstrated an improbable Attempt yea void of Sence and ridiculous In this place we only Argue as we did above and show the cause Miracles I mean by the real Effects which followed in the Conversion of Nations far more numerous after the Apostles dayes and all those wrought by The fift Proof applyed to our Churches Miracles the Roman Catholick Church than before Such remarkable Works of God over Italy Germany France Spain
the Virtues of that worthy man largely set down too long à Subject for this place without the least mention of any imputed and contrived Exorcisms In case the Dr except's against my Author as one that 's partial or waves matters he should have related I require this Justice at his hands that he remit me to some VVriter who either proves F. More Partial or Weston guilty of those enormous crimes falsely I avouch laid to his charge Believe it F. More was no way Shy num 17. in faithfully recounting what difficulties Weston met with in Wisbick Castle caused chiefly by à Dr of Physick and another unnamed Priest that afterwards turn'd Apostat perhaps such an one as Tyrel once was He tell 's you also num 25. what false Aspersions were laid upon F. Weston and in what manner the Holy man was vindicated and cleared But not à word all this while of Records entred into any Court of High-Commission Weston vindicated or of twelve Exorcists Employed by Weston to feign Possessions that never were The whole Story even as the Dr set's it forth by the Very Circumstances showes it selfe à Fable yea an open Calumny peevishly invented to dishonour Priests and Catholick Religion 31. But enough of this And much more Dirt gathered up by the Dr wholly useless for any other End save only to make him that pack't it together ridiculous Observe I beseech you The Dr Supposes the long Tales hitherto told to have been cheats and fraudulent Dr Still page 663. fictions yet simply concludes This may abundantly suffice for the first Particular which was the comparing the Miracles of the Roman Church with those of Christ and his Apostles Are all indeed Forged Miracles cannot be called Miracles of the Church Fictions Mr Dr like that of the Prioresse of the Annunciada in Lisbon Have all been found cheats and forged Miracles So it is say you How then dare you Sr impudently call them Miracles of the Roman Church when you know and the whole world knowes That this Church abhorr's all feigned Miracles or what ever of that Nature is or hath been discovered manifestly false I say Therefore such filth deserves no more the name of Miracles wrought in the Roman Church than your new Negative Protestant Articles deserve to be called the old Positive Tenets of Faith or false Scripture the true Word of God Now according to my Promise in the 4.th Chapter I am to follow Mr Doctor as he leads us on to the End of his Enquiry CHAP. XIV An Answer to one os the Doctors Exceptions against Miracles VVhether Miracles in the first Age of Christianity were but few How Miracles are proved by true Doctrin and true Doctrin by Miracles No counterfeited Miracle can passe the Churches Tribunal without censure Of à late VVriters exceptions against Miracles The admirable Propagation of Christian Religion convinces that Miracles have been wrought 1. WE usually say an Argument that proves too much proves nothing but all Dr Still Arguments proposed against approved Miracles wrought in the Church make every whit as much against the Miracles of Christ and consequently prove too much Therefore nothing at all What is here Asserted you will find made good in the ensuing Chapters 2. I replyed to one of the Dr's Exceptions Page 665. c. 2 n. 17. where he thinks Miracles needlesse in future Ages because those wrought by Christ and his Apostles in confirmation of their Doctrin were abundantly sufficient without more I Said then that none can know by à bare owning those ancient Miracles what Doctrin Christ taught For all called Christians as Arians and Pelagians admitted Christ's Miracles yet grosly swerved from his Doctrin Dr Still I suppose None can say what Doctrin Christ taught by owning only ancient Miracles admit's all the Miracles our Saviour wrought yet he shall never prove one Essential point of Protestancy by them no more shall the Arian evince any Doctrin of Arianisme true that way if no other Oracle illustrated by Miracles interposes its Authority and ascertain's him that such and such is Christ's Doctrin concerning the greatest Mysteries of Faith For example That Christ is truly God and man one Essence and three distinct Persons c Tell me Reader what Sence find you in this Inference Our Saviour raised Lazarus from the dead cured the blind man cleansed the Lepers Ergo God is thereby proved one Essence and three distinct Persons Again if Dr Still take on to pare away what Miracles he pleases if he thinks so many will sufficiently serve for future Ages I Ask why are not Christ's Miracles alone excluding those the Apostles wrought sufficient for us all Nay why may not only one Miracle wrought by Christ without more if conveyed down by Tradition bring with it that Al-sufficiency the Dr speaks of Page 666. 3. The Dr seing such abundance of Miracles pretended to in all Ages and Countries and finding them so sparingly wrought in the Writings of Scripture unless for confirmation of à new Religion thinks we must either hold that God has changed the Method of his Providence in being once sparing and now too liberal or that we through ignorance and Credulity take those for Miracles which are not so Mr Dr's Religion as Protestancy is one of the newest in the world yet I never heard of any Miracles so much as sparingly wrought for its confirmation But ad rem 4. The Dr grosly mistakes Miracles wrought in the first Age of Christianity were neither scarce nor sparing but contrarywise Admirable great and numerous in so much that no one Age after that can Parrallel the Miracles then wrought The Signs and Miracles which Christ wrought saith S. John were many Though all are not John 20. v. 30. registred in Holy Writ The visible appearing of the Holy Ghost upon the then newly Baptized their speaking different Languages and working other Miracles seldom or never seen afterwards much augment the number and set forth the glory of Miracles in those Dayes Add hereunto The Primitive Miracles many and admirable the innumerable Miracles which the Apostles wrought in their Preaching up and down the world And in the Conversion of Nations you will find no want at all but great Plenty may Ecclesiastical History gain beliefe And I see not why that ought to be esteemed of lesser Credit then the Dr's Tale of Pythagoras his golden Thigh or his feigned cure wrought by Aesculapius whereof more presently In the mean while the Dr may read what strange Miracles the Priests and Deacons of Achaia recount of S. Andrew the Apostle what others Write of S. Thomas in his Preaching to the Medes Persians Bactrians and finally to the Indians Of S. Simon and Judes admirable Conversions and Miracles also wrought in Mesopotamia in Aegypt and finally in Persia where meeting together they dyed for Christ and suffered à glorious Martyrdom The like we read of other Apostles whose Holy Lives and labours
not only to the Godly but to the wicked also falsa profecto haec sunt Those vvrought by the vvicked are for the most part false sometimes true as in Balaam and others and alwaies weak proofs of the Church 13. Now if you will refer those words Falsa profecto sunt haec plerumque to Miracles whether done by good or bad men you may Say without offence That all nevv Miracles yet under debate and not easily differenced from the Signs of wicked men may before they are rigidly examined and approved in order to us appear often times false and are alwaies weak proofs of the true Church Never did Dandrada Say or dream that Miracles juridically examined and approved by the Church can be false yet this the Dr is to show or he fail's in the Main and evinces nothing 14. The Dr in the same Page cites Ioannes Ferus Ferus in Matth. 24. 23. 24. saying that the Doctrin of à Church is not to be proved by Miracles but Miracles by the Doctrin I Answer he speak's so and very pertinently if you ponder his connected discourse You may learn saith Ferus how to Discern false and true Ferus deliver's true Doctrin Mitacles For as true Miracles when done are never contrary to God's word so false ones oppose those Sacred Verities which have been long since confirmed by Miracles And for that reason c. 14. n. 5. Miracles are to be examined by the Churches received Doctrin Here is nothing but what I expresly deliver in à foregoing Chapter and Therefore it may well passe among Dr Still impertinent Quotations 15. The Dr soon after Quotes Iosephus Acosta Acosta de Tempor noviss c. 9. as one highly extolling the Miracles which Antichrist shall work in so much That it will be à hard matter to discern true and false Signs and he Quotes it from Hippolytus that Antichrist shall do far greater Miracles than the cure of Marcellus or the restored Leg at Zaragosa Viz. That he will raise the Dead cure the diseased and have command over the Elements Thus the Dr And almost err's in every particular First he mistakes the IX Chapter for the 18. and 19. where Acosta handles these Acosta ill cited by the Dr. matter In the IX Chapter he chiefly insist's upon Antichrist's raging Persecution in subduing the Kings of the earth c. 2. Neither Hippolitus Hippolit de consumma mundi de Antichrist Biblioth Patrum apud Bignium Tom. 2. Edit 2. nor Acosta ever said as the Dr unworthily writes that Antichrist shall do far greater Miracles than those wrought upon Marcellus and the Boy of Zaragosa Peruse Hippolitus and you will find Acosta's observation true that he speak's indeed so much of Antichrist's Signs ut vix credibilia videantur that all he brings to light seems not credible Antichrist saith Hippolitus will do prodigious Things he will cleanse the Lepers expel Divels raise the Dead change night into day and day into night he will turn about the Sun whither and to what place he pleases c. Yet this ancient Writer Scholar to Clemens Alexandrinus contemn's all these wonders three or four times over in that Oration as false feigned and counterfeit Signa saith he edet horrenda non vera sed falsa He will show strange Signs But all will be false Again Haec omnia faciet consilio simulato ac fraudulento quo circumveniat omnes ut se Regem creent There will be nothing in these Wonders Hippolitus and Acosta Slight Anchrist's Wonders 2. Thes 2. 9. but hypocrisy and dissimulation Thus Hippolitus undervalues Antichrist's Miracles 16. So also doth Acosta and every Christian that believes the Apostle speaking of that Man of Sin whose comming is according to the operation of Satan in all Power and lying Wonders Magnopere nos recreat saith Acosta The Apostles words Comfort us when he tell 's us that Antichrist's Signs will be nothing but Cheats Acosta cap. 19. Lying vvonders vvrought by the Divels assistance Real Miracles cannot be done by that Archenemy of God and Truth Soon after They are rightly called fallacious Wonders exhibited either by à secret Povver in nature or by the Ministry of Divels and done for this End to confirm Lyes contrary to God's eternal Verities The Servants of JESUS CHRIST never work Miracles after this manner nor can attest à Lye by any true Sign they do Thus Acosta Is not therefore the Dr ' s Question most ridiculous I The Dr's simple question retorted and answered would understand saith he from E. W. Whether Antichrist's Church will not be proved as Infallible in this vvay as the Church of Rome And I would as fain understand from Dr Still whether Antichrist's Church will not be proved as Infallible in this way as the Apostolical Church If the Dr dare assert That Antichrist shall work true Miracles in raising the Dead and curing all desperate Diseases I Ask how can he distinguish the Apostolical Signs and those If contrariwise he Teach with S. Paul and Catholick Doctors That all Antichrist can do will be only Lying Iugling and Hypocrital Wonders The folly of his own Question appear's as it is vain idle and vveightlesse unlesse he prove which neither Divel nor Dr shall doe That all the Miracles wrought in God's Church even those related by S. Irenaeus S. Augustin S Hierom S. Ambrose and other Fathers are to be esteemed base Cheats jugling Legerdemain In fine wholly as Lying and invaluable as Antichrist's wonders will be 17. The Dr in the next place cites Cajetan Cajet de concep Virg c. 1. But where to find the Treatise of the Conception though I have four Tomes of that Author by me I know not However the words as the Dr relates them contain no Difficulty Cajetan saith first The Church has no ground to determine any matter Cajetan cited makes nothing for the Dr. of Doctrin novv on the account of Miracles Very true because as he insinuat's the Church has no new Revelations and therefore hold's her Doctrin already Determined upon Infallible Tradition handed down Age after Age from the Apostles Dayes O but Cajetan gives another Reason Because the Divel may do such things vvhich vve cannot distinguish from true Miracles Answ His meaning may be that some true Miracles are not upon the first sight before full Examination easily distinguished from false Signs but that many are distinguishable as when the dead rose and conversed witness Irenaeus à long time with the living seem's clear enough And I Neither Cajetan any ever taught that the Divel can revive the Dead am sure neither Cajetan nor any Christian ever thought that the Divel called those Dead to life or did those great Cures which our Saviour and the Apostles wrought As therefore the primitive Christians differenced those admirable works from the Divels Lying Wonders we likewise set the same distinctive Marks upon our Churches Miracles whereof I have largely treated above No
might yet have called to mind that the very gravest of the English Clergy pretend vvhether truly I dispute not to have received the Order of Priesthood from the hands of our Catholick Bishops and I am sure the Dignity of à Priest necessarily implies the Povver of offering up Sacrifice though the Dr has been so far from complying vvith that one duty his vvhole life long that had his povver equal'd his Malice neither Priest nor Sacrifice had novv remained in the vvorld Believe it Reader for this and many other Clamorous Sins Multum deferet ad Iudicem The Dr vvithout Serious Repentance vvill have much to Ansvver for at his dying Day Had He in Lieu of opposing Miracles told us that his beloued Puritanisme though lately brought into the vvorld may notvvitstanding be bugg'd by him as his Dearest Benjamin or ovvned as the svveetest Religion being never invented to Curbe Passion or trouble any vvith Austerity but chiefly to pamper up à fevv Ministers vvith their Feminine follovvers None could have vvondered The very most might have said the man spake as he thought Nay more had he been so wise as to leave this Bustle of Polemicks to others far above him in learning or only kept within the Bounds of Speculative Matters and there blundered and erred as he has done The subtility of that knowledge and his little skill in speculation would have born out an excuse and pleaded in his behalfe But to run headlong and proclaime open war against plain Matters of fact seen by thousands and furiously to encounter God's own Signal wonders clearly shovvn to the vvorld is an Offence of so high à nature and so contrary to common Prudence that though the Dr lived Ages he shall never vvash off the stain vvhich his unruly passion has cast upon him One vvord and I end My hope is Mr Dr vvill take courage and Ansvver this Treatise if so I heartily vvish he talk no more of dravving off the vvhole Substance here set dovvn into the narrovv compass of à fevv lines That 's impossible vvhen so many plain Matters of Fact as are novv offer'd him to examin necessarily require no doging but à full and serious Reply Neither is it enough to tell us he hold's not himselfe obliged to take notice of every Idle Book that comes forth and bear 's his name in the Title That vvill bevvray his Ignorance and too plainly confirme the Opinion most have of him vvhich is That he cannot Ansvver But above all let him not run to one of his Hocus Pocus Tricks or Say He vvould fain fly at his Adversary but novv cannot being vvholly taken up with some other great work against Popery Such far fetcht excuses Argue à cowardly Proceeding For Reader euer to be brandishing his sowrd and threaten without hurt to any and neuer to defend himselfe when attacked is contrary to the Stile and strain of all Writers ancient and Modern who first endeavour their Adversaries Satisfaction And then begin with vvhat nevv attempts they please The Dr I am sure has vvork enough cut out for him First those particulars clearly laid forth in the Preface to my last Treatise all waved by the Dr are many That excellent learned Book entituled Dr Stillingfleet against Dr Stillingfleet lately printed highly methinks deserves an Ansvver and I am sure to say nothing of others he is yet behind hand vvith his vvorthy Adversary N. O. We liue in hopes these Debts vvill be paid at last And that the Dr vvhen his Passion is allayed may give such honest men as have taken pains for him some reasonable Satisfaction Novv in case he turn's all off vvith Quibbles pritty Ierks and such like Artifices The vvorld vvill Iudge as I do that Dr Stillingfleet vvas most unfortunate in beginning à Quarrel about Polemicks vvhich as he has not hitherto so never shall be hereafter End vvith Credit Farewel Courteous READER THE CHAPTERS IN ORDER CHAP. I. VVat is meant by a true Miracle God only the cause of supernatural Miracles Of their absglute necessity VVhether the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles can be rationally proved against Iewes and Gentils Dr Stillingfleet hit's not on these rational proofs You haue them hereafter clearly ser down against all exceptions and Cavils 1 Chap. II. The same rational Arguments whereby the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles are proved evince also true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church Other clear proofs for Church Miracles A contest between Antichrist and Dr Stillingfleet The Dr is worsted If the Church doth Propose Forgeries for true Miracles none can believe Christ's Miracles upon the Vniversal humane Testimony of all called Christians True Miracles distinguish the Church from all false Conventicles pag. 26 Rational proofs For Miracles alledged in my other Treatises 35 Chap. III. Some Choise Manifest Miracles proved upon the Deposition of many Sworn Ey-witnesses Of à Late famous Miracle wrought at Calais in Picardy None can call into doubt the Authentick Miracles done by S. Thomas Cantilupe our renowned Bishop of Hereford Other great Miracles yet obvious to all mens eyes S. Bernard's known Miracle proved most certain 46 Two great Miracles wrought by Saint Thomas 59 A fourth Miracles 60 Chap. IV. How true Miracles may be discerned from false VVonders VVhether Heathens and Hereticks ever wrought true Miracles For what End true Miracles are wrought Of the difference between Antichrist's Miracles and those wrought by Christ and in the Church 77 The Iudgement of Authors Concerning Miracles wrought by Christ's Adversaries 86 Chap. V. In what manner the body of S. Iames was translated to Composlella The Conversion of Hermogenes and Philetus by S. Iames Of Pope Calixtus his VVritings Miracles wrought by S. Iames manifestly proved against Dr Stillingfleet 98 Chap. VI Of the Dr's Pilgrimage to the Vial of S. Mary Magdalen in France The Truth of that Miracle Proved Cavils answered Holy Reliques vindicated from the Dr's Calumny VVhether Protestancy be à grave Religion Of Dr Iohn Launoy's Virulency 117 Chap. VII Of Dr Stillingfleets rude hold and shameful vilifying two renowned Saints The Glorious S. Dominick and the Seraphical S. Francis of Assisium 156 Chap. VIII The Dr's large Muster-Role of the Brittish and Irish Saints Shewed à meer Parergon or à weightless Cavil against Church Miracles Several Degrees of certainty observed concerning Miracles 168 Chap. IX VVhether impartial Authors in former Ages ever taught that Miracles ceased in the Church S. Chrysostom most plain for latter Miracles VVhether there be no comparison between our Saviour's Miracles and those wrought in Latter times Of Dr Stillingfleet's frivolous Distinction between Sings and Miracles 187 Pretended Objections taken out of S. Chrysostom Answered Dr Still grosly abuses Iohn Gerson Chancellour of Paris 195 None more stoutly Defend's Miracles wrought in the Church Than blessed S. Augustine 207 Chap. X. Of De Stinllingfleet's shuffling and unworthy dealing with S. Augustine Not one Testimony produced by the Dr makes
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
unanimously teach the Apostles to have wrought stupendious Miracles when at their preaching the Idols fell down and innumerable Believers were gained to Christ therefore the truth attested stand's uncontestably certain That these Witnesses are mighty numerous and without dispute worthy credit is undeniable being justly listed amongst the most wise learned and virtuous that ever lived Such are our Austins Chrysostoms Gregories Damascens Bernards with innumerable others who if occasion had offered it selfe would have willingly dyed for the truth of Apostolical Miracles Now if these Givers in of Evidence Seem not Satisfactory you have yet more viz. The whole humane Authority of Christs Kingdom I mean his Church She both tell 's us what our Saviour promised of these greater wonders and upon the Evidence had never ceased to preserve them in the memory of all her Faithful Children to this day 20. And thus you see that when we took one Proof for Miracles from publick Fame which some may say is fallacious we argued not so pressly as now while we evince their truth by the Testimony of the most choise learned and creditable Witnesses that ever spake since Christianity began And if our supposed Stranger find's not à Pregnancy of reasoning in this Discourse I shall soon dismisse him and deplore his condition as one in whom the light of reason if not utterly extinct seem's more then à little Eclypfed It may be some Critick will Object we have not yet shown how the Apostles Miracles are said to be greater than In what Sence Apostolical Miracles are called greaâ—â—r then our Saviours those wrought by our Saviour For an Answer all know that à Miracle may be considered with à double respect first to God an Infinit Power and so taken the greatest ever done cannot be called à Miracle because the greatest Transcend's not an Omnipotent Power Again consider à Miracle as done by one that has no more force to work it than to move the Heavens under that Notion it justly acquires the denomination of an effect truly Supernatural because far beyond all force in nature You may se what I aime at by this plain Instance Should à Giant lift up à weighty burthen all would Judge he work 's proportionably to his Strength but if à weak infant did so who would not justly proclaim the wonder The Miracles of Christ our Lord rightly compared to à Giant in Holy Writ were effects easily and Connaturally flowing from the Omnipotent Word united to humane nature infinitly in themselves more valuable than all the works of men and Angels but yet lesse wonderful than the Apostolical Miracles if on the one side we regard the mighty Power of our great Thaumaturgus and on the other cast an eye upon those weak Instruments that did them The weaknesse The weaknes of the Instrument hightens the greatnesse of à Miracle therefore of the Instruments whereby they were wrought much heightens the greatnesse of their Miracles Again the Apostles Miracles may be said greater because all summoned together were more numerous than our Saviours 3. They are greater in the Effect witnesse the glorious Conversions of Nations which followed upon the Apostolical Signs and wonders whereas Christ our Lord reserving that Honour to his first Choise and elected Ministers converted not halfe the number while 〈…〉 ived on Farth 21. Thus much of the Primitive Miracles and if any think I have stayed too long upon à known Subject My answer is All that know and own these Miracles as true rationally prove not their truth against Iewes and Gentils wherein I hold Dr Still very deficient Again if I show and 't is my chiefest Intent that Miracles wrought in the Roman Church are not only Defensible but every way firmly proved upon the same rational Grounds as those now mentioned none can deem my labour lost I Say upon the same rational Grounds for hitherto we have waved Proofs taken from Divine Revelation and only pleaded by Reason This therefore we endeavour to Demonstrate CHAP. II. The same rational Arguments whereby the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles are proved euince also true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church Other clear proofs for Church Miracles A contest between Antichrist and Dr Stillingfleet The Dr is worsted If the Church doth Propose Forgeries for true Miracles none can believe Christ's Miracles upon the Vniversal humane Testimony of all 〈…〉 ed Christians True Miracles distinguish the Church from all false Conventicles 1. THe Parallel of these rational Arguments easily drawn from the precedent Chapter may be thus compendiously laid forth to every Reader Is à Heathen as we said to admit the Historical part of Scripture where Christs Miracles are recorded to be as morally certain upon humane Faith The first proof alledged applyed to Church Miracles only as any other known History he yeilds Assent to and if he denies this will he not soon be driven to ground the Denyal upon his own perverse will or selfe conceipted Fancy Nothing can be more clear Say then I beseech you is not à Sectary when he read's the Writings of Holy Fathers and other known Historians where the approved Miracles of the Church stand upon Record in reason obliged to hold these as morally certain upon humaine Faith as he doth innumerable other Passages written in the English or French History or à Iew ought to own the History of the new Testament In case he boggles we shall hereafter so overcharge him with the express Testimonies of Fathers and other choise approved Writers that his bogling will appear as it is Perversness Francy or plain dotage 2. Is it again true that some Gentils and The second proof applyed Iewes also though Adversaries to Christ frankly owned his glorious Miracles Nothing can be more clear But we have far more professed Enemies that acknowledge Miracles to have been wrought in our Catholick Community the Parallel therefore hitherto fail's not To produce à list of all would be tedious à few only borrowed from Englishmen shall suffice His Majesty Rex Jacobus lib. 3. Daemonolog cap. 4. King Iames hold's it true that the Papists really free popossessed Persons of Divels because Orthodox men say so and Ey-witnesses have seen such Miracles done Mr Covel in his Answer to John Covel cited by Brerely Protest Apology Page with me 529. Burges sayes No man can deny but that God after the death of his Son manifested his Power to the amazement of the world in the contemptible Sign of the Crosse which has been the Instrument of many Miracles Brerely again produces à clear Testimony taken out of Dr Boord à Physician who Se Protest Apology pag. 348. in his Extravagants annexed to his Breviary of health after many bitter Invectives against the Pope and Clergy of Rome reports himselfe to have been an Ey-witness of à Gentlewoman possessed with Divels brought from Germany to Rome and there freed from those evil Spirits yea perfectly cured The
may be freed from that bondage That many have been thus possessed and released also out of thraldome is an evident Truth proved by experience and that the ejection or restraint of evil Spirits transcend's all force in nature and consequently done by Gods Omnipotent Power is no lesse certain and therefore à work truly Miraculous 11. Again shall Antichrist sit in Pompe and dazle mens eyes with à false lustre of wonders and shall not the Orthodox Church of Christ think ye be able when that Monster appear's to oppose one true Miracle against the Divel's pride vaunting by Antichrist of great wonders Shall he glory in false Signs and the Church show none that are true So it is saith Dr Stillingfleets your Church Miracles are cheats and no better than what Divels have done and Antichrist will do by his Charms Is it so indeed are all cheats and works of the Divel One word To grant some Miracles wrought in the Church will much abate Antichrists pride Mr Dr. A moderate man in granting some Miracles true would much cheer up the comfortlesse hearts of poor afflicted Christians in those future dayes of Tribulation and teach every one how to withstand Antichrist by setting true approved Miracles against his jugling Tricks Might not one then living though none of the strongest Combatants encounter that false Prophet thus I am assured of undoubted Miracles wrought in the Church wherein we Christians live but have no certainty of the Truth of thy Wonders which I Judge meer Illusions and therefore ought to be accounted most imprudent if I prefer thy suspected Signs before those I hold certain 12. Most I think will Judge this discourse reasonable though Dr Still makes it faint and senceless for if all the Miracles done in the Roman Catholick Church since the Apostles dayes have been Illusions and works of the Divel Antichrist upon our D 〈…〉 concession will so stop the mouths of Christians that none shall then speak à rational word against him for may he not plead and pertinently thus The great wonders I evidently Now Antichrist may plead upon Dr Still Concession set before your Eyes cannot be worse than cheats and works of the Divel Dr Still tell 's you and you must believe him that your Miracles are nothing but cheats and works of the Divel thus far he and I stand upon equal Terms therefore in reason you may as well credit my strange Wonders as your own which are every whit upon the concession of à Dr as jugling and fallacious Hence it followes that you are either obliged to believe me upon the present Sight of my wonders which for ought you yet know may be true and from the highest Power imaginable or which I would have done utterly renounce all claime to your past Miracles so much cryed up and down the world Dr Still may reply Though all Miracles wrought in the Church be truly deemed Cheats yet there have been other most clear ones powerful enough to Curbe Antichrist's Pride and these are the glorious signal Wonders of Christ and his Apostles alone sufficient to discountenance that false Prophet's Sign 's though never so Specious 13. Have at you Mr Dr saith Antichrist Grant me first as you doe that the Miracles wrought in the Church are forgeries and the Divels works and I 'll soon enervate the strongest Rational proof you have for Christ's Miracles Your only rational ground comes to this that the Gospel where those primative Miracles are recorded is owned upon the humane Testimony of all called Christians à true Story but this common Testimony in your Principles is evidently worth nothing and mark my proof If such vast Multitudes of Christians Christians who have fathered false Miracles upon God deserve not Credit in Saying Christ wrought Miracles have been so shamefully wicked as to make à clamour of Miracles when none were wrought That is to tell the world open Lyes nay more publickly to avouch Forgeriers and works of the Divel to have been done by the Power of Almighty God which God never did but both disclaim's and hates I say upon this Supposition no man in his wits can credit these mens Testimony though they swear à hundred times over that Christ and his Apostles wrought Miracles and that the Gospel truly recount's them for if they have falsely imposed upon mankind Matters of Fact so neer at hand or forged Miracles of à latter date seen aâ— they Say by innumerable that were never seen who can believe these mistaken Multitudes when they talk of Christ's Miracles à far off only seen if yet ever done by some few Ey-witnesses about sixteen Ages past This Discourse stand's upon à certain Principle which is that all the Miracles Christ wrought are not Selfe-Evident Truths or known as Truths ex Terminis though registred in Scripture therefore the first rational knowledge we have of them arises as Dr Still saies from the Universal humane Testimony of all called Christians though fallible which excludes à Possibility of reasonable The reason why their Testimony iâ— weightless doubting or as Catholicks speak from the Infallible Testimony of the Church made evidently Credible by glorious Miracles But neither Testimony is of any weight Nay both are utterly blasted if these Givers in of Evidence â—be proved publick Lyars and constantly cast upon God Iugling cheats and works properly belonging to the Divel 14. Some may reply This Argument seem's indeed to take off much Authority from Papits in their defence of Christ's Miracles because men once proved perjur'd or publick Lyars as they are now supposed in their false attestations given of Church Miracles deserve little credit in any other like publick affaire but Protestants forsooth who on the one side oppose latter Miracles and on the other stifly defend those wrought by Christ and his Apostles An Objection answered cannot but raise all upon their humane Faith to à high rational Credibility A most pitiful Put off which proves if of any force that before Protestants got footing in à few scattered parts of Europe Christ's Miracles could not be owned rationably credible upon the humane Autority of à whole ample learned Church But here is not all I say in à word the humane consent of Protestants in this matter or of any other precedent Sectaries stand's like an insignificant Cypher not worth à rush without the Testimony of our Evidenced Church I prove the Assertion Who ever takes the first Report in matters of fact from others both false and beguiled is as much cheated and beguiled as those Original witnesses are But Protestants the like is of all former Sectaries first received the Report of Christ's Miracles from the ancient witnesses of the Catholick Church here supposed false and grosly beguiled in relating their own Miracles neither God revealed to Sectaries nor did Divel ever truly tell them what Miracles Christ wrought therefore if those Primary witnesses are beguiled Protestants also remain fast in the like Errour O
but Saith some one we Protestants credit Papists when they tell us that the Gospel is à true Story and believe them also in the Report they make of Christ's Miracles Most unreasonably done for if those men never told you true word of Miracles wrought in the Church but quite contrary cloy'd your eares with forged Stories their credit utterly lost deserves nothing but contempt as to Christ's Miracles if false in the one of mighty consequence hold them boldly fallacious in the other 15. What will you say if Dr Still to help himselfe in à present Exigency draw back à little and tell us He never yet plainly denyed all our Church Miracles Very good newes if true whence it followes that unless he will quite suspend his Judgement as doubtful of all he must necessarily grant some great Miracles those chiefly approved by the Church my desire is to know which and how many he will yeild us having upon his Concession certainty of so many I shall thence infer that either All approved Church Miracles are to bee admitted or None Some perhaps Either all approved Miracles must be allowed or none may here propose this Question what if the Church had never had Miracles done in it would not our Saviours admirable Wonders either written in the Gospel or conveyed down by Tradition have been sufficient to check Antichrist's pride and the legerdemain of that false Prophet Were this supposed Christians would have been in no worse condition than now though the Church tell false Stories of her Miracles I Answer the Supposition which notoriously impaires the Churches humane Authority and consequently takes off that high respect all bear to Christ's Miracles is à meer Impertinency Observe my reason It is one thing to Argue upon à false Supposition by imagining no Miracles wrought in the Church and another What followes if the Church had been without Miracles to make this Oracle an upon Lyar. In the first case had none been wrought the Church would never have divulged any but in the other Supposition She is perfidious while she ascertain's us of Miracles which Sectaries say were never done and therefore loses all credit and can gain beliefe of none 16. We come at last to the true fundamental Ground of Miracles wrought in the Church and prove them absolutely necessary None upon à bare owning those ancient Wonders wrought by Christ and his Apostles true can show who among so many dissenting Christians in the fundamental matters of Faith make at this day Profession of Christ's Doctrin Therefore other Miracles are absolutely necessary to mark out and distinguish Miracles proved necessary in the Church she true Professors of Christ's Doctrin from false Sectaries Whoever denies Miracles absolutely necessary for this end must either say that the Christian Societey where Christ's Doctrin is truly professed cannot be known or distinguished from false Sectaries though it gives in Evidence of undoubted Miracles Or which is as bad he must grant that all Hereticks are here-upon proved true Professors of Christ's Doctrin because forsooth they acknowledge Christ and his Apostles to have wrought such and such Miracles and this is evidently false for condemned Hereticks as Arians and Pelagians easily assent to that owned Truth but are not therefore to be listed among the true Professors of Christ's Doctrin Much more therefore is required and it is that Christ's true Society doth not only talk of primitive Miracles or own them true but besides really show you the like admirable distinctive Signs as raising the dead curing the blind and lame manifested by Christ and his Apostles peculiar to it selfe not Common to others of à contrary saith But this Prerogative whereby Faithful Believers are marked out and differenced from Hereticks belong's only to one living Oracle the Roman Catholick Church which took its rise from Christ and his Apostles and ever since stood Age after Age gloriously illustrated by known and renowned Miracles And thus we have it clearly distinguished from all Hereticks Whenas Sectaries men utterly forsaken like dirt cast out of the house of God lie under disgrace altogether unable to confirm their Novelties by one true supernatural wonder Thus Providence showes them no lesse naked and bereft of true Miracles than cold inefficacious and unlucky in their Conversions and drawing Infidels to Christ 17. By what is now Said you may discover Dr Still p. 665. no little lamenesse in Dr Still Discourse The Doctrin of Christ saith he being confirmed by the Miracles wrought by them there cannot be any such necessity in succeeding Ages to confirm the Much Lamenesse in Dr Still Discourse same Doctrin by Miracles The same Doctrin Sr You speak at random pray you tell us in this confusion of different Religions while every one lay's claime to Christ's Doctrin who are proved the true Professors of it by avouching Christ to have wrought great Miracles Or make this Consequence good Christ Cured the blind lame and deaf Ergo Arians who contradict Protestants in the Essentials of Faith or Protestants that contradict the Arians are proved the faithful Professors of Christ's Doctrin because both Judge well of Christ's Miracles If so Catholicks may come in with the best and show themselves sound in Faith upon this account But thanks be to God we can say more for our cause and rest not only in à bare Beliefe of those ancient great Wonders but as I noted above demonstrate à Church Characterized and gloriously marked out by the like supernatural Sign 's which those first great Masters evidenced when they preached to the world and thus our Church is distinguished from all false Conventicles 18. There is no shifting of the force of this Argument but by one of these two desperate evasions Either it must be said that publick Miraculous works evidently done by one or many Authoritively sent to teach Christ's Doctrin are not at all marks of Truth and this is contrary to the Gospel Our Lord working with them the Apostles and confirming the Mark 16. ◠19. John 20. 30. word with Signs that followed These Signs are written add's S. John that men might believe that Iesus is Christ the Son of God c. Or 2 You are flatly to deny the Church ever to had one true Miracle wrought in it which is evidently false as has been proved whereof more presently The only owning ancient Miracles Maintain's any Religion In the mean time you se that to plead for Christ's true Doctrin by only owning those ancient Miracles true licenses all dissenting Christians in Fundamentals to maintain any Religion true or false as they please The Arian may teach as he teaches and so may the Monothelit without Reproof if he tell us he hold's Christ's Doctrin confirmed by primitive Miracles though he cannot say upon à bare owning those Signs what Christ's Doctrin is whether for an Instance the Divine Word truly assumed Flesh or that God is one Essence and three distinct Persons
c. And thus all dissenting Christians stand as it were equally ballanced in their Plea for Truth one is no more advanced than another nor shall any ever know where Christ's Truths are taught unlesse he first find out à Church evidenced by Christ's own Signatures I mean glorious Miracles 19. Some may here Ask whether God cannot set other Marks on à Church besides Miracles Sufficient to distinguish it from all false Conventicles I answer the Question by another like Demand Could not God have set other Marks on Christ and his Apostles excluding Miracles sufficient to distinguish them from all false Prophets Reader we enquire not in this place what God can do his Power is Omnipotent but speak of what he has already done and Say that as his Power and Wisdom marked Christ Apostles and the Church marked by Miracles out our blessed Lord and the Apostles by many clear Signs as great Sanctity Purity in Doctrin admirable Conversions and one most choise Gods own Signatures glorious Miracles So also he has set all and every one of these Signal Marks upon his own Oracle the Catholick Church the chiefest and choisest whereof are illustrious Miracles by these she is clearly distinguished from all false and misled Teachers CHAP. III. Some Choise Manifest Miracles proved upon the Deposition of many Sworn Ey-witnesses Of à Late famous Miracle wrought at Calais in Picardy None can call into doubt the Authentick Miracles done by S. Thomas Cantilupe our renowned Bishop of Hereford Other grat Miracles yet obvious to all mens eyes S. Bernard's known Miracles proved most certain 1. MIracles being Matters of Fact and Objects of sense cannot but gain credit when Authors of unquestionable Fame produce many faithful Ey-witnesses who upon Oath attesâ—ed they saw them done Of these I shall chiefly speak in this chapter and remit the Reader to my former Book as also to some ensuing Chapters in this Treatise Reas. and Relig. Dis 2. cap. 8. where I bring to light à whole Torrent of most ancient Fathers not lightly but upon set design teaching That God in all Ages has adorned his Church with renewned and undeniable Miracles Cardinal Bellarmin begin's from the Bellar. lib. 4. de notis Ecclesiae Cap. 14. first Century with the known Miracles wrought by Christ and the Apostles and showes à continuance of them ever after to the 16.th Age when that learned man lived The exact Brerely Protes Apol Tract 2. c. 3. Sect. 7. Sub. 3. pag 534. having proved à confessed want of Miracles in Luther and Calvin and other Sectaries lead's you from the eight Century downwards and points out Miracles so manifestly attested by approved Authors that our very Adversaries as Osiander the Centurists and others cannot for shame either Question the sincerity of these Witnesses or deny the matters of Fact but shamefully recurre to à desperate Plea and say plainly God had no hand in them No. All were done by the Divel's power Now to the Task we have undertaken 2. One glorious and most certain Miracle being but lately done at Calais à Town in Picardy neer England shall first give the Reader entertainment The whole Processe whereof the rigid Examination made the Depositions taken from many Ey-witnesses and every particular at last confirmed by Episcopal Authority those two laborious Writers Godefridus Henschenius Acta Sanct. Mens April Tom. 1. 2. April pag. 229. and Daniel Papebrochius have amply drawn out to whom I must remit you for further Satisfaction and briefly recount the Miracle visibly wrought upon à Gentlewoman in Calais by the intercession of that great Servant of God S. Franciscus de Paula Founder of à most Holy Religious Order Vulgarly called Minims 3. In the year 1661. the forenamed Gentlewoman The nature af Peronna's Infirmity about 30. years old by name Peronna Raoult daughter to an honourable man called Lewis Raoult had been 13. whole years griveously afflicted with à violent cough and stoppage at her lungs caused by á continual Defluxion of humours comming from her head Physicians though often consulted found no remedy saying ingenuously they well knew not the cause and nature of her strange Asthtmatical disease which for the four last years more and more encreasing brought frequent and fearful convulsion fits upon the afflicted Patient whence followed such à contraction of nerves and Sinewes in her left Leg that first it became four fingers soon after halfe à foot shorter than the other This innumerable Witnesses saw and gave Evidence of as also that the bone of her right Leg and Hip put out of joynt gave her such intolerable pain that the could not sit without drawing her body into à round lump in which Posture she suffered many Sowing fits and unexpressible Torments When the most Christian King came to Calais anno 1658 His Majesties chief Physician Mons t Valet and three other expert Doctors were there also and several times visited the infirm creature which done all unanimously concluded the infirmity to be incurable and that poor Peronna was to remain Paralitick all the dayes of her life 4. Thus left confortles still enduring excessive Torment she thought it high time to implore help from Heaven and resolved to make à Novens or nine dayes of prayer by her Peronna implores assistence from Heaven selfe or others to the glorious Saint Francis of Paula and began it in the Minims Church at Calais the fift day within the Saints Octave Now because of her great weaknes she could not repair thither without much pain she often sent her Maid servant to perform the Devotion for her yet encouraged to doe some thing herselfe during the Novens though usually carried to the Church in à chair she called that day for her Crutches and with the help of her Maid to hold her up after many à wearisom step and stop in drawing breath at last got to the Church where she heard Masse said for her intention and communicated When behold at the reading of the last Gospel Peronna felt an excessive pain all her body over but chiefly in her left Leg and both hipps then all her nerves were violently stretched out by à humour as she thought dispersing it selfe through every member and heard the noyse of her bones long out of joint brought again to their natural posture Immediatly after these Torments Peronna Cured in an Instant by Miracle the vigour and agility of her whole body were perfectly restored in à moment in so much that without help or the least sign of weaknes she rose up and knelt before the Altar to the great admiration of all the Beholders The Priest who said Masse by name F. John de Beaumont when he saw her kneeling wondred at it and because he yet knew nothing of the Miracle advised her to fit down O Father said she blessed be God that is now needless for I am perfectly cured and as well as if I had never been infirm Then she went to the
far greater 6. I say therefore the Miracles of Christ our Lord of the Apostles and all those certainly wrought amongst God's People or in the Now true Miracles are distinguished from false wonders Church These I alwaies joyn together are easily distinguished from the slight Signs of Heathens and Hereticks First by their Strength or powerful virtue manifest to all unbyassed Judgements 2. By their vast Number and incomparable Greatness 3. By the Quality of the Persons that did them 4. By the End for which they were wrought All and every one of these distinctive Marks the Signal great Miracles wrought by Christ the Apostles and in the Church ever had and will have And I chiefly speak here of great Miracles 7. Call now to mind all the Wonders done or thought to be done by Heathens lay by them the Donatist's Dreams and Visions suspected saith S. Augustin of fraud even Aug. de unit Eccl. cap. 19. by the most prudent and Judicious Grant which many think false that the Novatians had some slender Miracles among them Summe up I say These and many more like Greater Miracles wrought by two Saints than by All Heathens and Hereticks them what have we but the lowest sort of wonders Imaginable for none surmount's the Power of good or Evil Spirits I dare boldly avouch that only two blessed men S. Thomas Cantilupe and S. Francis Xaverius have by Gods assistance wrought not only more but far greater Miracles than all the Heathens and Hereticks that lived since the creation of the world were all true that 's Written of them whereas God knowes more than the halfe is false 8. Look on the Condition of Persons among Heathens and Hereticks that pretend to Wonders you find them all suspected and of little Credit Infidels knew not Christ and Hereticks like shamelesse Fugitives deserted his Church If Therefore such wicked men do any thing like à Miracle it is done as S. Austin prudently Observes per Signa publicae Iustitiae Lib. 83. Quest 78. 79. that is illegally or by no Lawful but à usurped Power as wrought by them So naughty Souldiers do saith the Saint when Contrary to Military Discipline they extort from honest men what is Publickly forbidden On the other Side the Just endued with supernatural Faith work Miracles by lawful Commission which God's Divine Justice approves because as those others were out of Christ's Church so these are professed members of it See S. Petra Sancta volum 1 prologom p. 27. Austins Quotations further enlarged by Petra Sancta and Judge whether God's Servants that truly doe Miracles are not very differently qualifyed from others cast out of the house of God 9. The end of Miracles ever intended for the Good of others is chiefly to strengthen Faith and encrease Charity whence it is that S. Gregory the Great writing to S. Augustin S Greg. lib 9. Epist 58. our Apostle of England gives this prudent Admonition For as much as concern's the working of Miracles know that whatever gift you have received in this kind it is freely bestowed on you for the Good and Saluation of those souls committed For what End Miracles are wrought to your Charge To this end all our Saviours Miracles and those likewise wrought in the Church were ever and are still chiefly directed Contrarywise Those supposed Wonders done by Heathens were most for à Show only or Ostentation without benefit to soul or Body for what good could the walking of dull Images up and down or the cutting of à wherstone in two produce in any Neither can Miracles as done by Hereticks if yet ever wrought avail one Whit for the encrease of Faith or Charity for how can men that have made Shipwrack of Faith and torn Charity in pieces by Separating themselves from Christ and his Church help to perfect these Virtues in others I say as done by Hereticks for if any good ensues when so wrought That ' meerly Accidental and cannot be ascribed to the Hereticks Faith or any Merit in them 10. Now we Argue further and show by the real Effects which true Miracles have wrought John 15. v. 2. 4. their worth and visible Difference from those other dispirited dead Signs done by Heathens and Hereticks For the Readers better Satisfaction I here make use of our Saviours Powerful Argument against the Iewes whom he told If he had not done greater works among them than any other they had been without sin excusable but now having seen his Miracles and after all to hate Miracles proved by real effects him and his Father no Excuse could be made Pray Ponder seriously The Iewes had once great Miracles among them wrought by Moses and the Prophets yet our Saviour plainly Assert's he had then done greater and these words I conceive were spoken before the Miracles shown at his sacred Passion and Resurrection Is it true had he then done greater than Moses and the Prophets Far greater Therefore were they by much did they Surpasse in true weight and value all the pretended Wonders of Heathens then living or that afterwards should appear in the world This our Saviour Assert's or nothing 11. Some Iew or Infidel may reply Christ said here much of his Miracles but how prove we that he spake Truth I answer we prove this manifestly by Arguing from known Effects to the cause that is we evince the Cause Christ's Miracles I mean to be more vigorous Strong and attractive than all others by those real Admirable effects palpable to all Eyes which ensued upon their being wrought by the Son of God Cast therefore your Eyes upon the known Conversions made by Christ and his Ministers the blessed Apostles look also What these admirable effects are upon the large encrease and strange Growth of the Militant Church during the first Age of Christianity call to mind the Ruin and destruction of Idols Signal Effects of the primitive Miracles and you will find by these and the like innumerable Wonders that the Miracles then done never exhibited to be gazed on had Influence upon all Could ever yet Heathen or Heretick show you the like Miraculous Works following the Wonders they boast of 12. Hence we proceed to Miracles wrought in the Catholick Church and show also by many real Effects their Worth to be far above all the pretended Wonders done by Infidels and Hereticks Tell me did ever any of these or all together show you by Virtue of their Signs such à united Society of men in one Faith as our Church showes Did ever any fast Effects real and palpable prove the Churches Miracles pray and curb their Passions like those in this Christian Society Did ever any show the like Contempt of the world their whole life long as thousands and thousands have done amongst us No God knowes so many noble Heroick Actions fruits of Divine Grace and known Miracles Grace working inwardly Miracles more outwardly were never seen or heard of with the like
Perseverance and constancy in any other Society but in the Roman Catholick Church only Most reasonably Therefore may we apply our Saviours sacred Words to this Church and say Had She not done greater Works had She not exhibited more glorious Miracles in the Open view of the world than any other those rebellious Spirits that oppose Her would not have committed so hainous à sin but having seen the palpable VVonders wrought in Her and by her their sin is supra modum peccans enormously great and unexcusable 13. Thus much said of true Miracles I would willingly know to what purpose doth Dr Still produce the Wonders of Infidels and Hereticks against the great Works of God Manifest in our Church Can he hope by these lesser Signs to extinguish the Light of great Miracles Or will he suppose the Heathens Miracles true and ours false If so he is above measure blamable unlesse he first prove their Records Authentick and ours forged Will he say that all the Miracles pretended by Gentils Hereticks and the Church are à like false and feigned He Speaks at random without proofe and dos open wrong to Manifest Truth You will better understand what I would An Instance Shewing that no comparison can be made between the Churches Mirucles and those done by Infidels Say by this one clear Example Imagin it were certainly known to us all that it pleases Almighty God for the ending of debates about Religion to have matters decided by à visible sight of Miracles in an open Contest between two men Suppose likewise that God should say these men shall appear among you to Morrow The one à false Prophet à great Magician The other my Servant commissioned to work in my name but none before hand shall distinguish between them save only by the Strength and greatnesse of their Signs Upon these make your Judgement The one having without violence set open à prison Gate fast shut endeavours to resuscitate à man stark dead but cannot The other by à Word only spoken recal's him to life The one after he had shown an Image walking up and down Offers to cure the born blind but in vain The other presently gives him perfect sight and thus the Strife goes on in exhibiting many like Wonders Is it not think ye as easy to distinguish the Magacian from the other in this contest as is to discern between à Blazing star and à glorious Sun The very like is our Case in the Comparison made between Miracles wrought in the Church and those other done by Infidels and Hereticks when Divels have à hand in them The Iudgement of Authors Concerning Miracles wrought by Christ's Adversaries 14. The ancient Irenaeus expresly denies Iren. lib. 2. cap. 56. Hereticks the power of working true Miracles Nec enim donare possunt saith he c. They cannot give sight to the blind nor hearing to the deaf nor cure the Infirm the Lame or Paraliticks S. Augustin S. Aug de unitat Eccles speak's more plainly Aut figmenta mendacium hominum aut portenta fallacium Spirituum They are either the Fictions of lying men or monstrous things done by Fallacious Spirits And elsewhere Aut falluntur aut fallunt Hereticks Aug. Hom. 13. in Joan. either deceive by their Miracles or are deceived Thanks be to God our modern Sectaries who pretend to no Miracles herein easily quit themselves of Fraud 15. Other Authors grant à Power of working some weak kind of Miracles to wicked men to Hereticks and Heathens and chiefly ground themselves upon several passages in Holy Writ presently laid forth and explained In the mean while 16. I say first God never wrought Miracles God Cannot work à Miracle to confirme false Doctrin by Heathen or Heretick in confirmation of any Doctrin opposite to his own revealed Verities which Christ the Apostles and the Church have delivered The reason given above is clear The first Verity cannot contradict himselfe but God would Do so could he by clear Signs establish à Doctrin Contrary to his own known and received Truths if as we now suppose he speak's as well by Signs as by words Hence it also followes that in case he permit à Miracle to be done by any out of the Church as was by Balaams Asse no member I hope of the true Church that ever yeild's in worth and Greatnesse to his own glorious Miracles 17. I say 2. The Divel that brought in The Divels Power in doing wonders Limited this Confusion of Signs between false and true Miracles and would fain do something like God can work no wonder but either by dazling mans fancy or by à swift and subtle Application of natural Agents together in order to some unusual effect as is already noted All true essential Transmutations therefore All Generations of perfect living Creatures as of men horses and the like not subject to any Magick are above the Divels Power hence saith Medina cited above what some Write of men changed into Wolves is to be accounted feigned and fabulous The Divel you know is called the Prince of the Air and can as Ludovicus Vives tom 2. lib 2 de unit fidei pag. 379. Vives well observes afflict men with Infirmities speak in an Idol Assume an Airy Body and exhibit himselfe visible c. God permit's no more Good I am sure he never did to any without à Cheat at the end 18. I say 3. No Passage in Holy Writ Nothing in true Ecclesiastical History or in any approved Author ascribs the like Power of working real Miracles to faithlesse men assisted by the Divel as have been wrought by Christ the Apostles and in the Church 19. Some Argue out of Scripture and too Thessalon 2. v. 9. Apocaly p 13. v. 13. much extolling Antichrist's Signs produce the Apostles words concerning that false Prophets appearing in all Power and lying Wonders S. John point's at these Signs as bringing down fire from Heaven and seducing the Inhabitants on the earth I Answer if we speak of the great Antichrist Antichrist's wonders no true Miracles that shall appear before the end of the world his Wonders will be great but far from the worth of true Miracles whence it is we are forewarned of his lying Prodigious Signs and one Lowd Lye is That he will deny JESUS the Son of MARY to be true Christ and consequently endeavour to enervate the Truth of the whole Gospel He will come saith Holy Scripture in his own name showing himselfe as John 5. 45. if he were God yea extolled above all that is called God or that is worshipped But that man 2. Thes 2. 4. losses all reason that can be brought by à sight of foreknown lying VVonders to deny the true God JESUS CHRIST and the Gospel when he has at hand not only more but far greater Miracles registred in Scripture and evidently wrought in the Church to confront the Divels pride Vanting by Antichrist 20. In this weighty matter therefore when
Balaam and Caiphas of our Saviour was perfectly fulfilled in him rightly called the bright Morning star that illuminated the world And God most wisely would have this Truth made known by an Infidel for the Conversion of Infidels Caiphas an unjust man being saith S. John high Priest Ioan. 11. 51 of that year Prophecyed that JESUS should dye for the Nation and not only for the Nation but to gather into one the Children of God that were dispersed Two great Things were here intended the one to set forth the glorious effect of our Saviours Sacred death the other to teach us that God can preserve Truth in the Church as well by an unworthy as à worthy Prelate his special Assistance following not the merits of the Person but the Order and Office 28. If therefore Judas the Traitor who received Power of working Miracles with the other Apostles wrought any as most suppose he did though à Thiese had the purse and carried Iohn 12 6 the things given yet the Gift only followed his Dignity and proves that Dona Dei sunt sine 1 Regum 19 24 poenitentiâ God's favours once given are not easily recalled But what shall we say of Saul deserted by Almighty God when stript of his Garment he Prophecied with others before Samuël and sang naked all that day and night I Answer with S. Augustin that Gift in Saul S. Austin ad Simplic l 2. quaest 1. though above all Power in nature was not permanent or Inherent but only Transitory granted because he was among the other Prophets granted I say then once only but never afterwards 29. By these few and the very like few Instances taken from Scripture the Reader may discover à vast disparity between Miracles done by wicked men and those others far more Numerous wrought by Christ and in the Church Lay them together you will find no comparison at all so true it is that Miracles wrought by faith and faithful men ever carry with them more strength à greater VVorth and value If you ask why then doth not God alwaies make use of these Instruments to show his Power by with exclusion of Sinners from this Favour I Answer this is to teach us that Miracles derive not their worth from the weak Instruments whereby they are done but from God the Principal cause that does them Now should they alwaies and only be wrought by holy men some lesse Considerate might mistake lib. 83. quaest 79. and ascribe them to the merit or Sanctity of him that does them which is an Errour for Gratiae gratis datae are Gods free Gifts not ever imparted to the most holy and virtuous S. Augustin speaks much to this Sence Sed ideo non omnibus Sanctis ista tribuuntur ne errore decipiantur infirmi existimantes in talibus factis majora dona esse quam in operibus Iustitiae c. 30. Yet some perhaps may think the glory of Miracles much lessened if done by Infidels and wicked men I answer not one whit when as I said they are but few and not comparable either in worth or greatnes to those innumerable Miracles which have been wrought by men famous for vertue and Sanctity Suppose therefore that Vespasian the Emperour as Suetonius Writes cured the blind and lame That one Wonder is not comparable to the many blind and lame cured by blessed S. Thomas Cantilupe But Bellarmin citing Tacitus removes Bellar de notis Eccl lib 4 c 14 Si Ad quartam all scruple and saies that Physicians being Questioned whether the Infirmity in those two pretended miraculous cures was naturally curable Answered that was very feasible and Consequently not Miraculous Tertullian there also cited ' thought the Divel who had placed himselfe Tertullian's Iudgement of Vâ—spasian's two Cures in the Eye of the one and Leg of the other and so hindred their use would seem forsooth to cure them by the Emperours jugling when he left off to doe them more mischief The like flawes we shall find in other Wonders when done by the Divel alwaies mean and of à lower sort because as I said his Power is limited and can do nothing but only by à dexterous use of natural Agents applyed together and this when God permit's for Reasons best known to himselfe not otherwise Of pretended Miracles done by Hereticks we shall speak more hereafter I never yet read any worth the scratch of à pen the least Notice or Refutation Or if Miracles be supposed frequent among Hereticks how fall's it out that our Modern Sectaries work none at all 31. Others Say if wicked men by God's Miracles wrought by wicked men nothing lessen the Credibily of the Churches Doctrine permission and Power work Miracles How can we prove Christ's and the Churches Doctrin Credible by an Argument taken from Miracles I Answer very easily 1. Because all done by wicked men when God concurr's tend as I said at last to the Glory of Christ and his Church 2. Such Miracles are but few Christ's Miracles and the Churches many great and most illustrious From these we Argue and show how Powerful they have been by their admirable effects manifest in the conversion of whole Nations to Christ and his Church And hence rationally conclude with Richardus de S. Victore that à Doctrin propagated by the Lustre of so many known Signs cannot but be from God and Consequently true 32. Though therefore this Inference be Null One work 's à Miracle Ergo his Doctrin is true yet this other way of Arguing convinces I see à whole ample Society of Christians constantly priviledged Age after Age with the Grace of working innumerable great Miracles in so much that the Power granted seem's in à manner Ordinary This Inference I say hold's good The Doctrin taught by that Society is from God and sound Thus we was never yet nor will be permitted because rationally Argue for the Truth of Apostolical Doctrin and the Churches also and further evince that no Society of men since Christ's time whether Heathens Iewes Hereticks wicked or smooth Pretenders to Piety hath been in any low Degree much lesse constantly favovred with the like Grace in working Miracles as our one only Roman Church Therefore her Doctrin is from God and Orthodox Wonders done by the Divel are no Miracles 33. By what is hitherto said you may easily distinguish three sorts of Miracles Those done by the Divel as the Principal Agent ever of the meanest rank are not properly Miracles because they Surmount not some hidden virtue contained in natural causes and such by the Divels malice or his Instruments may be said to prove à false Doctrin contrary to Christ Those other which God wrought by Balaam and impious men were true Miracles and can neither be intended for à proof of false Doctrin nor perverted to à sinister End The Third sort wrought by Christ the Apostles and the Church have upon à double account an incomparable Value First they
depend on God as the sole Principal cause and secondly proceed Ex fide being ever done by Persons endued with supernatural Faith and for the most part very Holy and Vertuous 34. Here upon we briefly solve one difficulty which may occurr If false Prophets like Balaam impowred by Almighty God can Prophecy or cast out Divels why may they not also raise the dead convert nations restore sight to the One difficulty solved blind and do all the other Miracles which Christ and his Apostles wrought I Answer all this if Providence to set forth the worth of Faith and to honour the faithful in his Church will have their Miracles great glorious and many Those wrought by faithlesse and impious very few and of lesse Account Perhaps the four or five already mentioned and registred in Holy Writ are the very most or rather all that have been wrought since Christianity began and therefore prove not that the like Shall be done in future Ages 35. Having hitherto spoken of many undoubted Miracles and further declared how they differ from Antichrist's Signs and all lying wonders I might here fitly bring in Dr Still weak Objections and also insist upon his strange Answers returned to two or three great Miracles clearly set down in another Treatise But because the Gentleman most busies himselfe about these matters towards the end of his Enquiry we shall God willing meet with him there and in the mean time to make innumerable most glorious Miracles better known will condescend to his humour and follow him as he lead's us on in his other Pilgrimages to Compostella S. Maximins and so on forward till we have travelled through all the rubbish which lies between his 465 page and page 665. That done we proceed to the end of his Book I call it rubbish it deserves no better name because you neither have one Argument proposed against approved Miracles nor one Authority which is not either openly false wholly weightless or wholly impertinent If I make this out in the ensuing Discourse Dr Stillingfleet will have little cause to glory in his empty Pamphlet if I do not Let all the shame He or any can wish fall upon me Now to S. James of Compostella CHAP. V. In what manner the body of S. Iames was translated to Compostella The Conversion of Hermogenes and Philetus by S. Iames. Of Pope Calixtus his VVritings Miracles wrought by S. Iames manifestly proved against Dr Stillingfleet 1. TWo things may be controverted concerning S. James the Son of Zebedee and Brother to S. John the Evangelist The one whether he ever preached in Spain and this Cardinal Baronius seem's lesse Baronius Tom. 9. Antwerp print ad ann 816. Num. 67. to approve grounding himselfe upon à Contest in the great Council of Lateran between Rudoricus Ximenius Arch-Bishop of Toledo and the Bishop of Compostella The latter thought the Arch-Bishop of Toledo had no right to lay any command upon him by reason of the Preheminence the Church of Compostella had above all other Churches in Spain which he endeavored A Centest between two Bishops to show both because the body of S. James is preserved at Compostella and upon this Account also that the Apostle yet living preached in Spain Rudoricus opposed his preaching in Spain and urged the Bishop of Compostella Num. 69. to make that out verum Succubuit saith Baronius herein he fail'd and gave no Satisfactory proof in that great Council 2. The second thing called into doubt by Dr Still is the Translation of this great Apostles venerable Body to Compostella which happened that very year he was beheaded by Herod at Hierusalem For this you have an Epistle Num. 71. of Pope Leo the third Cited by Baronius where it is said that the dead body being thrown out to doggs and ravenous fowle was Put into à Ship carried first to Iria Flavia and thence to Compostella The manner of its Translation I have now by me which is taken out of an ancient M. S. Cited afterwards The substance wherof is as followes When the Holy Apostles according to the Command of our Blessed Saviour resolved to Preach the Sacred Gospel to an unbelieving world they made choice of S. Tesyphon ordained him Bishop and sent him with other associated Bishops to Preach in Spain then wholly Heathenish and Idolatrous These God inspired to take along with them the The martyred Body cast into à small Vessel Came safe to the Frontirs of Galicia martyred Body of S. James which they decently placed in à small Vessel and more by the guidance of Divine Providence than by the help of any Pilote safely arrived in the last Frontires of Gallicia where then à great Lady called Luparia Lived To her these wearied Passengers addressed themselves and earnestly begged to have à Plat of ground allotted where they might decently bury the Apostles Body But She saith my Relation savage and barbarous in dirision fent them to à Mountain called then Illicinus where à number of wild Oxen ran up and down Goe said the Lady and take of these as many as you can and then bury your Apostle When the Servants of God drew neer the wild beasts their fierenesse ceased and they became gentle like Lambs much after that manner as S. Ambrose in his Haexameron recount's of those beasts that were designed to devour S. Tecla 3. Upon this Sight and another wonder which S. Tesyphon wrought in destroying à Cruel Dragon that ravaged there about by making only the Sign of the Crosse the Lady Luparia or Lupa was converted to Christ and turned Her Palace into à Church Dr Still cites Joannes Dr Sill. pag. 470. Beleth à learned man and Dr of Sorbon in confirmation of this Story concerning Lupa and when he has done as his fashion is refutes it very learnedly by à simple Demand Is not this à Miracle as great and as well attested as any wrought by Christ and his Apostles Good Mr Dr. though we are far from judging either this or any other like Story to be as well attested as Miracles in Holy Writ yet by your leave we may discourse and conclude I think upon grounded Principles that all such Stories deserve not contempt Pray Sr reflect we have in Scripture that Christ our Lord commanded his Apostles to spread his Holy Gospel Mark 16. v. 20. the whole world over we have that they did so we have upon Known History that some preached in the Indies others in England others in different Parts of the Universe and made great conversions justly accounted Miraculous VVe next enquire how or by what meanes these great Missioneries got into so remote places Do Dr Still refutes the Story by Laughing at it not you think Mr Dr were all particulars known that we should discover many great favours Shown those blessed men in their Travels which might justly seem extraordinary and Miraculous Here Sr you have one strange Passage related of S. Tesyphon and his
may to verify that Maximin both be reassumed and yet still remain on earth in Mantua in S. Maximins Church with the Xantons also and some other Parts of Europe And thus the Divine Blood now shut up in our Saviours Body in Heaven And here on earth in the Blessed Sacrament may without Prejudice to Faith be thought Individually the very same yea and were this certainly known adored likewise with Latria or Divine worship I am Sure the Doctrin is held sound by the learned Gregory de Valencia and maintained by many other great Divines 22. Yet Ferrandus Cited § Addo Sudorem Valent in 3 P. Disp 1. quest 5. punct 1. Dul. 3. Lucae 22. v 44. Pondering that Passage in S. Luke And his svveat became like drops of blood trickling dovvn to the ground curiously observes that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies grumos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is concrete or little clottered Balls of Blood which condensed by the Cold of the night trickled down in that Agony And however mixt with earth were afterward gathered up by careful hands though the Dr simply tell 's us S. Magdalen had no time at our Saviours Passion to do that service to her Lord and Master Now these very Particles or precious drops may well augment that Treasure whereunto so many lay claim and prudently Judge they yet have in keeping some Quantity of our Saviours sacred Blood And truly when no meaner à man than Pope Clement the V. earnestly sollicited Henry Bishop of Claremont to have but à small Portion of our Saviours Blood sent him then in that Bishops custody This fact alone recounted by Ferrandus Showes methinks what high esteem the greatest Prelate upon earth had of that highly valuable Treasure 23. It is Strange to see what slight Stuffe followes Lib. 1. c 2. sect 3 § lacrymas in the Dr. When Ferrandus Proves out of excellent Authors that our Saviours Teares perhaps more copioufly Shed than those of the Poenitent woman Luke 7. 37. are yet preserved in France and moreover Showes out of Antiquity that Teares have been kept very long The Dr Medles not with his Proofs but wonders at the matter and thinks it à pretty competent Miracle that teares should last so long Again when he Assures us upon undeniable Authority that some Locks of our Saviours hair some parts of his swadling bands with his Seamless Coat Reliques easily kept without Corruption are yet in being and tell 's us where and in what places The Dr still wondring Answers no Authority Lib. 1. c. 2. sew unica But jeers at all Lastly when he makes it clearly out that à considerable quantity of the Blessed Virgins milk naturally more liable to corruption than hair or cloths continues yet preserved with great Reverence in Judea Italy Spain and France the Dr got into à Jocular humour laughs at the Author but finding his Reasons and Arguments too hard very wisely as his fashion is waves them in à word replyes to none 24. Here is one attested by as grave Authors as ever wrote and well wroth the Readers knowledge In the time of Baldwin King of Hierusalem à meer handful of Christians Three thousand in number and no more totally routed and overthrew fourty thousand Saracens If you Ask how the Victors came armed Baronius Robertus à Monte Marianus Siculus Baron to 12. ad ann 1124. A monte Append ad cron Sigl anno eodem Mari. Sicu lib. 5. Rerum Hisp and other Writers Answer The Patriarch carried our Saviours Ensign or the Banner of the Holy Crosse an other great Prelate à Lance And lastly the then Bishop of Bethlem marched on bearing before him some Quantity of the Virgins Milk enclosed in à little Pyx of Gold To these armed with sacred Reliques God gave that known and most signal Victory Joannes Mariana à man of great repute for Learning and Judgement recount's how nobly Lewis Joan. Mariana lib. 13 De reb Hisp cap 8 the most Christian King of France enriched the Cathedral Church at Toledo with most precious Reliques to this day carefully preserved in the Holy Sanctuary of that Church together with the Kings own Authentick letter The Substance whereof set down by Mariana is as followes 25. Lewis by the grace of God King of the King Lewis his letter to the Canons of Toledo French sends Greeting to his beloved the Canons and the whole Clergy of the Church of Toledo We desirous to gratify you with à Present of great Value moved thereunto by the earnest Petition of John our Venerable Archbishop of Toledo have taken out of our own Sanctuary choise and selected Reliques which were sent us from Constantinople and freely bequeath them to you Viz. Some of the wood of our Saviours Sacred Cross with one of the Thorns which crowned his blessed head some Quantity also of the Milk of the ever blessed Virgin Mary parts likewise of the purple Garment wherewith our Saviour was clothed as also of that Linnen which he girded about him at the washing of the Apostles feet and some of the Sindon wherein his Sacred Body when it lay in the Holy Sepulcre was wrapped We Therefore ask and require in our Lord JESUS that you receive and conserve these Holy Relicks with all due respect and Reverence in your Church That you be often mindful of me in your dayly Sacrifices and devour Prayers Given at Estamps Anno 1248. May the 8 th Thus that pious and most Christian King whose high esteem of Holy Reliques and amongst the rest of the Virgins Milk yet preserved sufficiently methinks Check's the Dr ' s boldnes when he rashly tell 's us without any semblance of Proof Dr Still page 484. There can be no sussicient credibility in the Testimony given to the Reliques of the Roman Church There are Dr already most credible Testimonies produced Ergo they can be given And are so perswasive to our Intent that no Foolhardy Spirit of incredulity amongst you whereby you would fain obliterate all memory of our Saviour besides à little bare talking of him shall ever abate or Discredit while humane Faith is in the world 26. The Dr in the next place return's once more to the Vial at S. Maximins and hopes with Page 485. another throw to break it in pieces This Vial saith he is supposed to be of S. Mary Magdalen's own bringing into France and its worth the vvhile to knovv hovv it came thither Answ It is well worth the while when to purpose to write whole Volumes as have been Written upon this subject Sure all are not to the purpose for I find no little Confufion among Authors though no one I ever yet read Opposes what I formerly asserted and still defend as à Truth Viz. That at S. Maximins in France there is à Miraculous Vial called by the name of S. Mary Magdalen's which Liquifyes and boyls up every year seen by thousands and owned
there cited Nec quidquam opsonii intra admisit He eate no meat which is not to Say he eate nothing for he might well feed upon bread Fruit and such like things Now if as some Criticks note Opsonium properly signifies Piscis assus broyled Fish there needed no Miracle to refrain from that à whole hundred years For as much as concern's the long lives of many not only mentioned in Scripture but in known History also see Colganus his large Notes where Colgan in vita S. Kieran 5. Mart. page 466. num 42. you have his Authors Quoted and here he meets with à Dr who repeats much of what he Writes and thinks to refute all by à simple Narration or barely telling us He writes so and so VVas there ever such à way of impugning Authors found out before this new Invention of Mr Dr Yet thus he hold's on Page after Page now he makes sport with the raising of à dead Robin-redbreast to life now with S. Juo's boots Now he brings in à Story of à Bull giving Still page 527. as much milk as any Cow And which I casually omitted Ask's whether any thing was ever done by Christ and his Apostles like the turning of Butter into à Bell as S. Oudoceus Capgrave in vita S. Oudocei page 258. Bishop is said to have done VVitness Capgrave Yes Mr Dr both you and I have heard of as great Changes Viz. Of Lot's wife turned into à Pillar of Salt and water changed into wine In case these Examples satisfy not you shall have more Authentically recorded 6. Here methinks being quite wearied in following the Dr thus far it is high time to An Atheist may reject the Miracle in Scripture upon the Dr's Principles leave the remainder of his Collections to the Judgement of every prudent Reader with this true Observation upon them that if Jeers and Derisions can do it the Dr has behaved himselfe manfully and taught every Atheist by his Procedure to slight all the Miracles God hath done upon this principle Miracles seem wonderful to his short Knowledge ergo ought to be vilifyed If he has any better Argument blame me boldly Hence proceeds his frequent and no lesse impertinent Interrogatories where speaking of S. Mochteus long Abstinence he Ask's whether it be not à pretty reasonable Fast for à man Mentioning some that speak in their Mothers wombe he would know whether the Baptist Leaping in his Mothers belly was comparable to this And in recounting other Miracles he wisely Demand ' s are not these now pregnant Instances how such Saints exceeded Christ and his Apostles And this Question comes over and over Did Christ and his Apostles any thing like to these Miracles Pitiful Impertinent neither he John 20 30. John 21. 25. nor I know what Signs and Miracles Christ wrought Witnesse S. John Nay more were the many other things saith the Apostle Christ did Written in particular the whole world would not contain the Books that might be Written notwithstanding the Dr remit's us to what Christ and his Apostles did 7. For an upshot of this whole matter the Still p. 565 Dr leaves the Reader to Judge whether the Testimony on which these Miracles have been received ought to be compared in point of Credibility with that Testimony on which the Christian Church hath believed the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles I Answer the Dr cheats the Reader For the true Christian Church believes the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles upon Divine Testimony by How the Dr cheat's his Reader à certain act of Faith These other Miracles mentioned by Colganus and Capgrave rely at most upon humane Authority And If they force from us à probable Assent wherein there is à great Latitude That 's all and aboundantly enough because I am apt to think that when Cronology and other main Circumstances come to the Test chiefly about the long Lives of some Saints and other strange Wonders much may occurr to à diligent Searcher not too well grounded But to Decry all as the Dr doth whilst he Examins none is foul play and above measure blamable For it seem's morally Impossible that after so great pains taken by Authors who carefully remit you to Their Manuscripts and other Testimonies all should prove Forgeries though some Perhaps may be doubtful or in à mean Degree propable If evinced False we utterly reject them 8. The Dr in the Close of his Discourse to gain credit for his pains Tell 's us he has not raked the Kennels of Iacobus de Voragine of Cantipratanus and such like Writers of no Account it seems with him But made choise of latter Authors praysed and highly approved by learned men Capgrave saith he was esteemed one of such excellent parts that he had scarce any equal none Superiour to him in England in his time Colganus his first Tome containing the Acts of the Irish Saints was published with great Approbations from the General of his Order the Professors at Lovain from the Ordinary Censor Librorum and four Jesuits having besides the commendatory Epistles of Vernulaus and Erycius Puteanus Now saith he the Jesuits collections at Antwerp begun by Bollandus and continued by Henschenius and Papebrochius were Published with as much Ostentation of care and Judgement as any thing can be set forth in that kind Thus the Dr. 9. Reader I would willingly know what harme is done to these Authors by Mr Dr wherein I beseech you has he lessened rheir credit Has he clearly shown the Original copies from whence they took Miracles Forged Has he disparaged in the least Degree the Authenticalness The Dr disparages none of these Records but is apt to think something may be à misse in them of those Records Has he upon any good Authority proved so much as one of these Miracles false or improbable No he never fall's upon this solid way of reasoning What then dos he I told you he barely relates what Authors write and there forces in à Jest or an impertinent Question leaving every matter of Fact unexamined just as it was before If true then it is true still if doubtful t' is yet doubtsul if probable still probable Here is all you have from our Doughty Dr who confesses his own lost labour plainly enough So that what ever judgement saith Still page 567. he be passed upon the Miracles they cannot deny the Books I have made use of to be of greatest Authority of any extant in this kind and yet after all I am apt to think they will meet with à great deal of Infidelity from all that have not captivated their understanding to the Obedience of the Roman Faith I am apt to think Mr Dr What à faint Expression is this Who holds himselfe obliged to captivate his understanding to your Thoughts Had you truly told us that these Miracles upon due Examination have been proved false or improbable had you shown their Original Records unauthentick you
favour and Therefore it was meet in those dayes when Paganism recovered Strength to vindicate the Innocency of Martyrs Mr Dr Ex ore tuo te judico The whole cause shall be decided by your own words Were the Martyrs then Innocent Holy and Vertuous None doubt's it That Innocency and Vertue therefore supposed them endued with the true Faith of our Christian Verities And is it not most evident that they lived and dyed in that true Faith which they openly professed before the People and the worst of Tyrants No envious heart can Deny this Say then and you touch the Miracles wrought by Martyrs as well witnesse their faith as Innocency point in Question whether the Miracles wrought by them when persecuted might not as well to use your word be Signs whereby they testifyed to the world that their Faith vvas true as that they were Innocent and vertuous Why therefore do you Sr without any reason or Authority nay contrary to clear Evidence mince matters so as to make their Martyrdoms Attestations of their Innocency only and not of their Faith as if Forsooth either Like the silenced Divels mentioned they could not Speak or would not open their mouths to Professe Christ's Doctrin for which they dyed and God impowred them to make Publick Pretended Objections taken out of S. Chrysostom Answered Dr Still grosly abuses Iohn Gerson Chancellour of Paris 9. It is now high time to examin our Doctors S. Chrys in 1. Epist ap cor Homil. 6. Epit. Graecè Latine Heruch Aurel. Interp. Henr. Savil. Graece Edit Pariens Basiciensi Latine Quotations found as he thinks in S. Chrysostom against Church Miracles And first we are remitted to the Saints Commentary or exposition set forth in three or four Editions upon S. Pauls Epistles Reader I have exactly Perused every Edition and can never sufficiently wonder how it came to passe that the Dr Saw not his own fraud or had the face to produce S. Chrysostom against S. Chrysostom when it 's evident he owned as you have heard undeniable Miracles done in his Dayes and in all precedent Generations 10. I say first It is far more certain that true Miracles have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church than that S. Chrysostom wrote this very Homily the Dr quotes For all Universally the Fathers Greek and Latin yea S. Chrysostom himselfe all Christians Generally even Hereticks and Turks likewise ever owned latter Miracles as most unquestionable but there is no such Assurance had of S. Chrysostom's penning this Homily And far lesse certainty that the Dr hit's upon it's true meaning wherein S Chrysostom in the Homily cited one Word against latter Miracles if there be à mistake the Dr ' s labour is lost I say 2. S. Chrysostom in this whole Homily has not one word contrary to the common Sentiment of Catholicks who positively Assert true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church over and above those done by Christ and his Apostles 11. To prove my Assertion Know Reader that S. Chrysostom's chief Aime in this Homily is to Show the wonderful work of God in converting the world by Twelve Poor unlearned Fishermen which yet his Alseing Providence effected as the Saint Demonstrat's in the precedent Chapter when God made choise of the weak and most abject so the Apostle speak's to evacuate and destroy the Pride and wisdom of 1. Cor. 1. 19 the world to the End no Flesh might glory in his sight Hence it is that the Apostles were honoured with two great Priviledges the one saith S. Chrystom was to receive by Divine Inspiration The Apostles honoured with two special Priviledges what ever they taught We now living not so priviledged want that particular Prerogative and deliver Christ's Doctrin set down in Scripture which we received from those first great Lights of the Church The 2. Grace granted the Apostles was to work Miracles as the Gospel expresses Having called the twelve Disciples Matth. 10. v. 10. together he gave them Power over unclean Spirits to cast out Divels to cure all manner of diseases and all manner of Infirmities Observe well the Priviledge conferred upon all and every one That is as They had ample Power to preach the whole world over without restraint to write Canonical Scripture to constitute lawes for Christians so likewise they had Power to cure all manner of diseases and all manner of Infirmities Now this Se Prot. Apol Tract 2 c 3 sect 7. subd 2. p. with me 530. n. 2. Power as Authors observe being made an ordinary Gift to the Tvvelve or then annexed to that set number of Blessed men only was never granted to any other like multitude since Christ's time For as Brerely cited notes well the Gift of working Miracles after the Apostles Dayes vvas never ordinary or common to the Churches Pastors But peculiar to certain Persons and at certain times according to the special Dispensation of Gods Pleasure sometimes granted often denyed Thus much premised 12. Read S. Chrysostom and begin with that Question 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For vvhat cause is it That the Apostles Signs are now forbidden The Saint expresly speak's of the Apostolical wonders not à word there of any like Power given to particular Persons in the Church Doth thou ask this Question saith the Saint not yet believing those Apostolical Wonders or as One desirous to learn the true Cause If as an Unbeliever Tell me how those blessed men neither rich nor Eloquent nor noble but contemptible in the Eyes of the world gained so many to the Christian Faith contrary to their natural Inclination when pampered up in all Delights and Pleasures Hovv did they accomplish this admirable work Speak plainly By doing Miracles or not If by Miracles I have my intent if not This is the greatest Miracle of all other that they persvvaded to Christ's Doctrin vvithout any Miracles He goes on That therefore such Apostolical Miracles for upon these his whole context fall's are not done novv is no Argument that they vvere not then done for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then it vvas expedient and profitable they should be done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now not expedient useful or profitable Why then Expedient and profitable He Answers because God then manifested both Power and wisdom in reclaiming whole Nations from Infidelity by Choosing out twelve poor unlearned Fishermen to doe an admirable work in converting the â—e the Apostle cited world and humbling the pride and greatnesse of it No wonder Therefore if those blessed men had Priviledges above all other Teachers Why the Apostles special Priviledge in working Miracles wâ— once useful and now not But why not now either Expedient or useful S. Chrysostom Answers Because were such evident Signs annexed to Twelve men now and publickly shown the merit of Faith would be much abated for the more manifest à Miracle is Faith though still Faith loses something of its reward witnesse our
Saviours own words Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed All this is to say in plainer Terms answerable to S. Chrysostom's true meaning Had God now after those first Apostical Signs and all other conspicuous Miracles wrought in the Church sent Twelve rude unlearned men to Preach the whole world over had he made them Ordinary Thaumaturgi or impowered them to work Miracles publickly in all Nations and to cure all manner of Infirmities as the Apostles did Had he I say done this after so great precedent Evidence manifested both Anciently and in latter Ages the minds of men overwhelmed as it were with too much Light would have lost much of the reward due to an humble and obsequious Providence has ordered that à mean be held in the Motives to Faith Faith which ever implies à Captivation of the understanding So Providence hath ordered that à Mean be held in the Motives inducing to believe not too Luminous on the one side For that would entrench upon the obscurity of Faith yet on the other side most prudently Perswasive for the gaining our Submission to what ever God hath revealed 13. Thus much I boldly averr is S. Chrysostom's chiefest Aime in this Homily if the Dr reject's the Doctrin let him once please to give weight for weight and reduce his Assertion to as sound Principles as mine opposite to his stand's upon I show first that Chrysostom own 's Miracles wrought in the Church above the force of nature not only here but in à hundred other places One only Passage because it bear's the Look of à Popish Miracle you shall have taken out of his own undoubted Writings where the Saint largely laies forth the Dignity of Priesthood When saith he the Priest invok's the Holy Ghost and Offer's that dreadful Sacrifice full of S. Chrys de Sacerdo lib. 6. c. 4. horrour and Reverence and dayly hold's the Lord of all in his hands my Demand is in vvhat Order or Dignity shall vve place him vvhat Purity and integrity of life shall vve require of him Much more followes to this purpose Then he add's At that time of the Sacrifice the vvhole Order of Celestial Spirits are present vvith the Priest in honour of him vvho lies Sacrificed upon the Altar Yet more I have heard saith S. Chrysostom à Venerable old man to vvhom God revealed many high Mysteries faithfully recounting à Vision he once had in time of Masse He saw on à sudden whole Multitudes of Angels in most resplendent Garments round about the Altar where the Priest Sacrificed bowing down their heads as Souldiers Two Popish Miracles related by S. Chrysostom are wont to do when the King is present And this saith the Saint I easily believe Another man also of most vvorthy credit told me they are S. Chrysostoms words what he had seen and heard and t' was that those who depart this life if they have worthily and with à pure Conscience received the Divine Mysteries being ready to dye are accompanied straight to Heaven by Angels that like troups of Souldiers attended their Bodies lying sick in bed 14. What saies the Dr are not these clear Miracles above all natural force done to the Honour of our Sacrificed Sauiour upon our Catholick Alters And much like such Miracles as we read of in other approved Authors However if you believe Mr Doctor S. Chrisostom denyed all Miraculous Signs which is to say the Saint Contradict's himselfe for as we have evidently Shown he hold's and defends true real Miracles through out his Writings Therefore it is most improbable that he Denies them in this place 15. The second Reason of my Assertion relies upon S. Chrysostom's own Discourse prosecuted in the Homily cited If Saith he you now seek for Signs and Miracles you have innumerable Predictions of admirable thingt done in our Age. You see the Conversions of Nations The saint proves other great Miracles foretold plainly set before your Eyes You see our Saviours Prophesy of being ever with the Church to the End of the world hitherto verifyed You se that Hell gates maugre all attempts were never yet able to Prevaile against the Church built on à firm Rock which had never been had not Christ stood with it and Powerfully opposed all Enemies Finally the Saint exhort's all to Piety and à Virtuous life O were our Duty herein faithfully complyed with we might saith he Convert the world without Miracles But who amongst us now retires to the Desart Who goes on Pilgrimage Who of our Doctors takes pains to supply the want of the poor and needy Thus S. Chrysostom 16. The last Ground of my Assertion is the main Drift of the Saints whole Discourse To assert that the Apostles singular prerogative ceased proves not à Cessation of all Miracles in the Church who never through this Homily utter's one word against Church Miracles but only Showes how and in what manner the Twelve Apostles were singularly Priviledged with two particular Prerogatives the one as I noted to teach by Divine Inspiration The other to have the Ordinary Povver of working Miracles in curing all manner of Infirmities c. And this Power we may truly Say never since granted to any set number of Persons in the Church ceases or is taken away But can any one hence inferr that because that Ordinary Gift ended with the Twelve Therefore none in the Church by Special Dispensation work 's Miracles now The Inference is lame and just like this The blessed Apostles as S. Chrysostom observes singularly Priviledged taught Truths by Divine Inspiration and by that Grace faithfully delivered our Christian Verities The Pastors and Doctors of the Church in after Ages taught not Priviledged with the like Apostolical Inspiration Ergo none of them ever since delivred one Christian Verity For Though we grant them Divine Assistance in their teaching yet because that fall's short of the Apostles Inspiration they never taught Truth I say if this way of Arguing bee most weightlesse The other is no better Viz. The Apostles singularly priviledge were made Ordinary Thaumaturgi as is already declared but many great Servants of God though not endued with that Apostolical grace yet Now and Then as it pleases Providence to Dispense his favours raise the dead restore sight to the blind c. However such Wonders must not forsooth be called Miracles because They are not Ordinary to any Person in the Church The The question proposed is whether Miracles have been wrought not how or in what manner Question therefore is whether such Miraculous works have been done in after Ages and not how and in what manner they were Wrought whether by ordinary or extraordinary favour wherein as S. Chrysostom well observes lies the Difference between the Apostolical Signs and latter Miracles Note well this Difference all along and you will find the Dr's Arguments weak and far from the Purpose 17. The Dr ' s next Quotation taken out of Chrys in 1.
the End they may be publickly read before the People Now S. Austin relates these Miracles to the End they might be publickly known Reader observe well S. Austins ensuing words Id namque fieri volumus for it was my express will that they should be publickly read mark his reason Cum videremus c. Because when we saw the Signs and Miracles wrought frequently in our time just like those which God anciently manifested to the vvorld He means when the Apostles Preached I endeavorred that the Memory of them should not Perish Here S. Austin plainly Assert's Miracles to have been wrought in his Dayes in true worth Answerable to the Apostles Signs For if the raysing of Eutichus from death effected by S. Paul justly deserved the name of à true real Miracle I see no reason why the Resuscitation of three or four Persons wrought at S. Stephens Relicks may not also be called works truly Miraculous I wish the Dr would give any Disparity if we precisely attend to the wonders in Themselves and moreover desire he would not so slightly One grand Miracle highly esteemed by S. Austin passe over as he doth that Grand Miracle whereof S. Austin makes an high Account at those words Vnum est One Miracle more vvrought among us vvas so clear and illustrious Saith S. Austin that there is none at Hippo who have not either seen or heard of it It cannot be forgotten The Substance is thus 28. There were seven Brothers and three Daughters born in Capadocia of honest Parents who cursed by their Mother then à widow for some great wrong She Conceived done her by these Children It pleased God after the Mothers curse to add his severe Punishment also A horrible fearful shaking Seized on all the members of their Bodies whereby their Eyes and countenance appeared so gastly that none could endure their deformed Looks In this sad Condition they wandred from â—o place place and at last two of them à Brother called Paulus and his Sister by name Paladia came to us à little before Easter and dayly frequented the Church where the Memory of the glorious Martyr S Stephen is celebrated humbly praying that God would take off that Punishment and restore their former health Young Paulus entring the Church on Easter Sunday when many People were present praying at the Lattices of the Holy Place on à suddain fell flat down and lay there without Trembling like one fast à sleep Some would have lifted his Body up others desirous to see the Event said No. Soon after he stood up of himselfe free from Trembling because saith S. Austin he was perfectly cured The joy Paulus and his sister Paladia Miraculously cured the Clamours the Gratulations the Thanks given to God upon the Miracle resounded the whole Church over no man held his peace all praised God and I saith S. Austin giving thanks also rejoyced with them This done the recovered Patient came to me fell on his Knees and then all again cryed out with à lowder voice These Clamours ceasing the Divine Scripture was read and I spake upon one Passage à few words not many for I thought it best in so Publick à Joy that all should rather consider the Wonder God had wrought than hear me speak Paulus dined with me that day and related the whole Story of his own and his Brothers Calamity Much after the same manner his Sister Palladia within à few dayes falling down at the Cancels by Gods great mercy recovered perfect health 29. See more of these Miracles in S. Austin the few here mentioned I purposely set down to unbeguile the ignorant whom our Dr plainly cheat's when he produces this learned Father as one that Opposes latter Miracles or at least such as the Apostles did I appeal to the Judgement of all learned men and Ask whether the restoring sight to the blind raising the dead and curing incurable Infirmities may not be parralleld with the Apostolical Miracles I Ask again whether S. Austin after so ample á Relation of God's wonders done in his dayes filthily forged Stories told lyes to deceive the world or contrarywise Spake Truths well known to himselfe and innumerable others then living It is horrid to Judge nor dare any man in his Wits avouch it That all the Miracles recounted in this one eighth Chapter are lowd lyes or forged Tales what then can be said but that they Must â—â— be owned Truths sincerely set down upon as great humane Authority as may seem Satisfactory to the most prudent and Judicious Yeild this and the Dr must admit Miracles of the first Magnitude to have been done in the Church distinct from those the Apostles wrought 30. To producc other Testimonies out of S Austin de utilit cred c. 17. contra Epist fund cap. 4. S. Austin most home and pregnant for Miracles would be too large à Task These few quoted in the Margent which stedfastly held that great Doctor in the Catholick Church afford light enough Viz. The fulfilling of Prophesies the laborious Travels of the Apostles the Reproaches and blessed death of Martyrs and besides great Vniversal and puissant Signs glorious Miracles Pro opportunitate temporum when it best pleased God to work them And shall we then fear saith S. Austin to hide our selves in the Lap or Bosom of this Church after so special Divine Assistance shown us and great Fruit done by it Shall we doubt to do so when we se the Church raised to the height of Authority while all Generally acknowledge it descended to us by Miracles held S. Austin in the Catholick Church à continued Succession of Bishops from the See Apostolick Hereticks who in vain snarle at this Oracle are condemned by the common Iudgement of men by the wisdom of Councils as also by its glorious Miracles I say add's the Saint not to give supream Authority to this Church is in Good earnest Notorious impiety à headlong Pride and Arrogancy Judge Reader and I wonder Dr Still trembled not when he reads these words whether S. Austin owned not Miracles vvrought in the Church as à main Motive to believe in it Twice over he recurr's to Miracles as his Proof in the Passage now cited and repeats the same in his Book against the Epistle which Manichaeus called his Foundation Yet forsooth our Dr would perswade us that S. Austin opposed all signal and remarkable Miracles Those only excepted which Christ and his Apostles manifested to the world Most untrue Doctrine We now proceed to the Dr ' s ill Account given of S. Austins Opinion in this matter CHAP. X. Of Dr Stillingfleet's shuffling and unworthy dealing with S. Augustine Not one Testimony produced by the Dr makes so much as probably against great Miracles wrought in the Church The like Account we give of other Authors falsifyed by the Dr. 1. TO proceed clearly I say first No No Catholick Author denyed great Miracles wrought in the Church Catholick Author ever yet
denyed great and most Signal Miracles to have been wrought in the Orthodox Church of Christ None of them ever hitherto brought in S Austin as Opposite to our Catholick Miracles Many it's true assert That false wonders have by abuse often passed for true ones which all willingly acknowledge and Say the Church upon their Discovery hath severely punished those who gave the scandal and upon this unsteady Topick the Dr unworthily ground 's the most of his whole Discourse as will appear afterwards Now to S. Austins Testimonies 2. The Dr quotes his Book of true Religion S. Austin de vera Religion c. 25. where it is Said that the working of Miracles since the Church is novv established and diffused over the world becomes Vnnecessary yet God thinks Mr Dr might do them out of extraordinary kindness to his Church in à time when many Pagans vvere yet unreclaimed Reader here Dr Still page 581. is not all for S Austin in his Book of Retractations and the Dr saw it well enough declared his own meaning thus When saith he I S Aust lib. 1. Retract cap. 1 3. taught in my Book of true Religion That after the Churches Establishment Miracles vvere not necessary that 's very true because novv vvhen hands are laid upon the Baptized They receive not so the Holy Ghost Observe what Miracles S. Austin speak's of as to speak vvith the Tongues of all Nations neither are the Infirm now healed by the shadows of Christ's Preachers that passe by them These and the like Wonders cease But vvhat I said then mark the words is not to be taken as if no Miracles vvere novv vvrought in the name of Christ for I had assurance of à blinde man cured at Millan and of many other great Miracles done in These times that I neither knovv them all nor can enumerate those I knovv Thus S. Austin Say Reader doth not the Dr egregiously juggle in raising à Difficulty out of S. Austin which the Saint had solved long since and plainly laid before all mens Eyes 3. The next Quotation in S. Austins Book S. Austin de utilit credendi c. 16. of the Vsefulness of believing is nothing at all to the Dr ' s purpose There we are Told what great Miracles were frequently done by God made man while he lived on earth then S. Austin Demands Why they are not done now He Answers because they would not move unless they were wonderful for Saith he were they Things common or usually Shown they would not seem wonderful and he explain's his meaning by an excellent Instance vvaved by Mr Dr. Should one saith the Saint who never yet saw the Vicissitude of day and night the constant motion of the Celestial Orbes the four various Seasons of the year the mighty efficacy which lies in seed the Beauty of light of Colours c. Should such à man I say first behold these wonders He would be overwhelmed with à Sight of admirable Miracles Yet We. not because we knovv the Causes of these things for nothing is more obscure But because they are common and dayly seen make little or no Account of them And so it would Were Miracles vulgar and common they whould not move happen were the Miracles wrought by our Saviour continually shown or often laid before our Eyes S. Austins whole Drift therefore is to Demonstrate that if Christ's Miracles were so common or continually wrought amongst us like the incessant Motion of the Heavens or those other wonders already mentioned They would to use the Saints words grovv contemptible Yet hence contrary to all Logick and rational Discourse the Dr would inferr that Miracles are never wrought though God often vouchsafes Pro opportunitate temporum That 's also S. Austin's expression to do them by his Servants here on earth That is not so frequently by any one man or in any such manner as our Saviour did in the first Promulgation of the Gospel 4. Here the Dr to his own confusion remit's S. Austin lib 4. Retract c. 14. us again to S. Austin When saith the Saint I mentioned in another place the Miracles our Lord JESUS vvrought in his mortal flesh I asked vvhy the like are not done novv And ansvvered They vvould not move unless they vvere vvonderful and this I said because neither so great Miracles nor all the Miracles vvrought by Christ are novv done among us Non quia nulla fiunt etiam modo And not because God vvorks no Miracles among us novv in this present Age. These last words which prove that Miracles cease not in the Church our Dr vvisely conceal's and adds to S. Austins Text another Expression not extant there Viz. As vvere vvrought by Christ and his Apostles whereas the Saint in this Passage speaks only of our Saviours Miracles without mention made of the Apostles However after this double fraud you must hear the Dr triumph And can saith he any Sayings be more contradictory than this of S. Austin's and E. W. s asserting That as many and as great Miracles yea greater are wrought since as were in their Dayes Mr Dr deal plainly read in lieu of your words As are done in their dayes as were wrought by Christ and your supposed contradiction vanishes into smoak For do not I expresly Part. 2. c. 1. â—um 3. say in the last Treatise That Christ our Lord proved himselfe the greatest Thaumaturgus the world ever beheld and far surpassed all Angels and men Patriarks Prophets or Apostles in working Miracles all nature over which none ever did before or shall do hereafter None but Christ commanded à new Star to shine at their birth No man like our Saviour darkened the lights of Heaven split the rocks rent the vail of the Temple moved the earth or rose again to Life like Christ our Lord. Therefore Ghâ—ist our Lord for above all men and Angels in working Miracles S. Austin saies well and I also assert it that neither so admirable nor all the Miracles wrought by Christ are now done amongst us Notwithstanding to verify that certain Prediction of greater wonders I said more blinde have seen more dead have risen to Life again more poor have received the Gospel in the later Ages of the Church than before while our Saviour was upon earth and this is undeniable unlesse S. Austin's Authority and all humane Faith be banished the world Hence I often Paralled Miracles wrought in the Church with those done by the Apostles ever giving Preheminence to our Saviours glorious Wonders and withal yeilded as you may see above à singular Prerogative granted the Apostles in working Miracles by Ordinary Commission which none known to me in the Church ever had since or if any had it the favour was singular and not common 5. The Dr goes on It s true indeed S. Austin saith there were some Miracles still left in the Church and he produces several Instances else where but in the same place he Denies the
avail to corroborate the Faith of Believers now The Churches Approbation impaires not in the least the Doctrin of the Church where they are wrought But of this more afterwards You will Say again if Miracles wrought in the Church make her Doctrin credible S. Austin did not well in omitting to plead by Miracles I answered the Saint proceeded most wisely in taking his recourse to Scripture For had he insisted upon Miracles not owned by those Hereticks The whole Contest would have been whether such as Optatus and S. Ambrose attested had been true or no which would have caused an endless Dispute and Therefore he falls upon an undoubted Principle The Testimonies of the Law and Prophets owned by the Donatists and upon that Ground strongly refutes them leaving Miracles to their own weight and Efficacy The Dr having very lamely cited this passage out of S. Augustine vainly Triumph's and thinks that never two more plainly contradicted each other in this Point than S. Austin and E. W. who saith he appeal's to Miracles for à Proof of the Catholick and infallible Church and such as are equal to those of Christ and his Apostles Of this Equality I have treated already and told Mr Dr wherein Church Miracles The Dr's vain brag as raising the dead curing the blind and healing the infirm are equal and how they differ from the like wonders done by Christ and his Apostles As for your Triumph Mr Dr before the least Shadow of Victory all I say is if it comfort your heart hold on Till you have better perused S. Austin and these my short Notes upon his Doctrin That done you will I am sure have little heart to brag the second time 10. The following Quotations our Dr gathers out of S. Austin are either not found at all in the Passages he cites or so wholly impertinent that I verily believe he never read S. Austin or set them down at random to the great vexation of à Reader For who would not be vexed to se an Author magnificently cited in different Characters and when he turn's to the Dr Still page 582. place pointed at find's nothing like it Thus the Dr Quotes S. Augustine to this purpose Viz. That Miracles are no Proof of the true Church for S Aug. trac 14. in Joan. cap. 3. though Pontius and Donatus might do vvonders and see visions yet Christ has forevvarned us not to be deceived by Miracles First there are no such words in this place or any thing like that Sence 2. Were the sence found els where you have thus much only Asserted and it is very true False Miracles are no Proof of the true Church 11. The Dr ' s next Quotation is nothing De verbis Dom. serm 18. to his purpose Briefly S. Augustine in that place compares the Miraculous cures wrought by our Saviour on Souls now with those which he anciently did upon Bodies here on earth and calls these the lesser cures grounding his Discourse upon this Principle As the Soul is more excellent than the Body so à cure wrought in that nobler part of man is greater than Miracles done upon à Body which our Lord did to draw men to Faith Now saith the Saint when Faith is spread all the world over He work 's those greater wonders in Souls And for Spiritual Cures esteemed greater than Corporal that cause shewed those lesser done on Bodies Now he open's not the Eyes of the blind yet open's the blind hearts of men by the Preaching of his Doctrin Novv he raises not dead Bodies yet brings à foul that vvas dead to life again Novv the deaf hear not yet the hearts of many shut to his sacred vvord are so opened that they Believe and live in obedience to his Lavves before neglective of that duty Thus S. Austin whose main Drift is not to deny Miraculous cures wrought upon the infirm for these he evidently own 's above but to give Preheminence to our Saviours own proper Spiritual cures dayly wrought in the Church of God by Divine Grace and the preaching of his word which the Saint deservedly esteem's greater wonders 12. To the End you may see this was the S Aug. l. 22 de Civit. c. 8. only thing S. Augustine aimed at Turn once more to his eight Chapter where you read of the dead raised to life of the blind restored to their sight and of desperate diseases perfectly cured You read moreover of one Martialis à Prime grave man most averse from Christian Religion Martialis cured in soul and body who by the earnest prayers of his Pious Sonin-Law made at S. Stephen's Altar from whence He took some Flowers and in the night time laid at his Fathers head With the successe he wished The very next morning He was found à Paenitent Convertite called for à Priest and was reconciled having ever afterwards S. Stephen's words in his mouth to his last breath Lord JESUS receive my soul Thus you see that both corporal and spiritual cures were wrought in those Dayes 13. The last Testimony our Dr Quotes out Quaest ex novo Testam c. 63. of S. Augustine may passe for one of the most famous or infamous rather That ever man cited You have the place pointed at in the margent where the Saint is supposed to Assert and he speaks fully to this Purpose saith the Dr that Signs and Miracles vvere vvrought by the Apostles to bring men from Insidelity to Faith c. No harme hitherto then followes this Addition for the Dr's purpose Amongst Believers Signs and Miracles are not necessary but a firm hope If this Author speak of an absolute Necessity it might be answered All latter Miracles are not so necessary though God of his great mercy hath pleased to show them for other Reasons and à main one is to distinguish the true Church from all Heretical Conventicles Yet I have not said all Know Reader 1 These Questions out of the old and nevv Testament full of grosse Errours are not S. Augustin's but the work of some Heretick as Bellarmin observes Perhaps of one Hilary à Roman Bellar. de Script Eccl. verbo Aug. Bell. verbo Ambrosins Deacon who wrote many Books and propagated the Luciferian Schism See Bellarmin cited Hence it is that these Questions in the Lovain Edition of S. Austin printed in à different Character are there also taxed of many grosse Errours the like you may se in Frobens The Dr's quotation not found at all Edition Yet here is not all Worse followes And t' is my greatest Exception against the Dr. Reader I have perused that 63. Chapter as the Dr Entitles it others call it the 63. Question which is very short and do assure you there is not so much as one word or syllable like that which the Dr imposes upon this Author Is this fair Dealing think ye 14. From these Testimonies of S. Augustin Dr Still page 584. saith our Dr laid together we observe
assert the latter to be as they are manifest Truths 8. To lay yet more open the Dr's fraud I Argue thus If the learned Tostatus plainly acknowledges true supernatural Miracles wrought in the Church after the Apostles time different from those which he saith ceased The Dr grosly abuses this Author But Tostatus most evidently own 's such true Miracles in the Church Therefore Mr Dr grosly abuses Tostatus For proof of my Assertion turn once more to this Author where he expresly teaches 1. That Tostat in c. 10. Mart. Quest 12. John 14. Christ impowred all that believe in him to work Miracles yea and greater than He wrought He teaches 2. That both Martyrs and Confessors long after our Saviours death preaching up and down the world Multa Miracula fecerunt did many Miracles though Christ spake not to them nor Specially gave them the Power wherewith the Apostles were priviledged He saies Tostatus plainly grants true Miracles 3. That all believing in Christ by invoking the Holy name of JESUS may work Miracles with much more that followes Tell me Reader is it not prodigiously strange that the Dr remit's us to this Question while he Wilily slips over all here noted point blank against him Is not Dr Still page 611. this Fraud and worse than jugling manifestly perceptible when upon this Principle Some Miracles have ceased he would conclude there are none at all wrought 9. If you Ask what it was that beguiled the Dr in à right understanding of Tostatus Thus it is Tostatus in the beginning of the Question now cited demand's why our Preachers in the Church who suceed the Apostles do not such Miracles now Talia Miracula Viz. By ordinary Commission as the Apostles did He Answer 's most profoundly that ordinary Power was readily given the Apostles to work Miracles every where in confirmation of Christ's Doctrin so it is said They went forth and preached in all places ubique Deo concurrente God Cooperating with Signs that followed Now saith Tostatus that ordinary Power was not only annexed to those first Apostolical men but also to the newly converted and baptized For these after their Baptism and conversion were impowred to work Miracles whereby the Truth and Holiness The Dr's Cheat discovered of Christ's Doctrin received much light And this Ordinary certain Power of working Miracles every where ceases in the Prelates of the Church Whence our Dr would inferr à cessation of all Miracles which as I said is worse than jugling and most opposite to the express Doctrin of Tostatus O but the Bishop saith Tostatus cited à §. Tertio fit this Power of working Miracles would not be profitable in the Church but rather serve for curiosity Very true For if as he observes Miracles were dayly wrought amongst us by the Prelates of the Church and new Convertits the merit of Faith would be much lessened and Therefore Tostatus §. secundo saies first it is unworthily done by à true faithful Believer to seek after Miracles to confirm the Faith which he actually believes as certain For this were to require à further probation of that which he hold's most undoubted 2. Though Miracles are not necessary when faith is preached to Believers yet they are profitable when it s preached Tostatus cited §. autem to Infidels or Hereticks Thus Tostatus 10. One may yet object The Doctrin of Christ of the Apostles and the Church is one and the same if therefore no Believer ought curiously to desire new Miracles to confirm the Doctrin of Christ and the Apostles why should they require new Miracles to confirm Church Doctrin Or to what End hath God wrought Miracles in every Age I Answer first No Catholick Believer ought to ask for more Miracles than Divine Providence hath already manifested because the Truth of Church Doctrin by what is done is made Evidently Credible notwithstanding God out of his abundant mercy may at his good pleasure illustrate this Oracle with new Miracles as we have proved above The Utility Miracles wrought in the Church much abate the Impudence of Hereticks whereof gathered from Tostatus last cited avail's much to convince Hereticks that impudently calumniate the Church Saying She hath changed the Doctrin of Christ and his Apostles God therefore to represse this Impudence as he made the Doctrin of Christ Evidently Credible by the Miracles which our Saviour wrought the Doctrin of the Apostles Evidently Credible by the Miracles They did so also he set's forth the glory of his own Oracle the Church and makes her Doctrin evidently credible by innumerable Miracles wrought Age after Age. And this I conceive to be à main reason why Providence will have Miracles continued in the Church to the worlds End 11. The Dr once more referr's us to Tostatus Tostatus in cap. 3. Matt 9. 10. where we are told that those visible exteriour Signs of the Holy Ghost descending upon the baptized in the forme of a Dove or Fire shewed in the Primitive Church cease now in such as receive baptism Though saith the Bishop Original and actual sins are as well taken away by that Sacrament in this present Age and Grace as well given to the baptized now as it was in the Baptism of the Primitive Christians Here is all the Dr has for his Purpose and it is Dr Still page 612. à very Cheat though he bragg as if he had done Wonders What saith he shall we say to the Testimony of this learned Bishop Had he never heard of S. Iames of Compostella and the Miracles pretended to be wrought there And could he believe them and write these things Had he never heard of Vincentius Ferrerius c. Mr Dr you still juggle still run on in your old mistake and Distinguish not between one sort of Miracles and others The Miracles wrought at Compostella and by S. Vincentius are quit different from the visible appearance of the Holy Ghost upon the Baptized and the Imposition of the Apostolical bands whereof Tostatus speak's And saith though many others might work Tostat q. 10. citat p. 164 E. Luc. 10. Miracles in raysing the dead and curing diseases which Power our Lord gave the Seventy two Disciples who were distinct from the Apostles◠yet to give Visibly the Holy Ghost by Imposition of bands was à Priviledge granted the Apostles only whereby Christ shewed them singularly favovred above all others Reflect Reader once more on the Dr's fraud and weak fallacy Was the seventy two Disciples Power in curing diseases and raysing the Dead any way limited because they could not visibly give the The Dr's fraud discovered Holy Ghost by the imposition of hands as the Apostles did Most certainly no saith Tostatus Why then should the Saints in God's Church be denyed the favour of curing diseases and raysing the dead because forsooth they have not that Apostolical Prerogative of showing visibly the Holy Ghost in forme of Fire Yet this is the
Hovv happens it that in this latter Age When the Gospel is preached to Infidels Illa vis Miraculorum non cernatur The like force and efficacy of Miracles are not now seen as our Saviour promised to the Primitive Christians who had as you have heard the Gift of Tongues and wrought other great Wonders after Baptism The Question proposed by Acosta implies only à comparison between those Ancient Signs then usually seen and necessary and These in our dayes and he gives not one only but many excellent reasons thereof Here begin's the Dr's Dr Still page 614. jugling If saith he such Persons vvho are Employed upon the vvork of converting Infidels do vvant the Testimony of Miracles I knovv no reason to believe that God Imployes it for other Ends. Mark those words Do vvant the Testimony of Miracles and to the Dr's confusion turn once more to Acosta Acosta c. 9. page 219. Cited where he first recount's the Miraculous cures of four men Cabeca de Vaca Dorantes Castillo and another wrought in their strange Travels through Florida and more remote places These God favovred with à singular Gift of Curing all infirm and sick Persons much after that Strange Miracles wrought by four Travellers manner as the Apostles did Ten whole years they spent in this Peregrination being ever attended with innumerable Multitudes who no lesse admired the Evident Wonders wrought by them than their most innocent and spotlesse life In fine they gained so much renown among the Barbarians that they were almost adored as Gods and all their commands look'd on as Oracles from Heaven 21. Hence Learn saith Acosta that Innocency of life adorned with glorious Miracles is the easy and certain means whereby Infidels are converted Soon after he demand's How it comes to passe that such Miracles as the novv mentioned Travellers vvrought were not so common but rather grown Scarce in the dayes when he wrote his Story This Acosta lament's and humbly Petition 's Almighty God to glorify his name by showing the like admirable Signs and Miracles Cum videatur tam effusa necessitas when now saith he there appear's so great necessity of them for the Conversions of Barbarians Is this Reader to tell us as the Dr unworthily Writes that Acosta saies Miracles vvere necessary in the beginning of Christian Religion but not novv When he deplor's the want of those admirable Signal Wonders already specifyed and beg's Almighty God once more to vvork them in the sight of those incredulous Infidels Again doth Acosta deny all great Miracles because he complain's of the want of Eminent Wonders granted the Apostles by Special Priviledge and those others in their Peregrination through Florida No. The Dr may justly blush at his Jugling and manifest suppressing Truth if he read Acosta where he Saith Though the Apostles vvere enriched vvith à Acosta c. 9. page 220. more Plentiful Gift of the Holy Ghost and had the first fruits of the Spirit yet the Povver of vvorking Miracles vanished not vvith the first Age. Which is to say the Age passed but Miracles still continued in the Church and he proves the Assertion Ecclesiastical History saith he relates that Acosta owns latter Miracles as undoubted in the time of Constantine the great the whole Province of Iberia next to Armenia was converted to Christ by the admirable works and Miracles of à Christian woman taken Captive We read also they are his words in the English History of many and great Miracles done by Austin Iustus Melitus and other Monks Alas what is England compared with those Immense Regions of Infidels Not so much as à little cottage matched with à vast City How then happens it that these times we live in seem to be deserted or not to afford greater plenty of Miracles Thus Acosta who next endeavours to show why God did not work so many Miracles but his reasons are too long for this place where I am only obliged to note the Dr's fraudulent Dealing which Acosta does home and to the purpose Look saith he upon one blessed man in this our Age Acosta c. 10 p. 226. S. Francis Xaverius of à most Apostolical life who wrought so many admirable Miracles all attested by innumerable sound and substantial Witnesses that scarce the like are read of in any since the Apostles dayes whereof more presently What shall we say of Wrought by S. Xaverias and others F. Gaspar and his fellow Labourers in the East Indies whom God favovred with the grace of working innumerable great Wonders and the like blessing he bestowed upon many worthy Missioners of other Holy Orders Neither is it at all unusual saith Acosta in these our West Indies to see and hear of great Miracles done among the Barbarians 22. Was not Dr Still think ye blind or A great Oversight in the Dr. grosly overseen in remitting me to Josephus Acosta as one opposite to all Miracles excepting such as Christ and his Apostles wrought Had he his Wits about him when he tell 's us that the Persons employed upon the work of converting Infidels vvanted the Testimony of Miracles while you see this Author he cites decryes the folly and to the Dr's eternal Disgrace acknowledges many famous Miracles wrought in the Church after the Apostles though that Special Apostolical Priviledge in working them in some measure granted also to the Primitive Christians was not as you have heard Usual in after Ages Hence the Dr's Inference of Miracles not being now necessary among Heathens or ceasing upon this Ground that the primitive Prerogative in doing them seem's very seldom granted any in latter Ages is nothing but à foul cheat and an open fraud All I will say now is that either Mr Dr thought his produced Testimonies would never be examined or that all would believe what he scribles upon his bare word He is grosly deceived in both And thus much of Josephus Acosta We go on 23. The second Author perused by me concerning E manu Acosta Hist rerum in Orieâ—â—ge starum Parisiis typis data 1572. Ema Acosta l. 1. p 72. p. 74. lib. 2. p. 109. Acosta l 3. page 132. Miracles in the East Indies is Emanuel Acosta in his History of matters done there Not far from Bungo saith he à blind youth 13. years old immediatly after Baptism had his perfect sight restored Another sick of the Palsey and Dumbe when Baptized rose up sound and spake without the least impediment If you desire to hear other Miracles wrought by Holy water and reciting the seven Poenitential Psalms as likewise of the strange Punishments God inflicted upon some prophane Barbarians that strove to cut down à Crosse erected by the Christians you may peruse this Author To insist on more particulars would be too large à task and needlesse Finally if you require an Answer to Dr Still wise Question What shall vve Dr Still Page 614. say to the Miracles pretended to be vvrought by Xaverius and others in the
East Indies I will first remit you to Emanuel Acosta â—ited and next evince upon unquestionable Authority that S. Xaverius his Miracles are so clear and manifest that none unlesse utterly stupifyed can call them into doubt or least Question CHAP. XII Of S. Xaverius his admirable life and most glorious Miracles VVitnesses of these Miracles and undoubted Testimonies produced The Dr's simple Exceptions against them demonstrated vain and frivolous His unjust Aspersion laid on Iesuits discovered 1. PLease Reader to review Acosta at the Eman. Acosta page 3. beginning of his Treatise where you have à short compendium of S. Xaverius austere life and most undoubted Miracles No fewer saith this Author than à hundred and thirty thousand were drawn to Christ by the indefatigable Labours of this one blessed man in the Coast of Comorinum In the Kingdom of Travancore and the places Adjacent he wrought great conversions also in so much that the very Heathens speaking of Xaverius usually called him by no other name but Sanctus Pater the Holy Father The rumour of the Conversions comming by the attestation of many certain Witnesses to the knowledge of John the third then King of Portugal both while S. Xaverius lived and after his death His Majesty expresly commanded that the Miracles Page 3. of the Saint should be diligently examined Written down and sent him A copy of the Kings letter you have in Acosta Strange likewise were the Conversions and wonders done by S. Xaverius in the City of Tolo the Moluccy Page 6. Islands and Amboinum No lesse wonderful is that which Acosta recount's of S. Xaverius who Page 7. by one and the same Ansvver given to ten or twelve Persons proposing different Questions was so well understood by all as if he had answered one after another or every one apart Admirable also are the Miracles wrought in Japan Page 7. where S. Xaverius saith this Author cured the Dumb deaf the lame restored perfect health to Persons desperately infirme In the country of Commorinum he cured innumerable quite Page 7. deserted by Physicians freed many possessed of Divels and most certainly raised the dead to life See Acosta cited at those words Mortui ad vitam revocantur c. He had moreover the Page 10. gift of Prophesy Acosta relates the particulars foretold by the Saint which afterwards came to passe He recount's also memorable Things Page 11. of his austere and poenitential way of living Two or three houres of sleep after most wearisom labours S. Xaverius allowed himselfe and this short repose he took when oppressed and Acosta's relation of the Saints Miracles ready to fall down often resting upon à Bord or the bare grownd with à stone under his head Of his spare Diet and poor clothing se Acosta cited And thus much not the halfe of what S. Xaverius did I produce out of this one Author à long time Missioner in the East Indies Writers of à latter date have more amply set forth the glorious Miracles of this great Saint 2. VVonder therefore nothing at the great De Lingendes tom 2 concion Quadrag Feria 4 Domini prima Quadrag Elogium Claudius De Lingendes gives of S. Xaverius What shall I say of the great Apostle of the Indies the sun of the Orient the Dr of Gentilism the Miracle of the last Age the Star of Iapan and Prodigy of India the Honour of the Society Enlarger of the Church and delight of the vvorld Those vvho hate us love thee vvho dispise us praise thee vvho set us at naught highly value thee The glory of thy Virtues out-lives Enuy and is above reproach Thus he with much With much more Soon after Ligendes qis Elogium of S Xaverius he enumerats the Miracles done by the Saint Xaverius saith Lingendes 1. Cured all manner of infirmities nay more vvhen he could not be present vvith all sick persons he sent Children to them vvho by reciting the Apostles Creed cured many 2. He had the gift of Tongues and vvas understood as the Apostles vvere vvhen he spake to men of different Languages 3. God endued the Saint vvith the gift of Prophesy and had things absent discovered long before they happened 4. He made by à Miracle the salt vvater of the sea fresh and sweet at which vvonder many Mahometans vvere converted 5. In the Promontorie of Commorinum he raised à youth one day buried to life again vvhere upon innumerable vvere converted And in the Processe of his Canonization it vvas proved that he restored life to no fevver than tvventy dead Persons Thus F. Lingendes where also he recount's other great Miracles wrought by the Saint and Ask's whether Hereticks that glory in their extraordinary Mission did ever any like wonders as these now briefly pointed at 3. But Courteous Reader hitherto I have said little of this glorious Saint and his stupendious Miracles Whosever therefore desires more ample Information of greater Wonders and the greatest Satisfaction that can be given to men on earth may peruse that accurate Bull of Pope Vrban the eight which begins Rationâ— Bulla Canonizationis S Francisi Xaverii Ann. 1613 8. Idus Augusti congruit convenit aequitatâ— published after the Canonization of S. Francis Xaverius where you have all and every one of the Miracles already noted exactly set down as his gift of tongues the gift of Prophesy and his innumerable and admirable conversions Many hundred thousands saith the Pope who sate in darkenesse and in the shadow Miracles of S. Xaverius attested and approved by the See Apostolick of death were by the industry of this great Servant of God drawn to the light of the Gospel To enlarge my selfe upon all the Miracles in these Apostolical Letters would because they are long be too great à Task yet à Few among many I must not omit At Comorinum where Xaverius preached in à Church to à great multitude of Infidels and by reason of their obdurate hearts seemed to effect little He first betook himselfe to Prayer and then commanded à Grave wherein one the day before was buried to be opened To prove said the Saint the Verity of our Christian Faith I now Preach you shall behold with your eyes this dead man raised to life Praying again he commanded the lately buried to appear in the sight S. Xaverius â—aises the dead of all his Auditors who in à moment of time came out of his Grave and to the admiration of the People stood up among them Living as he was before This visible and manifest Miracle so changed those stupified Infidels that not only the then present Unbelievers but innumerable others hearing of the Wonder embraced our Catholick Faith 4. In the same place not long after à poor Cures one full of ulcers Beggar full of ulcers and gastly wounds meeting S. Xaverius implored his help the Saint upon his Petition washed his ulcers which done to the horrour of all the Spectators
Miracles to have been the greatest Miracle of all Thus S. Augustin Argues and 't is à convincing Dilemma 16. You Ask next what were the stronge Arguments of Christian Religion before it was Propagated Those seemed convincing or not if not convincing it was Propagated by weak and unconcluding Arguments and we are not bound to believe it If convincing we know them or if we know them not how can we Judge they were convincing I Answer this whole discourse built upon two false Suppositions fall's to nothing One is that Miracles either seen or heard of preceded not the first conversions of Christians The other That there were some other rational Arguments as strong and convincing for Christian Religion before its Propagation as Miracles were 17. I say contrary and prove that Miracles preceded all great conversions made to true Christian Miracles were ever previous to all great conversions Religion Those Signal Wonders wrought by our Saviour sensible and visible as rational Arguments first induced the blessed Apostles and some few more to believe in him T is true Christ's Holy life and amiable conversation had great Influence upon minds to say nothing now of the attraction of Divine Grace working inwardly But the Lustre of his glorious Miracles Gods own powerful Language made the deepest Impression on men who were first led on by reason And therefore could not but Discover à mighty weight and efficacy in this one Motive of our Christian Faith Now if we speak of that ample and large Propagation which ensued upon the Apostles Preaching in several parts of the world or of those â— other great Conversions wrought by the Catholick Church in after Ages none can deny but that most Signal glorious Miracles not done to be gazed on ever preceded as à chief Cause and effected that great Work of God among most Barbarous Nations Finally that no other convincing rational Arguments greater or comparable with Miracles can be produced as previous to its Miraculous Propagation appear's by your silence Mr Burnet you alledge none neither are there any alledgeable of so great poise as Miracles were 18. You Say 4. There was good reason to believe the Gospel when our Saviour wrought his Miracles in the Sight of the Iewes and this great Argument the Apostles urged but that reason remain's yet good and still proves it true whether the world had embraced it or not I Answer the reasons were then good because Miraâ—les rationally prove à Doctrin good when an Infallible Oracle tells us what its meaning is the Apostles in those Dayes were living infallible Oracles and could not only ascertain every one of the Gospels Divine inspiration but also when Difficulties arose among the faithful declare its genuine Sence But now yee Protestants Say matters are much changed for there is no certain Oracle no Church taught by the Holy Ghost that can Infallibly avouch these Writings were from God that such and such in the more difficult Passages is their true Sence and meaning So that every man left to his private Judgement may draw what Religion he pleases out of Scripture And this we se done before our eyes by men called Christians yet differ in the Fundamentals of Christian Faith 19. Upon this ground your Question next proposed signifies little What say you if the Gentils had rejected the Testimony of the Apostles as the Iewes did Had we not been bound to believe the Gospel if those sacred Writings had been with à most religious care conveyed down to us Sr Methinks you goe too farr in your Supposition Saying if the world had not embraced the Gospel and both Iewes and Gentils rejected it we are yet bound to believe it Why so I beseech you Upon what Principle are we If all had rejected the Gospel how are we obliged to receive it obliged to admit à Gospel which the whole world all Iewes and Gentils rejected S. Austin you know teaches and I am wholly of his Judgement That he would not believe the Gospel unlesse moved thereunto by the Authority of the Catholick Church which Church I am sure embraces à great part of the world And had in it many who once were Iewes and Gentils Hence you see Sr it is very hard to Suppose the Gospel universally set at naught and that à strict obligation lies on us to receive it But let this passe 20. Suppose we receive the bare Word of the Gospel what Sence shall we make of it in à hundred abstruse Passages what Religion shall we suck out of it Arianism or Pelagianism Nestorianism or worse It is impossible to clear this Difficulty without recourse to an Infallible living Oracle upon whose Judgement all in this present State must rely or can believe nothing You put much force in those who carefully conveyed the Gospel The false Conveyers of the Gospel not found in the Principles of Protestants down to us Very good could such men be found But here we are at à stand The blessed Apostles who lived not alwaies left those Writings in the hands of the Church But this Church saies Dr Still above à thousand years since altered Christ's revealed Doctrin changed the Apostolical Faith and became as Idolatrous as Those who worshiped the Sun or à Red cloath All others out of this Church named Christians were known condemned Hereticks Were all this true no more would I take the Gospel from this supposed Idolatrous Church or these false condemned Hereticks than believe the word of à known Perjured Person or credit one esteemed à common Lyar. And thus in the Principles of Protestants the careful conveyance of the Gospel failing all Faith in Scripture fail's with it But enough of this Digression VVe return to Dr Stillingfleet CHAP. XV. How Miracles are to be examined Christ wrought not his Miracles by natural Magick or Necromancie by stronge Imagination or the different Aspects of Stars VVhatever rational Argument proves Christ to have wrought true Miracles by Divine Virtue as forcibly proves Church Miracles to proceed from the very same cause Though Divels may work some strange wonders they cannot raise the Dead or cure desperate Infirmities Of the Aegyptian Magicians Feates A word of the witch at Endorâ— Other matters handled 1. DR Still thinks it very reasonable for page 668. and 669. us he means Protestants after so many forewarnings in Scripture of false Wonders to Examin all pretences of Miracles by trying whether they can be distinguished from deceiptful appearances which may be wrought by à Povver lesse than Divine Answ I think it also Very reasonable and wish Mr Dr that you who yet never went about to examin one Miracle would undergoe the pains you hold so reasonable Take courage therefore examin with greatest rigour either all or some of those you have in the 3. Chap. above And if you find à flaw in any shame me boldly But I tell you before hand you will have à hard Task For no sooner shall you discredit those by
reason or Authority but you will eo ipso enervate all our Saviour's Miracles which certainly were proved truly vvrought upon Humane Faith before Scripture registred them 2. In this laudable Examination two things may be Questioned The first concernes the matters of Fact whether for an Instance God raised the dead to life by the Intercession of blessed What this due Examination requires S. Stephen of S. Thomas Cantilupe and S. Xaverius The like is of desperate Diseases cured by the Prayers of Saints in God's Church Hereof we have great Evidence taken from Ey-vvitnesses and the undoubted Testimony of those who have left them upon Record Mr Dr certainly requires not when à Miracle is done That God tell us by à nevv Revelation it is à work above all natural Povver or that he work one Mito confirm the Truth of another This would imply à Processe in Infinitum when one may as well Question the second or third Miracle as the first Neither were our Saviours Miracles when done proved after this manner No. They were first seen by credible Witnesses afterwards divulged And that was proof enough The second thing Questionable is whether if such Miracles as are now evinced were visibly exhibited may notwithstanding that exteriour Evidence be held deceiptful Appearances only or wrought by à Power lesse than Divine This the Dr hints at and would fain have all our Miracles thought at most bare Appearances if yet so much 3. I Say in à word VVhat even Reason proves Christ and his Apostles to have vvrought true Miracles by Divine Povver evinces the Very same of all approved Miracles done in the Church God therefore was and is the sole Principal cause of all such Miraculous Effects 4. Before I prove what is here asserted reflect Irenaeus l. 2 c. 57. sine upon the Resuscitation of Lazarus who lived afterwards à long time Call also to mind those mentioned by Irenaeus that were raised from death and perseverantly lived saith this great Author multis annis many years vvith us So also no few did resuscitated by S. Thomas Cantilupe S. Dominick and S. Xaverius All these walked up and down conversed with otthers experienced in themfelves the real Operations of life and therefore either lived or vve Act. 3. 3. live not Now for strange Cures consider in the next place that man lame from his Mothers womb who lay begging at the Gate of the Temple called Beautiful to whom S. Peter saith The dead raised to life and desperate Discases cured Holy Scripture instantly gave health strength and vigour Compare his cure with that of poor John Clement born also à Criple from his Mothers womb that often sate begging at the Gate of our Ladies Church in Montagu And in à moment of time like the other in the Acts lifted himselfe up stood straight on his feet and was Miraculously cured by the Intercession of the ever Blessed Virgin 5. Hence I Argue Christ is rationally proved to have raised Lazarus to life by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature or Divels could produce that strange Effect Ergo those other Resuscitations now mentioned are as rationally proved wrought by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature nor Divels could produce them Again That cure wrought upon the Lame born All done by Divine Power Criple Sitting at the Temple gate is rationally proved Miraculous and done by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature or Divels did it Ergo that cure wrought upon John Clement no lesse à lame born Criple is as rationally proved Miraculous and done by Divine Virtue if no Power in nature or Divels did it But the Antecedents here proposed in both cases are most true Therefore necessarily infer Truth in their Consequences 6. I am first to Show that no Power in nature or Divels can raise the Dead to life and will not entertain the Reader with the open Folly of some Arabians who thought Christ wrought all his Miracles and consequently raised the Dead by the strength of his Povverful Imagination As wholly stupid are those Judiciary Astrologers that ascribe them to the different Aspects or Situations of Stars in which knowledge say they Christ was most conversant Michael de Medina both Medina de rectâ in Deum fide lib. 2. c. 7. largely and learnedly refutes these whymsies and showes that Imagination can indeed work strange Effects in the Body and mind of such as are liable to violent fancies whereof he gives prodigious Examples but can effect nothing Se his page 69. B. upon Things distant or wholly separated from the Imaginative Faculty If therefore one sit's Lame in à chair and see 's à Book à farr off in à Stationers Shop the strongest Imagination in the world will never bring that Book into his hands He refutes also the Astrologers upon this ground that not only our Saviour but the blessed Apostles also dispersed the whole world over under different constellations yea their very The fooleries of some refuted girdles handherchiefs and Garments and the Saints in Heaven when invoked at their Monuments work innumerable Miracles independently of the various motions and Aspects of Stars Finally saith Medina if à strong Imagination or Stars can produce such admirable Effects how comes it to passe that these talkative men were all born under so unluckly Planets as to doe none How happen's it they are so feeble in their Apprehensions that not one among them could ever yet work à true Miracle But enough of Fooleries 7. Some thought more wise tell us that all our Saviours Miracles the like is of those wrought in the Church may bee easily effected by à Secret art of Magick earnestly sought after by many Briefly All Magick is either natural or Ceremonial when done by evil Spirits it is called Necromancy The first Magick makes à Search into the hidden Things of Nature and by à ready application of active Agents to Passive often showes strange Effects yet no vvayes Miraculous For the attaining of this knowledge Empedocles Democritus Apollonius and Anaxagoras travelled far and viewed à great part of the Universe Some by virtue of it produce Roses and ripe Grapes in Winter others by Alchimy have long tried to find out the Philosophers Stone but with what successe I know not Now this Magick add to it that they call Astronomical Effects wrought by natural Magick and Cabalistical being only limited to natural Causes can do nothing that 's above all natural Power as most certainly the raising of the dead is Neither did those who so highly extol this Art ever yet pretend to call men out of their Graves and endue them with the like Operations of life they had before 8. Necromancy whether Goetick or Theurgick practized by Divels and Witches has its Necromancy has its Limits limits also and extend's no further than only to what is previously contained in natural Causes as S. Augustin cited above notes excellently well Now because Angels and Divels
of Christianity at every particular Cry out this Wonder Gods worâ—s for no other End but only to All Miracles usually wrought for à double End prove Christ's Doctrin Infallible It s Improbable I Say therefore those Miracles were usually done for à double End The one was the benefit of him they were done for whether afflicted or diseased And this our Saviour fixed upon when he cured the blindeman so also S. Peter did in the Cure he wrought upon the Lame Criple sitting at the Temple gate The other End ever intended by Almighty God though not alwaies explicitly declared was the manifestation of his Divine Power ut manifestentur Iohn 9. 3. opera Dei in illo saith our Saviour working by those he sent to teach the World Whence every one might have rationally discoursed as that Prince among the Iewes did Rabbi we know John 3. 2. thou art come from God For no man can do the Signs thou does 't unlesse God be vvith him But if Christ and the Apostles were rationally proved Teachers sent from God by Miracles their Doctrin was in like manner rationally evinced sound and infallible 2. And thus we discourse as to Church Miracles where you also have à twofold End the one is the benefit of him that receives it the other the manifestation of Gods Power working by his Servants whence also their Doctrin is rationally proved to be from God sound and true though not alwaies explicitly asserted true at every Miracle Ask saith S. Austin often Miracles have their Language cited what Miracles speak of Christ Habent enim vocem suam They have an audible Voice speak by them selves and tell us that Christ was the true Missias sent by Almighty God to teach and therefore proved his Doctrin true and sacred So say I Ask what Miracles speak of the Church They have their language and tell us She is à luminous Sun that disperses her rayes over the vvhole Vniverse She is Gods ovvn Oracle and therefore what Doctrin She teaches is proved by reason evidently Credible sound and true Thus much is easily made out in à rational Discourse In what Sence all Miracles have à respect to truth though he that works the Miracle saies nothing of its confirming Faith or of its distinguishing the Church from all Heretical Communities And in this Sence All true Miracles cannot but have à respect to Truth 3. Again many Saints have often publickly declared that the Miracles they wrought were done to confirm the Catholick Faith So speak's S. Bernard of the great Miracle done upon the Loaves of bread In this saith he you shall knovv that those things vve teach are true and Se Chapt. 3 above n. 33. se Chap 12. num 3. that vve are God's Ministers c. So also did S. Xaverius to prove they are his words the Verity of our Christian Faith you shall see this dead man raised to life again But what good will these and many more like Instances do upon an incredulous Dr who can jeer at all when he has nothing to Answer 4. I Argue 2. If we show all those Articles Every Article of Catholick Faith has been confirmed by Miracles of our Catholick Faith most opposed by Modern Sectaries to have been confirmed by illustrious Miracles we clearly Evince that one End of Miracles wrought in the Church though not ever the only End was and still is to strengthen Faith and withall to assure us that what Doctrin this Oracle Proposes is from God and consequently most certain But this we make out upon the irrefragable Testimony of as grave Authors as ever wrote and in the first place will remind the Reader of S. Bernard's indubitable Miracle wrought to confirm these Catholick Articles Viz. The real Presence Sacrifice of the Masse Purgatory Prayers to Saints and praying for the Dead which those Hereticks like Protestants now à dayes denyed This one Miracle I say alone supposing the matter of Fact which none can rationally Question no lesse now evinces Protestants guilty of grosse Errour than it anciently did those Henricians or Hereticks called Apostolici 5. If you yet desire more Satisfaction herein Brerely Pâ—ot Apol. Tract 2 c. 3 sect 7. subd 1. Fevard in notis ad 8. cap. Irenaei lib. 1. advers Heret read Brerely an Author ready at hand and peruse also Franciscus Fervandentius There is saith he not any one Catholick Doctrin or Article of our Faith but has been proved and confirmed by most evident Miracles From Heaven which the Saints in God's Church have wrought as grave Writers beyond all exception testify It is known saith Fevardentius that the Decrees of the most Holy Councils at Nice and Calcedon wherein the main Articles of Faith are contained were all ratifyed by open and manifest Miracles Then he remit's you to S. Augustin to Optatus Milevitanus S. Cyprian S Ambrose and other worthy Fathers who recount most clear Miracles by which not only our Catholick Doctrin but even the Rites of our Church have been confirmed I cannot insist upon all or the halfe the work is too long and therefore will only bring to light à few most clear and undeniable 6. S. Gregory Nazianyen relates how his Nazian Orat 11. de obitu Gorgoniae One Miracle related by S. Gregory Nazianzen Sister Gorgonia when past all hope of recovery was miraculously freed from an infirmity by prostrating herselfe before the Altar and calling on Christ our Lord there present there honoured and worshiped O Admirable wonder saith the Saint presently quit of her sickness She found herselfe well and returned home eased in Body and mind 7. Optatus Melivitanus relates à fearful Story Optatus l. 2. contra Donatistas of Hereticks who cast the reserved Holy Eucharist to Doggs and had for that wicked fact à condigne Punishment the doggs saith he furiously raging tore their Masters in pieces à just Judgement of God Answerable to their horrid Two more by Optatus Melsvitanus crime Another Miracle saith Optatus Almighty God evidenced when those wicked Hereticks threw out of à window à little Vial of Chrism or Holy Oyle with intention to break it in pieces upon stones lying under the window but Providence by an Angel's Hand preserved the Vial entire not à drop of the Crism was spilt which caused wonder in many 8. Guitmundus Bishop of Avarsan Petrus Diaconus Guitmund lib. 3. de Sacramento Euchar. Petrus Joannes Diac in vita S. Gregory and Ioannes Diaconus recount à Signal Miracle wrought by S. Gregory the Great in confirmation of the real Presence and Transubtiation A Roman Matron say they ready to receive the blessed Sacrament burst out into laughter S. Gregory perceiving that Sign of contempt Ask't why She laughed She Answered I cannot but do so when I hear the bread I lately made called the Body of Christ Whereupon S. Gregory laid the consecrated Host on the Altar and desired that the People then present
was in the Apostles The cap. 9. n 10. true meaning is as I have largely proved above That no set number of men in the Church had such an ordinary Gift in working Miracles as was annexed by peculiar Priviledge to the twelve Apostles Se more of this Priviledge in the Chapter cited it is here needlesse to transcribe what is there clearly set down 4. Mr Dr I must once more tell you you write you know not what For nothing but à Frolick or à height of impudence could have uttered The Dr speak's à lowd Vntruth this intolerable Proposition The Catholick Bishops of the Church of Rome pretended no more to à Power of Miracles than Protestant Bishops do now With what Conscience or Countenance can you Sr impose so manifest an Untruth upon mankind Were not S. Irenaeus S. Gregory Thaumaturgus The two vvorthy Cyrills S. Athanasius S. Augustin S. Chrysostom Bishops and learned Bishops All these and many more as is evident have either wrought Miracles or laudably written in their Defence Show me but one Protestant Bishop that has done the like or for stark shame Mr Dr fool us no more abuse us no more with manifest Fopperies 5. The Dr as I told you to set forth his Phylostorgius Photius Biblioth page 26. de Philostor ex lib. 40. remits the Reader to Photius But how wisely he did so I leave to every mans common Judgement for having perused Photius exactly I find much ill and not so much as one good word spoken of Philostorgius He began with Philostorgius proved à most impious Heretick the Heresy of Arius next adhered to the Errours of Atius and finally professed the Eunomian Heresy Thus much I gather also out of several great Authors Photius goes on Philostorgius vvas à lying VVriter and full of Idle Fables He extolls Aetius and Eunomius as if they had purged the Christian Doctrin fouly contaminated vvith Errours vvherein saith Photius he lyes prodigiously He vvas enraged against the most Orthodox Fathers and falsly calumniated the great S. Basil though his calumny made the Saint more Baron Annal Ecclesias tom 3. Anno 354. n. 14. 15. 16. Vossius de Historicis Graecis l. 2. c. 20. p. 210. renovvned Cardinal Baronius speak's home also Philostorgius vvas à most infamous Heretick the ancient Graecians abhorred the mans very name cur'st his execrable VVritings as deserving nothing but oblivion and perpetual silence Gerardus Ioannes Vossius rebukes him as one Deo invisum hated by Almighty God for his Heresy and excessive bitternes against all Catholicks loving none but Hereticks These Testimonies and many more you may read in the Epitome of Iacobus Godefredus who compendiat's the Twelve Books of Photius See also Godefred's Prolegomena where upon several Godefred printed at Geneva occasions he spares not to tell us what an impious Heretick Philostorgius was However Dr Still introduces him as à creditable Author and will not have him suspected of Partiality though no man more ruin's his credit than the Dr for he saith those Miracles whereof Philostorgius and other Hereticks write may be justly suspected because only pretended to If only pretended Mr Dr you cannot but mistrust the Sincerity of those who relate them unlesse you Say though the Miracles in Them selves are false yet the Hereticks that wrote them spake Truth 6. The Dr much intangled loses himselfe in Page 676. and p. 677. à lame and undigested Discourse He would forsooth fain know hovv Miracles can prove the Truth and Infallibility of the Church if the Truth of Miracles depend's upon the Churches Approbation And I Sr would as fain know and I hope do know How Miracles can prove the Truth and Infabillibility A difficulty proposed by the Dr. of Christ's Doctrin if the Truth of those Miracles depend's upon Christ's Sacred word and approbation 7. To clear this matter I must first know what you mean by this word Proving Would you Sr have us prove the Truth and Infallibility of our Church Doctrin evidently or by à clear Demonstration Neither you nor any man living can thus evince the Truth and Infallibility of Christ's Doctrin Had you seen all the Miracles Christ wrought could you upon their outward Appearance or the exteriour sight alone have demonstrated that Christ was the true Messias or that his Doctrin was thereby evidently proved true and Infallible It is impossible even in your Principles Because you Say an Evidence taken from the outward Appearance of à Wonder only gives no certainty of its Truth or the verity pointed out by it Speak otherwise and you will be forced to grant that all the Wonders you have collected from Heathens were as really true as ever any was which Christ wrought for you yeild them an Appearance Very Visible 8. Hence it Followes that besides the Exteriour From whence we have full certainty of à Miracle Sight of à Miracle some other Oracle must interpose it's Authority and ascertain all yet vvithout Evidence of its real Truth as wrought by Divine Povver and for such and End This full certainty Mr Dr we take from the Churches Approbation as the Apostles and primitive Christians tooke theirs from our Saviours own words That the vvorks of God saith Christ John 9. 3. speaking of the blind man may be manifested in him I must doe the vvorks of him that sent me These Things John 20. ◠3◠are vvritten saith the same Evangelist That you may believe not knovv evidently That Iesus is Christ and that believing you may have life in his name 9. The want of pondering one Distinction plainly laid forth in Bellarmin brought the Dr Bellar. de not is Eccl. lib. 4. c. 14. §. Est autē to this confusion By Miracles saith Bellarmin the Church is demonstrated Non quoad evidentiam aut certitudinem rei sed quoad evidentiam Certitudinam credibilitatis That is we prove not Evidently the Church or her Doctrin to be evidently true by Miracles But prove both by Miracles to be evidently Credible The Evidence of Credibility Mr Dr disposes to Faith and brings in an Obligation of Believing That other fancied Evidence relating to the Truth and infallibility of Christ's Doctrin or the Churches God in this state impart's not to any For we walke by Faith not by Evidence 10. But say you vvhat Evidence of Credibility can there be from Miracles vvhere no one can be certain vvhether they be Miracles or not I Answer The same Evidence of credibility which the Primitive The same Evidence of Credibility we now have of the Churches Miracles which the ancient Christians had of our Saviours Christians had of our Saviours Miracles as they were Objects of Sense we also have of Miracles wrought in the Church The outward Appearance alone neither grovvnded Faith for Faith relies on à surer Motive God's Divine Revelation nor gave more Evidence of their ovvn real Truth than Church Miracles have done All true Miracles therefore whether wrought
on him Fevardentius saith he confesses the Church has never determined that Hereticks cannot work true Miracles He makes no such open confession either in words or Sence much less doth he Say as you Sr unworthily Cite That those who hold the Affirmative have plain Testimonies of Fathers for them It is utterly false Fevardentius barely relates the Sentiment of others who seem to teach that Hereticks may work Miracles Some saith he think Tertullian favour's the Opinion others bring in Sozomenus and Socrates others seek Patronage from S. Augustin Doth this lessening way of speaking import that those who hold the Affirmative have plain Testimonies of the Fathers for them 17. Had you Sr perused Fevardentius in Fevard in cap. 8. lib. 1. Irenaei another place he remit's us to you might have been ashamed of this Jugling There he expresly denies the Power of working Miracles to Hereticks and grounds his Denial upon the Authority of Clemens Romanus Iustin Martyr and S. Augustin Then he tells you There is not one Doctrin of our Catholick Faith which Almighty God has not confirmed by most evident Miracles Which Miracles saith he wrought in every Age Some Chief Hereticks have gathered together written of and divulged to the world yet you Sr building upon one Testimony of Fevardentius would fraudulently perswade us that Miracles prove nothing as to the Truth and Infallibility of the Church And that they may be only wrought when the Communion of Christians are different from each other for the Verifying of some Common Truths received among all Christians With what Countenance can you avouch this when you see the Author quoted Miracles saith Fevardentius have confirmed Every Catholick Doctrin c. 16. n. 4. by you point blank against you Most evident Miracles saith Fevardentius have been wrought not only to attest some common Truths amongst Christians but to confirm every Doctrin held by the Catholick Church VVhereof see more in à foregoing Chapter 18. The Dr in the Page cited drives on à Lingendes in Conc. quadr to 2. Conc. 2. long Quotation borrowed From F. de Lingendes very true Doctrin as delivered by the Author But Mr Dr's Inferences drawn from it which as strongly impugne Miracles wrought by Christ and the Apostles as any done in the Church have been already weighed in the foregoing Chapter and are there fully Answered Lingendes saith the Dr grant's that to all outward Appearance Hereticks may do as great Miracles as any And you Sr grant or you cheat the Reader that Heathens have done Miracles to appearance as great as ever our Saviour or Apostle wrought Now Sr as you Difference Christ's Miracles from such false Signs we also difference and distinguish Of the Difference between all false Signs and true Miracles Miracles done in the Church and Oppose their vast number manifest in all Ages their Majesty and Greatnes in raising the dead restoring sight to the blind and curing mortal Infirmities to those few inconsiderable dull wonders pretended by Hereticks whereof if not all more than the halfe are False The Circumstances also accompaning our Miracles add à singular Lustre having been wrought in à Church ever owned Orthodox and by men of eminent known Sanctity who upon their invocating the Saints in Heaven obtained what they prayed for But enough of this particular in the precedent Chapter cited 19. The Dr think's we cannot show our Page 684. Church Miracles wrought for no other End but to prove the Church Infallible Answ No more can the Dr prove that the Apostolical Miracles were wrought only to prove Apostolical Doctrin Infallible as I have clearly shewed above Now that c. 16. n. 1. innumerable have been done to testify the Truth and consequently the Infallibility of Catholick Doctrin is so manifest that nothing but Impudence can deny it VVhy have so many glorious Martyrs joyfully suffered bitter Persecution before Tyrants why have they openly professed to dy for our Catholick Faith why has God evidenced so many Miracles not only at their death but afterwards at their Shrines and Monuments Were not these things done to testify that the Faith they dyed for was True and Infallible If any doubt be made hereof Ecclesiastical History will clear all Peruse Reader among others Victor Vticensis who Victor Uticens l 1 wrote three Books of the VVandals Persecution where he set's forth the admirable fortitude of Martyrs Se also Eusebius Nicephorus Tertullian and Eusebius lib 5 Hist per totum Niceph lib 3 c 29 l. 9. c. 17. Tertull in Apolog. S. August lib. 18 de civit c. 50. Chiefly S. Augustin who recount the horrid Persecution of Martyrs living after the Apostles dayes And Say that God made his eternal Truths known Signis portentis variis virtutibus by Signs prodigious wonders and sundry sorts of Miracles which those blessed men wrought before Kings and Tyrants that formerly endeavouvred to destroy the Church 20. In the next place the Dr has another fling at the poor Boyes restored Leg in Spain and most simply Ask's What signifies this to the Proof of the Roman Churches Infallibility I Answer it signifies very much and manifestly proves one Article of Catholick Doctrin The Invocation of Saints The Miracle surpassed all natural Power Divels when the blessed Virgin was called on did not doe it God therefore who cannot Employ his Power to confirm à falshood approved by that Prodigious Cure page 684 the Catholick Doctrin of praying to Saints CHAP. XVIII VVhether it be reasonable to have Missionaries now sent into England and work Miracles there The Dr wishes this done More of the Dr's many false and impertinent Quotations Antichrist's VVonders no true Miracles Miracles known upon Moral Certainty sufficiently induce to Faith 1 IN the same the page Dr Proposes what he would have done Let their Missionaries saith he come here among us whom they account Hereticks and do the same things that Christ and his Apostles did in raising the Dead and healing all manner of Diseases But let them not think to put us off with painted strawes and counterfeit Trances Good The Dr's uncivil Expression Mr Dr speak I beseech you more reverently were all the stupendious Miracles related by S. Irenaeus S. Augustin S. Hierome and S. Chrysostom painted Strawes and counterfeit Trances Was that great Miracle wrought lately at Calais upon cap. 3. n. 3 à young Gentlewoman whereof you have à full relation à painted cure or the Boyes restored Leg in Spain à painted Leg Were all those dead raised to life at the Intercession of Blessed S. Thomas Cantilupe manifest in your own England counterfeit Resuscitations Nothing but impudence can Judge so Know therefore Sr and it is your Duty to know it that all these admirable All the Miracles wrought in the Church were done for Hereticks Works of God with innumerable more were wrought for you and for this End that you if not perverse may se how gloriously Christ our Lord has beautifyed
his Spouse the Militant Church with the same Signal Marks of Credibility which he favovrably demonstrated while he lived here on earth Why then do you like that depraved and wicked Generation of men mentioned in Luk 11. 29. Scripture require more Signs than are done Why should Missionaries come to you and work Miracles If the greatest were wrought before your Eyes your Dulness would slight all and account them either fallacious Charms Necromancy Luk. 16. 27. or painted Strawes and Counterfeit Trances 2. Remember I beseech you Abraham's Answer given to that Rich man in Torments who would have one sent from the dead to doe good upon his Bretheren Abraham replyed No. They have Moses and the Prophets And in The Dr has an Answer in the Cospel case no eare be given to these neither will they believe though one should rise from the dead and Preach to them In like manner I discourse of Miracles wrought in the Church They speak witness S. Austin as plain à language as ever Moses or the Prophets spake And if such visible and manifest attested Signs work nothing upon your Incredulity neither would the greatest servant of God though he should raise the dead in the City of London mollify your hearts change your minds or make you better than you are So true it is Perversi difficilè corriguntur 3. Again you Propose that which if done would do you little or no good at all Suppose one or more were raised from the dead in London Imagin also that the Missioner should like S. Bernard or S. Xaverius declare that God raises those dead for this End that all may believe the Roman Catholick Churches Doctrin what Conversions would be wrought hereby upon thousand and thousand obstinate hearts in the remote parts of England who only hear of the Miracles Must God send Missionaries to every one of these and set before their Eyes à dead Carkass restored to life Neither Christ our Lord nor the Apostles did so 4. You may Say The Fame of some dead Miracles seen by innumerable Famed and written work little upon Hereticks raised among you would be so publickly divulged that none could rationally call such matters of Fact into Question when visibly seen by many I Answer Ex ore tuo te Iudico But innumerable more Resuscitations innumerable more Miraculous Cures have been and are still famed the whole Christian world over and besides remain upon undoubted Record yet this Fame and these Records make no greater impression upon your hard heart than painted strawes and Counterfeit Trances The like or as little effect would such Miracles as you seek for work upon your numberless incredulous People dispersed over the Nation had they not beheld with their eyes what some few are now Supposed to have seen And God only knowes whether that visible Evidence were it shown would change their minds or abate in the least the Obduracy which stick 's close to the hearts of Thousands 5. The Dr has not yet done with the Poor Page 685. Boyes Leg. If all saith he that had been pleaded in the Apostles time for their divine Commission had been only that à Boy had his Leg cut off and strangely restored would this have Satisfyed the world A more simple Question was never proposed Pray Sr is all that the Church plead's for her Commission reduced to this one Miracle of à Boyes Leg restored No. She offer 's to your view the like admirable Miracles which Christ and the Apostles have done You Sr triefle no less in this your Demand than if you should Ask whether all the works our Saviour did were brought to the curing of à poor Boyes Eyes born blind Compare the one Miracle with the other and you will find that the restored Leg was in itselfe as great à Miracle as that restored sight Give me the least disparity if you can Nothing in nature could more reunite that Leg to its own Natural Body than restore Sight to one born Page 686. Suares de Fide Disp 4. sect 3. num 10. blinde and I am sure the Divel had no hand in either cure 6. The Dr Quotes Suares and fouly perverts his meaning A Miracle saies this learned Author may be wrought Two wayes 1. Without any respect to confirm à Truth but only for the benefit of him that receives it as in case of à Miraculous cure or the like 2. It may be done purposely to confirm the Truth of à Doctrin The First sort of Miracles saies Suares wrought Suares perverted by the Dr. for the Benefit of others God may doe by wicked men though this happens very seldom or if it happen it is rather done ex Fide for the Faith of him that receives it than for any good in the wicked man that work 's it All these words which explain Suares his meaning and discover the Dr ' s Jugling the Dr omit's Observe the Jugling If saith he such Miracles as the cure of Mark the Words According to Suares F. Marcellus and the restored Leg at Zaragosa may according to Suares be vvrought only for the benefit of those vvho receive them vvhat can this prove as to the Churches Infallibility Mr Dr Suares saies nothing to this The Dr's Iugling Discovered your Sence but expresly the contrary He speak's there of Miracles wrought and very seldom by wicked men Were those two cures upon F. Marcellus and the maimed youth done by the wicked The Mother of God wrought the one and S. Xaverius à Canonized Saint the other are these now glorious in Heaven according to Suares to be listed among the wicked For stark shame retract this vast Untruth and know that such Miracles may be justly numbred with those Suares mentioneth which confirm our Catholick Doctrin as is already proved 7. The Dr to little purpose Quotes Delrio Page 687. Delrio l. 4. Dis Magic c. 4. 9. 5. Sect. 2. Saying that Faith being now established there is little or no necessity of Miracles to confirm it I Answer Delrio in that place replies to an Adversary who thought Miracles not so frequent now as formerly by reason of much coldness and inconstancy in Faith That is one cause Saies Delrio but à better is because Faith being now established Minor est vel nulla necessitas Miraculorum Can the Dr draw from this Expression of lesse or no necessity à Total abatement of Mercy as if God wrought none but such as are precisely necessary Did Christ our Lord indulge no favours or Graces to mortals but just so many as were necessary Were all the Prodigious Signs which the Apostles wrought of such absolute Necessity that if one had been omitted men could not have believed or if more had been done than are recorded the world would have been overwhelmed with Miracles The Dr it seem's had little to Say while he tires his Reader with these impertinent Quotations 8. The Dr in the page cited tell 's E. W.
say 3. Miracles are à Sign 1. Cor. 14. 22. not but Believers to Unbelievers The Apostles words are thus Linguae in Signum sunt non fidelibus sed infidelibus Prophetiae autem non infidelibus sed fidelibus That is the extraordinary gift of Tongues was à Miraculous Sign in the Primitive Church both useful and then Necessary for the Conversion of Heathens but Prophesies belong to the faithful not to Infidels Here is nothing in favour of the Dr. I say moreover as the Gift of Tongues was then à Sign and à Stronge Inducement to an Infidel's Conversion so all the ancient and latter Miracles since have been Signs and Inducements to them But are not so in order to à faithful Believer The Reason hereof is clear All the Miracles from the beginning of Christianity to this day whether seen or heard of by credible Witnesses were shown an Infidel first to evidence the Credibility of Christian Religion to draw him from Infidelity and to beget Divine Faith in him But à Believer long since established in Faith and fully assured of the Verity of Catholick Doctrin as One already sound in Faith requirs not Miracles to confirm it he neither expect's nor desires more Miracles than God's graciously will show So when exhibited he look's not on them as any first Motives or Inducements to believe for he is already sound in Faith and Therefore need 's no further proofs taken from Miracles to convince That whereof he hath full certainty already 24. Contelorius an Author I have not seen Dr Still page 695. saith the Dr tell 's us It is not necessary to à Miracle that it be done for the confirmation of any part of Christian Faith Yet Mr Dr thinks Miracles may be wrought for the Confirmation of some General Truths believed by all Christians I hope those are parts of true Christian Religion But mark the Expression It is not necessary Saies this Author that Miracles be done to confirm any part of Christian Faith Doth this imply they are Though it bee not necessary that God work ◠Miracle to confirm faith yet he may doe i◠for that End not done for that End Certainly no. It is not necessary that Dr Still write more Books Doth it therefore follow he will hereafter leave off Scribling No absolute Necessity forces Almighty God to work new Miracles Ergo God will work no more is à Lame consequence And just like the Dr ' s which run's thus Since therefore the far greater number of Miracles in the Roman Church are vvrought for another End hovv can they prove from them the Infallibility of their Church Hold Mr Dr you goe too fast Your Author only saies It is not Necessary that à Miracle be done for that End you blindly leap further And would thence infer many are defacto vvrought for another End Keep Close to Contelorius his words It is not necessary c And your Inference will be thus or nothing Though all the Miracles which God ever wrought have been done to confirm some part of our Christian Faith Yet it is not necessary that every particular Miracle be done for that End Here is all you get from Contelorius Again Suppose gratis that many Miracles have been wrought only for the benefit of him that receives them How doth this prejudice our Cause when we manifestly make it out that innumerable have been expresly done in confirmation of every Catholick Article taught by the Church as is largely proved already Sec. 16. CHAP. XIX The Conclusion 1. THus Reader by Gods good Assistance we are as you see come to an End of Dr Stillingfleets Enquiry into Miracles A Treatise far more fastidious and tireing than hard and difficult for you have not in the whole Book one rational Argument one Testimony of any Orthodox Church one clear Sentence of à Father or so much as any one Authority of Divines produced against the approved Miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church This I Averr and do it with so great Confidence that I challenge Mr Dr to rejoyn if he can and Disprove what I say Yet after all you must hear the poor man brag as if he had done Wonders in taking forsooth more pains The Dr's Idle brag not meerly to detect the frauds and Impostures of the Roman Church but to preserve the honour of Christianity Frauds and Impostures Dr Not one have you shown through your whole Treatise in matters hitherto debated nor shall you ever show any hereafter You have indeed preserved the Honour of Christianity But Hovv Just as wicked Sec. 17. n. ◠Philostorgius witnes Photius did S. Basil's whom he made more renowned by his Senceless railing at the Saint Your weak Efforts Mr Dr your Calumnies your Taunts your Jeers your open Falsities wherewith you manfully strive to obscure God's own Seals and Signatures are so far from Eclipsing their Lustre that Miracles thereby are made more glorious 2. Reader had this Dr gone about to Disswade from à Beliefe of the Sacred Trinity or the Incarnation because the Mysteries are very difficult and surpasse our short Capacities he might perhaps have had followers and gained some to his Opinion But to vapour only as he doth against A bold attempt to set against plain Objects of Sense seen by thousands plain matters of Fact visible Objects of sense seen by innumerable sworn Ey-witnesses and by that means to hope for Proselyts or to draw one of ordinary Prudence to his Sentiment is so desperate an attempt so profound à folly That the like could have never entred any man's head but Dr Stillingfleet's 3. What therefore moved the Dr to Write his Enquiry or for what End came it forth Was the great pains he speak's of taken to Discredit forged or meer pretended Miracles A needlesse It is hard to say what moved the Dr to write this Enquiiy entertainment seing the Church long since had laid à heavy Censure upon all that Doe so Did he conscious of his fraudulent Proceeding think his Book would take with à simple sort of People that want leasure and Abilities to trace him through his many Meanders Or could he perswade himselfe if such poor Souls were ensnared or imposed upon he had done an Heroick work If so He is unworthy humane Conversation and can hope for nothing but à large allowance of Disgrace before God 4. It may be replyed The Dr verily thought his Enquiry would gain esteem among the learned and be valued of as à singular rare Piece Speak so He Discovers à mighty want of Judgement For how could this man who No applause to bee hoped from the Learned never yet through his whole Book was able to cast the least blemish upon one approved Miracle◠brag of his pains How could he think that the learned would applaud his Labours or so much as take notice of so empty and fruitlesse á work Now that he has not made the least rational Exception against one
afford Miracles in abundance However grant which is not true that God in any one latter Age favovred his Church with á greater number of Miracles than he did the Primitive who can repine at his Providence he is Lord and may do what he pleases Or who dare censure us as Lyars and over credulous if by real Proofs taken from undoubted Records we make our Assertions good and evince the Truth of every Miracle in particular 5. Dr Still after à tedious rambling much Page 667. to this Sence That God would contradict himselfe should he confirm à Doctrin by Miracles contrary to Christian Religion already proved by Miracles à Truth known to all makes this Inference Therefore although in the beginning of à Religion the Doctrin is to be proved by Miracles yet that being once supposed Miracles afterwards are to be tryed by the Doctrin Would Dr Still either prove his Protestant Miracles by Protestant Doctrin or Protestant Doctrin what ever it is by Protestant Miracles I should be better Satisfyed But the Good man offer 's at neither I Answer How Miracles are proved by the Churches Doctrin and that Doctrin by Miracles this common Doctrin often proposed by our Divines All new Miracles wrought in the Church are to be examined and proved by the Churches Authority is True and therefore whatever Miracle after due Examination is found contrary to the Churches Doctrin as it is established and proved Orthodox by the Ancient Signs of Christianity the Ancient Prophesies also by the Sanctity of thousands and thousands and the large Extent of this great moral Body Such à Miracle I say ought to be rejected as false though an Angel from Heaven which is impossible should visibly exhibit the greatest 6. Some hereupon will say Not only new but all Miracles though now old are to be tried and proved by the Churches authority For the first Miracle wrought in the Church was then new so was the second and all other ensuing respectively to the time and place they were done in But all these together cannot if we make á right Analysis be proved by the Doctrin The Difficulty proposed or the Authority of the Church because the Churches Doctrin and Authority is Primarily proved by her Miracles which seem's impossible For who can first prove the Churches Doctrin true or Evidently credible by Miracles and afterwards without à vicious Circle prove her Miracles true by the Doctrin which is not proved true or evidently credible But by Miracles 7. Shall we in this Trial of Miracles try also Dr Stillingfleet's speculative faculty à little Has the like Force against our Saviours Miracles and propose the same Argument against the Miracles wrought by Christ and the Apostles using the very same words The first Miracle Christ wrought was then new the like is of the Apostolical Signs the second also ensuing respectively to the place and time when done was new and so of the rest But all these taken together if we make à right Analysis cannot be first proved true by Christ's Doctrin because that Doctrin is primarily proved true or evidently credible by Christ's Miracles which seem's as I said to imply à Vicious Circle For what can be more Circular than first to prove Christ's Doctrin by Miracles and afterwards to prove the Miracles true by the Doctrin not otherwise proved true or evidently credible than by Miracles What Answer gives the Dr to this Argument Will he say Christ's Miracles are now supposed true I may say as much of Church Miracles But believe it if we make à right Resolution of Faith we are obliged to show our Suppositions reasonable and goe deeper into matters than only to Suppose and prove nothing 8. My Answer conformable to what I delivered Part. 1. c. 6. num 17. in the last little Treatise against Dr Still is thus All Miracles whether wrought by Christ or in the Church may be considered two wayes First as Objects of Sence seen or known by undoubted Witnesses and under this Notion as previous to Faith they illuminate the mind and only rationally move to accept Christ's Doctrin anciently delivered and now taught in the Church But are not the last ground or only Formal Object of Beliefe and therefore Faith depend's not on the sight or bare Appearance of this The difficulty solved or that Individual Miracle 2. Miracles may be considered as most certainly true and this full Assurance of their Truth we have not from any outward appearance for Divels may delude us But from the Churches Approbation which Church is not only supposed but rationally proved God's own Oracle by the glorious light of external Motives Miracles chiefly Thus far led on by reason we prudently receive her Doctrin and say that all new Miracles are to be tryed and proved by the Churches known and received Doctrin what 's Contrary we reject as spurious and false What is conformable when the marter of Fact is made Morally certain we rest in and own as undoubted after this Oracle has sealed Chap. 17. from n. 1◠and n. 38. all up in à Legal Trial and given in her Approbation Se more here of afterwards 9. You will Say if the Churches Approbabation be required as necessary before we yeild An assent though sure implies not the certainty of Faith à sure Assent to the Truth of à Miracle How can we Show that the Doctrin of Christ or the Church is made evidently Credible by Miracles not yet known evidently true when meerly considered as previous Inducements or not firmed by any certain Oracle They move to Believe I Answer Those who heard of Christ's Miracles only relyed on Moral certainty very easily Tell me I beseech you Had all those who only heard of Christ's Miracles and Doctrin far distant from the place where they were wrought any previous clear Evidence of their Truth or did they then believe them by Faith fixed only upon the humane Testimony of such as made à Relation of them It is impossible because Faith requires à more noble Motive The knowledge therefore they had was then only morally certain which as I shewed in the last Treatise is enough with other helps to Assent to Christ's Doctrin upon this Motive that God revealed it 10. By all hitherto noted the Reader may Why the Churches Censure is necessary concerning Miracles see how necessary it is to have an Oracle ever ready at hand by whose Censure and Judgement true Miracles are discerned from the illusive Charms of Divels and wicked men Nothing that is counterfeit can passe this Tribunal Though therefore the Divel often Transform's himselfe into an Angel of light and may dazle mens Eyes with à false Lustre of fair Wonders yet the Church will find him out and lay open the Legerdemain 11. Dr Still told us just now That in the beginning of Religion the Doctrin is to be proved by Miracles Upon à meer Accident I met with à Protestant Brother who