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
more in the place Cited above was either brought to passe by Virtue of true Miracles or not if by Miracles we have our intent if not plain reason witness S. Austin teaches that no greater Miracle can be conceived than to behold à sinful and unbelieving World converted without the Miracles we plead for Answerable hereunto others Argue and methinks pertinently These Blessed men who wrote the History of the Gospel and registred our Saviours Miracles with their own at last as all know couragiously endured violent deaths to Testify that the Doctrin and Miracles they wrote of were no Leger-de-main but sincerely true In doing this we must either judge them horridly impious or stark mad if they registred matters of Fact that never were or contrarywise own them Divinly inspired and faithful Ministers of their great Lord and Master Say they were impious besotted or mad you utter the greatest Paradox that ever mouth spake and must confesse that whole multitudes wise and learned were converted to Christ by wicked and mad Impostors which proves him or them impious and utterly bereaved of Judgement that dare upon no ground avouch à Fiction so shamfully incredible These first followers of Christ therefore proceeded with all Sincerity and registred their great Masters Doctrin and Miracles most faithfully 17. A third Proof methinks Very convincing may be thus proposed Should à Stranger come amongst us from the furthest Parts of the world and tell us he hath heard much in his Travels of great wonders done by à man called Jesus Christ as also of Strange Miracles wrought by some poor followers Christ had named Disciples and very willing he is to be better informed concerning the truth of these divulged Wonders To give this man rational Satifaction I would in the first place put into his hands the History of the Gospel where these Matters of Fact are recorded and next demand whether he can more rationally call into doubt the truth of that History owned by innumerable How à Strâger may be satisfyed that doubts of Christs Miracles multitudes à true Book at least upon humane faith than in prudence Question the verity of any other History he own 's true In case he boggles at the History I must know Why and upon what rational ground he boggles Now this ground after some little discourse will appear so remote from being rational that it can come at last to nothing but à selfe conceipted Fancy because it is utterly impossible to make any more just or reasonable exception against the plain History of the Gospel than against any other known or received true Story Thus much cleared which no Enemy of Christ unlesse most unreasonable can deny our Stranger casts his thoughts upon Iewes and modern Sectaries and finds these by their own confession so destitute of Miracles that none among them can pretend to any since Christianity began Next he peruses the Gospel see 's with what Candour the Evangelists recount our Saviours Miracles and seems willing enough to hold all true upon humane Faith because he finds no reasonable exception against them yet stick 's much at one Passage where we are told of greater works to be Iohn 14. v. 12. done by those who believe in Christ than he had wrought If this can be made out and verifyed saith the Stranger Christ did not only foretel future things which is proper to God but it followes also that after his death and leaving the world He did as if present with some choise Servants impower them to perpetuate the like visible Wonders he had wrought Christ therefore Saith he was either very unwise in promising so largely while he lived if he never performed it or if he really made all good he worthily deserves credit and ought to be believed before any that hitherto taught the world for though we read of some Heathens who gloriously set forth their own Wonders yet none of them dared to Prophesy of doing Miracles after death by others neither did they for ought I know work any by men of the like Belief or Profession with them Thus the Travaller discourses and urges to have these latter Miracles wrought by Christs Servants rationally laid forth to an unbyassod Judgement To Satisfy the difficulty here proposed 18. All know that matters of Fact as Miracles where of we now discourse are not proved by Principles taken from natural Causes or the deep knowledge of Metaphysical learning for who will go about to show that Caesar was à glorious Warrier or Cicero an Eloquent Orator by Metaphysicks or natural reasoning None can attempt this All therefore that Argue pertinently must rely upon other proofs and plead as we have done for Apostolical Miracles by the publick Fame of them spread the whole world over or finally Reason thus It is manifest that those first Blessed men however weak in them selves without force of Armes ruined the Idols of the Gentils and converted innumerable to Christ Ergo they wrought great Miracles answerable to that Ruin and the admirable Conversions done by them 19. To give more force to these and the like Vpon what Principles Miracles are proved Proofs I doe not only as S. Chrisostom advises take into my hands the Apostles Acts written by S. Luke where we read of stupendious Miracles but I also reflect upon our Saviours antecedent Promise concerning greater Works and further evince the real truth of that Prophesy by the consequent visible Wonders which those first blessed men wrought here on earth And first I might tell you it is clear from the Prophesies of the old Scripture that the ancient Priesthood among the Iewes was to fail and à new King and Priest raign for ever that à Church once barren should have many Children as we proved above It is again clear that these Prophesies were fulfilled when Christ our Lord established his own glorious Kingdom the Christian Catholick Church and though Iewes seek to darken the light of those clear Predictions yet it is evident that Christ has had à glorious Church in the world above Sixteem Ages which as Tertullian observes stood not confined to one Tertull. lib adversus Judaeos cap. 8. or more places like the Empire of Nabuchodonosor or Alexander but Vbique porrigitur c. has à vast extent is believed every where Reign 's every where and is reverenced in all places Hence I Argue When innumerable worthy How Worthy Credit those VVitnesses are who defend Miracles Witnesses within one only Kingdom against whom never just exception was or can be made unanimously averr à matter of Fact assented to as an undoubted Verity That is held Unquestionable So all prudently judge such à Prince as Henry the. 5th to have once gloriously reigned in England because many worthy Witnesses never rationally excepted against Avouch it as à certain Truth but à far greater cloud of worthy Witnesses members of Christ's glorious Church against whom their was never any Just exception openly declare and
the worthy Bishop condescended and while he was preparing himselfe to offer that unbloodly Sacrifice by Singing the Hymne Veni Creator Spiritus suitable to the A certain VVonder of birds singing with S. Thomas Cantilupe Feast behold upon the Intonement of the first Verse à flock of birds beating their wings and opening their bills sang their musical Notes over against the Chappels window jointly with the Bishop VVhen he began the second Verse the birds with voice and wings applauded as before and so continued their musick strophe after strohe till the whole Hymne was ended The Earle and all who were many that heard and saw the VVonder going out of the Chappel got à full sight of the Birds Judged them to be about forty in number and prudently thought them Ordered by Almighty God to VVitness how acceptable that Oblation was whereunto the Holy Bishop then prepared Himselfe and piously performed 12. VVhat sayes the Dr to this Story taken Se R. S. Chap. 23. page 292. out of the Authentick Gests of our worthy S. Thomas called in my Manuscript the 25. Miracle and faithfully related by the Collectors of those Gests Quoted above VVill he grant or deny If he own 's all as true well might those little Birds to whom S. Francis spake by some Secret and Divine impulse stretch out their necks and clap their wings at the Saints Preaching as these other did at à worthy Bishops intoning à Sacred Hymne If the Dr think's to Discredit the Relation by one of his Jeers have at him I will prove it upon humane Faith far The Dr cannot quilble at this Miracle more creditable than that Calvin wrote his Book of Institutions Or that Mr Dr ever took Degree in any University I say if we rely on Records only VVe should have Good Sport would it please him to Put what I now hint at to à severe Trial. 13. The last exception made by the Dr against the Seraphical S. Francis concern's the bleeding VVounds in his side hands and feet Paris Hist Major Tigur in print 1589. so wonderfully concealed saith our Dr that no man could discern them Shall we silence this Talker by the Testimony of Three irrefragable VVitnesses The famous Matthew Paris highly esteemed by Protestants for his faithful Diligence Se protestants Apology tract 2. cap. 3. sect 1 subd 4. page with me 538. and Sincere Narration of Truth Nay one whom these new Gospellers challenge as à member of their Church VVrites thus of S. Francis Before the day of his death there appeared wounds in his Body hands feet and side freshly bleeding such as appeared in the Saviour of the world hanging on the Crosse whereupon many Cardinals repairing to him demanded what this strange Sight meant He answered this sight God Visibly showes in me that you may believe in him whom I have Preached Christ Crucifyed Yet more These wounds you see in me so open and bloody shall soon after my death close up and be whole like my other flesh Thus this exact Historian and if exact Judge Reader whether the Dr err's not in Bonaveo in vita S. Francisci cap. 18. saying No man could discern them S. Bonaventure à great Doctor and Cardinal speak's largely both of the reallity of these VVounds and likewise of their Visible appearance adding that the wound in his Side pierced as it were with à Lance often sent forth Blood so copiously that his Coat and Under-wear became wet by it All this was Visible Much more you have in S. Bonaventure which I Omit for brevities sake and only note that the Saint indeed endeavovred by all possible means to conceal his VVounds which perhaps occasioned Mr Dr to Say ut eorum occulta mira vis stigmatum manifesta pateret claritate signorum S. Bonav no man could discern them But in vain saith S. Bonaventure For God who to his own glory had stamped the Marks upon S. Francis made them manifest by their own clarity Moreover this admirable Miracle attested by certain VVitnesses Two Popes Benedict the XI and Paul the V here is à Third Testimony have approved VVhereof à yearly Memory is kept by an Office ad Libitum upon the 17. of September I find t is true some little difference in Authors concerning the precise time when these Marks were imprinted upon the Saint but hitherto never met with any man of Credit that Questioned the matter of Fact their Truth I mean and visible Appearance 14. Hence I challinge Dr Still to give The Dr returns no answer to these Proofs weight for weight That is to prove upon Authority equal to mine now produced that my Allegations are false if he failes in this and fail he must what can be more demonstrable than that he speak's at random while by way of Contempt he calls this great wonder upon S. Francis à doughty Miracle Observe Reader Two idle words of Contempt Doughty Miracles the Dr not able to cite one Author contrary manfully Opposes to our Popes and other Witnesses and Thinks that stronge enough to weaken all we have said though thousands and thousands believe the Miracle upon the Authorities already set down he cares not one whit Is not this à doughty Dr 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 1. IT seem's our Dr much Put to it flags extreamly in waveing the main Question proposed in my former Treatises where I required an Answer to such Miracles as have been demonstrably done in our Age as also to others approved by the Church These I urged The Miraculous cure of John Clement at Montagu and largely insisted on that known Miracle wrought at Zaragosa and no lesse fully set down that glorious Miracle manifestly done by S. Xaverius upon F. Mastrillo at Naples I have more over to Silence the Dr related the many clear Miracles wrought by S. Thomas Cantilupe adding likewise that much famed and certain wonder of S. Januarius blood Visibly boyling up and seen by Thousands and Thousands with many more mentioned above all attested by undubitable Witnesses and approved He Shift's off the main difficulty Now our honest Dr without any tolerable Answer given to these Manifest Evidences which should have been his Task wisely shift's of all though provoked to reply and fills one and thirty leaves at least from his Page 513. to page 546. with à List of Miracles which however true in themselves yet their Truth comes not neer to the Evidence of these other great wonders And thus he would remove the Trial of our cause while we produce certain Miracles to the Examination of some lesse clear and certain 2. Before I touch upon some few à few will serve the turn of the Dr ' s long Muster-Role collected for the most part out of Mr Cressy Ioannes Capgrave Ioannes Colganus and Ioannes
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
honoured the whole Church over by all faithful Christians 11. Thus much you have briefly collected out of these Apostolical Letters which Pope Gregory prevented by death could not finish and therefore his successor Urban the VIII exalted to S. Peters Chair of no lesse Power than Gregory both confirmed and published commanding all by Apostolical Authority to receive the Bull as certain and Authentick Subscribed Ego Vrbanus Catholicae Ecclesiae Episcopus VVhereunto is added the Subscription os XV. Cardinals 12. What saies Mr Dr now are S. Xaverius Miracles only pretended Or doth he here find à want of sufficient attestation Is it not Reader more than à little Impudence to question the Attestations already produced You have heard first how King John of Portugal commanded these Miracles to be severely examined by several Prelates in the Indies Spain and Portugal You have heard 2. That these Prelates after an exact complying with their duty made Report to the King and deposed that the Miracles were certain and undeniable You have 3. out of Acosta that the VVitnesses brought in to depose what they knew in their Conscience true were very many sound No want of Witnesses for the Saints Canonization and substantial men You have heard 4. How the whole Processe advanced thus far was represented to the See Apostolick when other Witnesses were examined in the Court of Rome You have heard 5. That the two Kings of Spain and Portugal with other Princes of Christendom made it their Business to further the Canonization upon the Account of S. Xaverius Holy life and glorious Miracles Now judge Reader and this reason convinces who of all these great and wise Princes would have dared think you to propose à matter of so high consequence as the Canonization of à Saint is to the See Apostolick had they not had in readiness the main Proofs alwaies required at hand in such à case Juridically carried on viz. Great Sanctity and manifest Miracles 13. These Princes knew well and all know excepting men like the Dr who never set foot out of England how rigid vigilant and wary Popes are in things of this nature which concern the publick Honour of à Saint and the good of the whole universal Church The Italiens say and it passes as à Proverbe amongst How rigorously the Church proceed s in the Canonization of Saints them It is à Miracle to have à Miracle approved at Rome where an Opponent one excellently well versed in matters of this Nature stand's up when such Causes come to Trial and vigorously denies all proofs that appear not convincing or most morally certain Those who know the Court of Rome can testify that many proofs brought in for Miracles have been rejected as weightlesse upon severe Examination 14. Reader you have heard enough of this rigorous Proceeding through the whole Processe concerning S. Xaverius till at last the Cardinals Patriarks Arch-Bishops Bishops c. Saw all matters clear And his Holinesse declared that full and unquestionable assurance had been given in of S. Xaverius his great Sanctity and admirable frequent Miracles Yet after all the Dr guided by fancy or malice cryes out for Attestations and would forsooth be more inclined Dr Still page 615. to believe these Miracles we are much beholding to his Worship Than those of the Lady of Loreto were it not that the want of Witnesses much retards his beliefe This is only to say Mr Dr will remain in à state of Incredulity though the whole Christian world rise up against him and yeild assent to these clear matters of Fact strongly attested and made indubitable And who can help it if his beliefe be as faint as his few objections are against the Miracles wrought by S. Xaverius 15. One stand's thus awry or rather on no foundation The Saint had not the Gift of Tongues Epist Japan 3 p. 30. as appear's by one of his Letters for He could not reach in Japan for want of Language Suppose this were true doth it therefore follow that he never had that Gift The Depositions alledged prove he was endued with it which perhaps God denyed at the beginning and to manifest his Power the better afterward imparted the Favour I would willingly have perused that Epistle Iapan 3. p. 30. but cannot meet with it Antwerp print 1657. though I have 4. Books of the Saints Letters where I am sure there is no such third Epistle mentioning what the Dr refer's me to nor any thing like it in any third Chapter through the whole 4. Books much lesse in the 30. page I am remitted to If the Dr has any other Epistles I would know where they are printed 16. A second Objection The Dr finds not that S. Xaverius in any of his Epistles made Pretence to the Power of Miracles Though after his death the Jesuits told many Stories of them Answ The humble Saint learned that silence from his great Master Christ JESUS who after cleansing à Leper said nemini dixeris Tell none what I have done And this way S. Xaverius Mark 1. 44 followed when urged to declare the Miracle wrought by him in raysing à young man dead to life in the Promontory of Comorinum He Se this in Emanuel Acosta immediatly before the 8. page blushed and declined an Answer But pressed further said O Sinner VVhat I raise a dead man God did the Miracle When I begged for his life He rose up and This is true 17. A third Objection The Preservation of S. Xaverius's dead Body cast into quick Lime was not Miraculous But an ordinary Effect of Nature saith our Dr because learned Phisicians have declared that Bodies may be preserved incorrupt by salt Nitre or Lime The Dr it seem's has so much Kindnesse as to believe this matter of Fact whether Miraculous or no because Authors relate it Why doth he not also believe those others forementioned Wonders as raising the dead for an Instance upon the Testimony of Authors altogether as creditable By no means will the Dr Say For in doing so he must admit Miracles Reader mark the Genious of this man When à Miracle is clear the Authority of those who assert it is Decryed when disputable as he would have it in this present case the Attestation passes for good but the Miracle shifted off by another trick must be none Thus Authority rises and fall's according to the Dr's fancy for had he truly Judged this incorruption Miraculous would he not think you have said it want's sufficient Attestation You shall se him driven to this Exigency at last after you have heard the Relation briefly set down by Emanuel Acosta cited Ema Acosta immediatly before the 13. page 18. S. Xaverius's Friends saith Acosta buried the dead Body decently composed in his Priestly Vestments And as he desired cast both Corps and Vestments into burnt Lime This they did with intention to have his Flesh consumed and bones transported to the Indies Three Months after they open
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