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
disparity can be given Supposing the matters of Fact true And to call the Truth of all approved Miracles into doubt reaches to á high Degree of Madness 18. The only thing urged by Cajetan is that the most Authentick Testimonies of Miracles even in the Canonization of Saints are not altogether certain because it is á Written every man is à Lyar. If this Proof be valid Why may not he also mistake that wrote thus For he is amongst the number of every one Please Reader to distinguish three Degrees of certainty and the Difficulty vanishes One certainty called Metaphysical is altogether Infallible A second named Physical is had by such as behold à Miracle And that certainty the Three Degrees of certainty two Sisters Mary and Martha attained when they saw their Brother Lazarus raised to life A third certainty called Moral though inferiour to the other two may be so perswasive That none but most impudently and rashly can call the matter attested into doubt This Degree of Moral certainty all those had who upon the prudent Information of faithful Witnesses heard that our Lord restored life to Lazarus though they saw not the Miracle Thus much premised 19. I Say it is not necessary that Miracles which induce to Faith or excite us to believe be known by Metaphysical or Physical certainty A high moral Assurance of their being wrought The very most of the Primitive Christians before they believed had no greater is abundantly enough and fully sufficient The reason is Miracles as cap. 14. num 8. 9. I noted above show not Faith to be evidently true but only evidently credible neither are they the formal Object whereon Faith relies but rational Inducements only moving to accept of what ever Truth God Reveal's Therefore Cajetan saies well Faith must stand on à more Infallible Page 689. Moral certainty had of Miracles serves as an Inducement to Beliefe ground than that of Miracles and the Dr only Triefles when he tell 's us that our Writers hold there can be no certainty of the Truth of Miracles but from the Churches Approbation vvhich saies he is in effect to say They do not believe the Church Infallible because of their Miracles But they believe their Miracles to be true because they believe their Church to be Infallible The want of distinguishing different Degrees of certainty caused the Dr to blunder as he doth Read therefore his words thus We believe by à sirm Act of Faith the Church to be Infallible because God saies She is Infallible and to this Belief vve are prudently led by Miracles knovvn upon so high Moral certainty That it is open folly to call them into doubt And all difficulty ceases Again when the Church approves Miracles as true we ascend to à higher Step of certainty and own them thus approved without all hesitancy indubitable because à known Oracle seal's them up as certain Now I Ask Mr Dr who playes at fast The Dr would find à Difficulty where none is and loose with his word Certainty what Mystery lies in this that à lesser Degree of assurance to wit Moral serve as an Inducement to believe God speaking by the Church And that an other of à higher nature yet below the certitude of Faith be consequent after we own the Church firme and sure in Her Declarations No man but the Dr would have proposed such empty stuff to the wearisomnesse of every Reader Se more relating to this matter in the XIV Chapter already cited 20. The Dr yet cloyes us with three our four impertinent Authorities Paulus Zacchias à Physician saith that wicked men and Divels may not only doe Miracles in appearance but such as are really so as the Instruments of Divine Power Very true The question is whether Divels by their own Power can work Miracles Sec. 15. if God who has better Instruments at hand the blessed Angels will make use of Divels he might Destroy the world by them But the Question is whether Divels of their own Power can work true Miracles This difficulty waved by Zacchias is decided in à foregoing Chapter Zacchias also much inveigh's against bare pretended Miracles and so doth every wise man also But what is this to the purpose while we plead by no pretended or forged Miracles having thanks be to God great plenty of others never Questioned never called into doubt by any 21. The other Quotations following are as weightlesse and impertinent Fortunatus Schacchus Dr Still page 693. saith first it is à very easy to take false Miracles for true What then Are therefore no Miracles true because some too forward will perhaps have that thought à Miracle which is not I heard à very great man à Protestant confidently avouch more than once That the strange Escape of our Sovereign King Charles after the Battle at Worcester was à plain Doubtful Miracles of no account in the Chvrch. downright and undeniable Miracle God only knowes the Truth May be it was Miraculous if not what great harme followes save only That the Honourable person over confident vvas deceived The Church Mr Dr builds nothing upon dubious and uncertain Miracles Schacchus Asserts 2. That vvicked men may do real Miracles No doubt hereof if God will make use of them as he did of Balaam though this Witnesse Suares cited seldom happen's He saies 3. That no Argument can be dravvn for the Sanctity of any Person but only from such Miracles are approved by the Roman Church This supposes approved Miracles let the Dr own such as undoubted which are innumerable and there is enough to stop his mouth Episcopal Authority Mr Dr after due Examination may as we see practised the whole Church over approve à Miracle Though The See Apostolick only Canonizes Saints Page 694. to declare for the true Sanctity of any Person belongs only to the See Apostolick 22. The Dr hopes to find something for his purpose in the Processe touching the Canonization of Andreas Corsinus where the Auditours of the Rota say first It is necessary that à Person Canonized have wought Miracles Very good Miracles therefore are supposed wrought and useful also for some good End Will the Dr yeild thus much upon the Auditours Testimony O but They Say 2. It is not necessary that Miracles be done for the Confirmation of Faith seing they may be wrought for à proof of à Persons Sanctity I Answer If true Sanctity as is most certain ever supposes true Faith And The Miracles that Evince Sanctity prove Faith also if the Person Canonized be à faithful member of the Catholick Church the same Miracles which prove his Sanctity cannot but also prove his Faith sound and real Though as I noted above it is needless at every Miracle to cry out This is done to confirm such and such Articles believed in the Church You have already many Miracles purposely wrought in Confirmation of every Catholick Article what can the Dr desire more 23. Those Auditors
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
approved Miracle is as clear as that there are letters in his Book If he Say I wrong him He may right himselfe and show me vvhere in vvhat Page or Paragraph through his whole Treatise he has made it out that such and such opproved Miracles Nay I say One have been by him plainly detected false feigned and counterfeit 'T is true in rambling up and down he bring 's to light some forged Miracles which the Church detest's and severely punishes But those no more obscure the Lustre of true Miracles than one mans horrid crime cast's à blemish on another known most just and honest 5. Perhaps this or the like Fancy most How the Dr might Discourse swayed with the Dr and set his fingers on Itch to write against Miracles Many Miracles might he say for time and place are remote from us and therefore the very most of our English Nation as things now stand being strangely incredulous cannot but look upon them as matters of Fact no way clear but contrariwise very dark and doubtful It will Therefore be easy for me after some discovery of forged Miracles Those must usher in the main Designe to blast the credit of the Very best Miracles and though I cannot lay the least Aspersion upon one approved by their Church yet when I handle such à Subject at distance from men shut up in an Island and speak to an obdurate sort of People who scarcely believe their Creed I may well hope my pains will have the Successe I wish which is to dishonour the noblest Motive for Christian Faith The glory of Miracles 6. In case these or the like thoughts set the Dr Things once really done cease not to be true because remote from us on work and I cannot Imagin upon what other Design he wrote I Answer Though he might take great advantage from the Incredulity of many thousands dispersed over England and may perhaps in time perswade the very most of such men to believe nothing at all Yet none I hope are so deeply besotted as to think that á matter once really done leaves off to be true because it is remote from us for upon this account our Saviours Miracles may be Cavilled at 7. But to give the Dr Satisfaction in every thing proposable shall we wave at present those more ancient Miracles recounted by S. Irenaeus S. Austin and others and require the Dr ' s direct Answer to some latter three or four only wrought in the memory of many yet living will be sufficient John Clements Miraculous Cure at Montaigu is one whereof the Dr never yet took notice The poor youths restored Leg in Spain shall be another A Third is that sudden and Miraculous cure done upon F. Mastrilli in Naples by the glorious S. Xaverius The last because the most neer Anno 1661. is that undoubted Miracle which God manifested at Calais upon à young Gentlewoman by the Intercession of Blessed S. Francis Se C. 3. of Paula These Miracles excepting the last related in this Treatise are as is largely proved Reason and Religion owned by the Christian Reas and Relig. Disc 2 c. 8. n. 17. 18. and cap. 9. n. 11 world most certain I therefore require Dr Stillingfleet's plain and express Answer to every one being yet fresh in the minds and Eyes of innumerable Unlesse full Satisfaction be given herein I would have the Dr know that though he write Volumes against this short Treatise all he doth or can do after this just Provocation what satisfaction is required from the Dr will appear weightlesse insignificant dishonourable to à Doctor in fine worth little but Derision 8. Moreover Let not the Gentleman think that to scorn God's most certain Wonders will doe his work or prove Satisfactory to me Let him not think though in Spight of Truth he call's that stupendious Miracle wrought in Spain A pretended growing out of à Leg and to his shame tell 's us It is an easy thing for à Stump to grow à Leg in its passing from Spain hither which is to say in other terms 'T is à Lye à fourb both falsely set Ieers shall no longer serve the Dr's turne abroad and foolishly believed I Say let him not think that such Fatras will serve his turn No. We expect better Answers old birds believe it are not easily caught with chaffe He must therefore either prove Fraud in this and the other Miracles hinted at or will be forced by reason and Authority to own the Facts most true and unquestionable 9. One word briefly concerning the pretended No want of Clarity for either ancient or latter Miracles want of Clarity for our Miracles whether ancient or of à latter date My Assertion is It is as clear and manifest yea much more manifest at this day I write these Lines that innumerable most certain Miracles have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church than it will be manifest one Age hence that Dr Still was ever à man in being à student in Cambridge received Degree in that University or finally was promoted to à Rectorship of S. Andrewes For proof of my Assertion I suppose few or none now living will be alive à hundred years hence How will it then be proved if any doubt be that The Assertion proved by one Instance the Dr was ever in Being You will Answer most easily from the Register of his Baptism Very good But we have most evidently as clear Registers for innumerable Miracles The time when the place vvhere the Circumstances how they were wrought the Ey-vvitnesses that savv them their Examination and approbation are with all clarity registred Thus our Proofs are equal Again Records may tell when and at what time from à Bachelour of Divinity He became Dr and as faithful Records informe us when and in what time and before whom innumerable Miracles have been wrought A constant Fame or report of the Dr's Promotion to S. Andrews may its likely be preserved in the minds of Some above an Age. And have we not as constant yea à far more universal Fame for the four Miracles now mentioned and many others There is no comparison 10. If therefore it would be plain Dotage in any to doubt of Dr Still birth and Promotions when the particulars are proved upon the moral Certainty already set down it will be no greater but Moral à hundred years hence much more is it à Degree of madness to call à hundred Miracles into doubt whereof we have at least so high Moral Certainty And as I now said far more Universal 11. Some may reply There seem's à great Disparity in the matters now spoken of For it s both natural and ordinary That men live meet with A weak Objection Answered promotions and have also Honours and Dignities in the Church or common wealth But the Miracles we defend are strange extraordinary Signs contrary to the course of Nature Therefore moral Certainty though sufficient to ground à prudent Assent