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
disgrace upon the Authors 13. Upon this ground also we evidently Nor in those who writh the Gospel clear our sacred Writers of the new Testament from all fraud and forgery in their plain Narration of our Saviours Miracles Reflect I beseech you what man endued with common prudence can work him selfe into this perswasion that the four Evangelists who candidly set down the sufferances the opprobrious death of their Lord and Master wherein as all confesse they speake truth in some strange Frolick or other met together and agree'd to tell à false lye of Lazarus raised to life of infirme restored to health that were never What prejudice fraud would have done the Evangelists sick Had this fraud been invented they had not only notoriously prejudiced their own cause but the Interest also of their great Master nay the very Iewes would have decryed all the Miracles they wrote of as publick impostures and if feigned might justly have pleaded No eyes ever saw them wrought whenas the contrary is manifest for they highly dreaded our Saviours Miracles and held them so attractive that if permitted to go on the whole world would follow him Hence it is that that ungodly People never dared in any Tribunal juridically to call into doubt the truth of his greatest Miracles though some whisperers said he cast out Divels by the help of Divels No all knew they condemned him to death not because the cure of the blind man or raising Lazarus from death were judged Impostures but upon this account that final Sentence was given because he made him selfe the Son of God 14. By all hitherto said we se 1. How and in what manner true Miracles objects of sense gained repute in the world and became credible First witnesses worthy beliefe not suspected of By what means Miracles gained esteem Guile saw them wrought and upon their faithful word communicated with other 's the wonders they had seen as certain and undoubted 2. Those first Hearers finding no reason to question the fidelity of Ey-witnesses justly reputed honest prudently yeilded assent to the Narration and imparted to others what they had received from those who saw the Miracles In Processe of time the Report of those wonders spread far and neer gained more ground till at last à publick Fame owned them certain This Fame held on Age after Age handed down by constant Tradition never as I said rationally contradicted is now general the whole Universe over and every way Comparable with the Fame we have of Alexander the great Julius Caesar and other known Heroes whereof no prudent man ever doubted Observe I beseech you how equally the Parallel run's in both cases Caesar and Pompey plain Objects of sense are proved to have had once being in the world because seen by many But Christ our Lord and his Apostles no lesse objects of sense were as visible the parity therefore hold's good 2. The Gests and noble Acts of Caesar first seen Records afterwards preserved None can force himselfe to deny à truth owned upon Vniversal Fame and as good Records are extant for the admirable works and Wonders of our Saviour 3. The Fame of those Heroes and their Gests taking its first rise from Sense became in time Universal and handed down by Tradition lives yet so vigorously in the minds of all men that no owner of this publick Fame can by any violence force himselfe to judge that Caesar never was in being never fought battle the whole Story of Alexander is à fourb c. Thus also the Fame of Christ of the Apostles and their Wonders once sensible and yet upheld by à perpetuated Tradition still remain's so fixed in all minds that unless this publick Fame perish which is impossible the matters of Fact supported by it are without Contest undeniable Hence I propose this Question whether à Iew or Gentile can by violence force his intellectual Power to judge Such à man as Christ such men as the Apostles were never in the world You will say No because they are Truths Universally received notwithstanding the very most of Unbelievers boldly deny the Miracles we speak of and why should not their Authority as much evince A Negative or prove no such Miracles done as the contrary Testimony of Christians avail for the Affirmative in saying Christ really wrought Miracles 15. To Answer the difficulty you have here an undoubted Principle Clear Positive proofs manifest for an Affirmative quite bear down over-weigh in true worth à contrary Negative bluntly maintained without semblance of Proof Should therefore the greatest part of men now living barely deny without Proof Alexander or Caesar ever to have been or done any memorable Action the contrary Positive Arguments alledged for their being would manifestly Show that ungrounded Denyal to be not only weightless but senseless also and improbable And thus I discourse in our present case Positive Ground 's irrefragable reasons whereof you shall have à few hints rationally prove our Saviour and his An objection answered Apostles to have wrought true Miracles therefore all contrary Opposition without Grounds and proofs appear's frigid senceless and improbable Some Critick may object Had as many from the first rise of Caesar opposed his being and Heroical Acts as have gainsaid the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles from the beginning of Christianity that certainly would have much abated the humane Beliefe all have now of Caesar of Alexander Cicero or who you will I answer no Abatement at all while on the one side and this is ever to be noted the Positive grounds for the Affirmative stand in vigour as they now stand and the Denyal rigidly examined for want of proofs comes to nothing but to this vain empty and Idle Assertion Caesar forsooth never was or did any thing worth à man Christ never wrought true Miracles Positive proofs therefore brought to light in behalfe of these Miracles enervate the contrary unproved Assertion and show it void of Strength futile in à word worth nothing 16. Now if you enquire after these Positive Reas and Relig. Disc 1. cap. 3. proofs all clear and convincing whole Volums might be written Some as I argued Reas and Religs remonstrate the Cause by its real effects and set before us à manifest Truth the known Conversion of the world made by Christ and his Apostles without force of Arms or any earthly Allurement Nay upon the greatest disadvantages imaginable because however poor and despicable in the eyes of all yet They prevailed against the rich and powerful and brought innumerable to believe in à Crucifyed man Was it not now that the greatest Philosophers the most Eloquent Orators were deem'd less wise than twelve unlearned Fishermen and did not God set à mark of folly upon humane wisdom in the noble Conquest made by the Divine Spirit that speake in these very men reputed Idiots This prodigious Work most certainly A Proofe taken from the Miraculous Conversion of Nations done whereof see
evidently laid before all mens Eyes in Italy and the famous City of Naples 24. Bolognia all know where you have an Archbishoprick and à famous University in the Popes Dominions is renowned over Christendom and had its Fame much encreased by the life and happy death of à most Holy Virgin called S. Catherine of Bolognia who dyed S. Catherin's Body at Bolognia still preserved entire there about three hundred years agone and lâ—es not in any Sepulcre as the dead are wont but still sit's up richly cloathed in a Chair as if she were living Her whole Body entrails Lungs and all never touched or cut open remain entire and her flesh is yet as supple soft and delicate as when she lived By no Oyntment but her own Sanctity by no perfumes but by her Holy Prayers by no Balsam but her Virgin Purity by no Myrrhe but by her own frequent Tears is that Holy Body in appearance living without à Soul preserved as if it were Immortal nothing decayed nothing putrifyed 25. The Religious Virgins of S. Clares Holy Order whereof S. Catherine was à member often change the Garment she wear's and when The hair of her head growing long is cut and reverently preserved the hair of her head growes longer as sometimes it doth they cut it and Reverently keep the exsect Parcels as precious Reliques Reader These things though strange are most evidently true seen by Thousands not only the Inhabitants there but also by innumerable Travellers who passing through Bolognia have with great admiration beheld the Saint enthroned in her Chair more like one living than à dead Carkasse I have spoken with many Ey-witnesses of this wonder And perused that larger Relation Written by Albergatus whom Petra Sancta cited above c. 12. Petra Sancta cites and wish Dr Still after his other two Pilgrimages courage enough to undertake â third towards Bolognia where if his Eyes dazle not at the sight of à Saint's Body he will find what I here write most certain That done I would have him dive into the Secrets of nature and show me those natural causes whereby à Body dead three hundred years since though exposed to the open Air yea often handled when cloathed and uncloathed can without Incision ever made in it or any Balsam applyed last so long wholly entire as sound and incorrupt as when the Soul was in it 26. That other Miracle seen at Naples where the head and blood of S. Januarius à most Holy Bishop and Martyr are preserved with great Veneration is so certain and famous the whole world over that to write more of it than is known were only to tell you the Sun shines at noon Day In à word the Miracle is thus When the Martyrs head enclosed in à Sylver shrine is taken out and placed on the right end of the high Altar and the blood likewise usually concrete and thick shut up in à little glasse Cruet or viol stand's directly Opposite at the other end the blood visibly Liquifies Bubbles Mount's up and cover's all the sides of the glasse to the very top of the Cruet the Another known Miracles seen to this day in the liquifying blood of S. Ianuarius head removed it fall's down again and remain's concrete as before Thrice every year you have this Miraculous liquifying Blood exhibited to à world of People to wit upon the first Saturday in the Month of May kept in Memory of S. Januarius his Translation and the 19.th of September the very day he was beheaded And finally upon the 16.th of December yearly solemnized at Naples by way of Thanksgiving for à most Signal and memorable favour obtained by the Saints intercession in delivering the City from the burning flames of Vesuvius when some years past it threatned ruin to all Thus much for the usual showing this liquifying blood 27. But the extraordinary Occasions of seing it are more frequent as when Persons of quality or Strangers from remote places come to Naples then with leave of his Eminence the Archbishop the Miracle has been often and is to this day shown to many I VVhen and upon what occasions Shown have treated with four or five of these Ey-witnesses and found all agreeing in one and the same Relation though none more exact than F. Godefridus Henschenius and F. Daniel Papebrochius to whom we may justly add that large and full Relation penned by F. Iohn Rho à great Preacher who after his Lent Sermons ended at Naples anno 1644 was so singularly favoured by the Archbishop for à reward of his labours as not only to se the Blood boil up which he diligently observed but also to hold the glass Viol in his hands for à long time together and show the Motion of it to à world of People then present You have F. John Rho's ample Silvester Petra Sancta Cited under the Title Miracula perpetua p. 118. Relation in Petra Sancta where he call's God to witness that he Writes nothing in his letter to F. Silvester but what his own Eyes with many other Spectators beheld and most carefully took notice of and whoever Saith he had seen the stupendious bubling up of that Blood as we saw it and had not been strucken with à Sacred horrour would have been thought no man but à block or stone unworthy humane Conversation 28. F. Rho also tell 's à strange Accident which happened that very day he saw the Miracle Some of the prime Nobility saith he brought along with them two Turks Captives Then in the service of the Noble Princesse Squillaci These two by the Cardinals command placed neer the Altar attentively observed the Miraculous motion of the blood and returned home with many sad and pensive thoughts The one next morning came to the Jesuits Convent in Naples and told the Fathers VVhat once happened upon the sight of this liquifying blood he had à strange Vision the night past and à Command also forthwith to become Christian having seen enough the day before to work that change in him for said he the stupendious motion of that Blood I clearly saw has made so deep an impression in my Soul that I cannot rest until I be Baptized and professe my selfe à Christian The other of à harder heart ingenuously confessed he had clearly seen the blood rising up to the top of the Viol there boyling and bubling but that he could not desert Mahomet's Doctrin because he thought both Christians and Turks may be saved though of different Religions Quid ego hîc mi Silvester dicam What shall I say here dear Friend add's F. Rho ' but that according to our Saviours words one was assumed and the other left abandoned because negligent when called to Repentance 29. Great Multitudes have been coâ—â—erted to the true Catholick Faith by the Sight of Greâ—t Conversions wrought by it this undeniable Miracle which works so powerfully upon the minds of all who se it saith Franciscus Petri in his excellent
ad Timo. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. that is Hom. 10. Chrysostom is more forcelesse where the Saint Demands From whence shall Christians now be moved to believe From Signs or Miracles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but these are not wrought Here the Dr fraudulently leaves off To unbeguile the Reader know that the Saint inveighs against the reprehensible Manners of many then living who too much loved Themselves desired to appear great in the World and had à horror to think of Death Then he Ask's how can these men be brought to Believe What by Signs or Miracles But these are not now wrought By the Holy and Saintly lives of others Alas they are not now seen By laudable Works of Charity There is no Vestigium of them amongst men And we saith the Saint are the cause of these Evils whereof we must give account to God Let us therefore awake out of this drowsiness and amend our lives c. Say now I beseech you can any Inferr hence when S. Chrysostom speak's like à Preacher that he really Judged there were none the whole world over that loved God in those Dayes but sought them selves Honours or Dignities None the whole world over that gave Evidence of à Vertuous life None the whole world over that did any works of Charity It is highly senceless and no less is it improbable that the Saint Judged no Miracles were then done in any part of the whole Christian world when he knew not what passed the Tenth part of it All therefore he saith is that God ceased to shew new Signs to such lewd Livers who if Christians had Miracles enow partly recorded in Scripture partly known by the History of all Ages abundantly sufficient to awake them out of their Dulness and draw them to à better Life 18. Another Quotation contain's nothing like S Chrys l. 4 de Sacerd. cap. 4. à Difficulty where S. Chrysostom speak's worthily of S. Paul and prefer's the Apostle before men then living Though saith he I speak not this to insult over any in our time yet I cannot but wonder at their boldnes who dare compare Them selves to this great Doctor Alas were all our men assembled together in one place and should with à thousand Prayers and tears begg the favour they vvould never do so much as S. Pauls hanker-chief did Most true Doctrin because Miracles Miracles are not infallible wrought at the Prayers or tears of pious men being God's free Graces bestowed upon what Persons Providence pleases best knowing our Necessities are not infallibly wrought at à Call or when men though most Pious and devout would have them done Whence it is that many great Saints have wrought fewer Miracles than others Perhaps less eminent in Vertue Saints may humbly pray that God manifest his Power when and as often They Judge Circumstances require it But still with à perfect Resignation to his Pleasure but to pray to shed tears for more would be insoleney and justly deserve reproof 19. The Author of the Imperfect work Author oper Imperf Hom. 49. in Matt. Bellar. de Script Eccles verbo Chrysost Quoted also by the Dr hath little credit with us First because an Heretick either composed it or at least corrupted the Work as Bellarm in Witnesses 2. Upon this Account that it contain's Evident contradictions for there the Homousiani are called Hereticks and yet to affirme that the Son is lesse than the Father is held an Heresy Se Bell. cited 3. In this very 49. Homily An Author quoted by the Dr that speak's Contradictions it is said that formerly true Christians were Differenced from the false by the Miracles which they wrought false Christians Saith he shewed nothing but empty Signs the true Christians wrought true Miracles soon after we are told that this working of Miracles is vvholly taken avvay A plain Corruption contrary to S. Chrysostom's express Doctrin above where he Saith that God never ceased to vvork Miracles in every Age And such as the Apostles vvrought Yea more numerous in after Ages and in that Sence greater though inferiour to the Apostles Signs if we respect the singular Priviledge of the Ordinary Power granted those first great Masters whereof enough is spoken already 20. Our good Dr having done with S. Chrysostom methinks unseasonably enough return's to Capgrave and Colganus and after à Rehearsal of some strange Wonders related by them debates à Question little to our Purpose Whether any since the Apostles times had the Gift of speaking divers Tongues or were understood Some say Yea others No which proves if the Writers be truly Quoted that some have erred light where you will whereof more hereafter it little import's our present Controversy I therefore wave the Parergon and will Examin other Testimonies alleged by the Dr proving as he Thinks that all true Miracles ceased after the Apostles time and one cited by Mr Dr is the Chancellour of Paris Gerson contra sectam flagelantium tom 1. page 641. Iohn Gerson who favovred not that Sect of men whipping themselves to blood neither liked he Those that spake of new Miracles to confirm the neer Approach of the Day of Judgement or the speedy comming of Antichrist But call's them Phansies and old mens Dreams Thus farr the Chancellour speak's with great Reason And most judiciously add's That Miracles now à dayes are to be held much suspected Nisi prius factâ examinatione diligenti Unless first rigidly examined which Exception implies no Denyal of Miracles but rather Supposes them wrought Soon after followes Gerson's Letter to S Vincentius 21. Reader I have perused that Letter twice and find that Dr Still most injuriously imposes two things upon Gerson which he never wrote in this Epistle The one That he expresses no great Admiration or esteem of S. Vincentius whereas the contrary is evident For he calls him à most famous Doctor and one that Zealously sought the Good of Souls That he had heard much of his renown by the report The Dr deal's most unworthily with the Chancelour Iohn Gerson of the General of his Order c. The Second falsity is intolerable which yet the Dr Writes in à different Character This Author saies he and he alludes to Gerson or to none makes no other Difference of Signs Than that the Miracles of false Christians were only in appearance whereas the Miracles of true Christiant were real and benefical to the world But now and this I except against This vvorking of Miracles is vvholly taken avvay and only false Christians Pretend to it Thus the Dr and brag 's when he has done of his Quotation being so strong That he expects no other Answer to it than calling the Author of it Heretick Reader all is most false there are no such words in Gersons Epistle nor any thing like them How the Dr will clear him selfe from worse than Jugling here I know not while he made use of the same Edition I have before me as appear's
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
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