seem's to contradict Mr Dr and call's himselfe Gilbert Burnet this Gentleman ascribes great power to evil Spirits and Mr Burnet in his Rational Method for the proving the Truth of Christiā Religion c. page 24. and 25. saies Miracles cannot Determine his beliefe without some what previous to Miracles Then concludes The first and great Argument for the proof of Christian Religion is the purity of the Doctrin and the Holiness of its precepts which are so congruous to the Common Impressions of nature and reason I may here first Ask Mr Burnet of what Christian Religion he speaks There are Arians in the world that deny the Mystery of the Sacred Trinity and the Incarnation also Pelagians that deny the necessity of Divine Grace Grecians that deny the Procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and Son and finally Catholicks that believe these denyed Articles as Truths revealed by Almighty God All goe under the name of Christians And as you see contradict one another in the Very Fundamentals Mr Burnets Discourse found Weightles of Faith Speak out Mr Burnet the Difficulty here moved must not be flightly passed over is the Doctrin of so many dissenting Spirits in fundamentals pure Are the Precepts whereby every Society is obliged to follow the Doctrin it makes profession of Holy and Congruous Is it suitable to the Common Impressions of Nature and Reason Put us not off but Answer directly or point me out plainly that Society of Christians whose Doctrin only is pure and Percepts Holy or which is deemed by the wisest of the world so congruous to the Common Impressions of nature and reason If you extol your Puritans upon the account of their Pure Doctrin or your Protestants for Holy Precepts your first Reformers Luther Calvin Beza and the like will lay so much nastiness before your Eyes that the common light of Nature cannot but decry it as shameful and reason abhorre it Moreover you have not within the whole latitude of Protestancy as Protestancy one essential Article Se Reason and Religion Disc 1. c. 20. num 4. of Christian Doctrin pure For you have none at all Essential which is not either Popery and that 's no Doctrin of Protestancy as Protestancy or the long since Cashiered Opinions of condemned Hereticks as is amply proved in another Treatise A word now to your Exceptions against Miracles 12. You say 1. Some what previous to Miracles must have place ere we believe Christ's Doctrin and you build much upon its Congruity to the common Impressions of nature and reason Good Sr is the Sacred Mystery of the Trinity I hope you believe it which as Divines teach is above reason and transcend's all natural Discourse so Very congruous to the common Impressions of nature Our Lord Christ JESUS you know truly God and man after his painful labours was scourged and crucified by impious hands à scandal to the Iewes saith S Paul and foolishness to the Gentils Is this great Mystery 1. Cor 1. 2. 3. think ye so Very Congruous to reason You may say as the Apostle Writes that God to confound the wise made choise of things foolish in the eyes of men and of weak things to confound the strong But in doing so you run out of the reach of all natural Impressions and take your Proof from Divine Revelation so that if we yeild The high Mysteries of Faith transcend reason assent to these great Mysteries we are not to fix it upon any natural Principle but must believe because God has revealed them Now further But no man according to the present Order of Providence could ever prudently believe the Truth of that Revelation or own the Mysteries revealed evidently Credible Without Miracles and other prudent Motives Therefore Miracles Gods own Signatures were both necessary and ever previous to that firm assent which the Primitive Christians yeilded to the sublime Mysteries of Faith 13. Shall I prove what is here asserted by one clear and convincing Instance Suppose Almighty God should please to single out now Twelve poor Fishermen and impart many great Secrets never yet known to the world which cannot be known before they Preach Having commission from God they run from City to City and because so commanded faithfully declare what God told them For example The precise time of Antichrist's comming when the Day of Judgement will be how many are elected to eternal Glory how many rejected with other unknown Secrets but in the mean while A clear Instance proving what is asserted work no Miracles show no supernatural Signs only Speak and Preach Would prudent men think ye believe such Teachers or yeild assent to their Doctrin having no rational Motive to ground Beliefe upon But their bare word It is impossible Had therefore the blessed Apostles poor unlearned Fishermen by words only laid forth the Mysteries and high Secrets of our Faith had they only spoken of the sacred Trinity of that ineffable Mystery of God made man of the Dead rising to life again of the eternal pain due to the Damned and wrought no Miracles or exhibited no exteriour supernatural Wonders whereby to make their Doctrin Credible The whole world would have deemed them halfe frantick and dispised them as cheats or Authors of Novelties We se though they wrought stupendious Wonders yet how lingering and slow many were and are still in believing what then could have been expected had they shewed no Signs but à universal Incredulity 14. You Say 2. The Predictions of the Messias did all agree to our Saviour and received completion in him Very true Answers the Christian though the Iewes deny all and pervert these Prophesies to à sinister Sence And so much more your Barbarous Nations would have done had the blessed Apostles at their Preaching barely worded it or read out of the old Scriptures what Moses and the Prophets foretold of Christ But when they raised the dead to life cured the Infirm and visibly wrought other great Miracles before those they Preach't to the hardest hearts relented and yeilded to their Doctrin These Prophesies therefore are one partial Proof for Christianity but must not goe alone How the Motives of Credibility are to be taken without Miracles accompanying them Or if as taken Solitarily you hold them the chiefe or only motive you evince little The Motives of Credibility Sr are never to be look't on by retail or piecemeal joyned together they rationally convince devided from each other or considered one by one much of their Efficacy is lost 15. You Say 3. The strange Propagation of Christian Religion appear's not à sufficient Proof for Miracles I contrary hold it both stronge and convincing For as S. Austin discourses either The Propagation of the Gospel Miraculous Miracles as previous and the principal cause of that Propagation had influence upon it or not If they had Influence you grant what we plead for If not you must confesse the Propagation it selfe effected without
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
Thaumas Tom. 2 sub Titulo Miracula perpetua of his Epistles to the Tolosians tacitly insinuat's what he had done amongst them where modestly like the Apostle to the Thessalonians he remind's them of his Preaching and Saies it had not been in word only sed in virtute but in the Power of Miracles and the Holy Ghost Read also Bernard the Abbot of Bonevallis of the same Age with the Saint and William the Abbot of S. Nicodoricus and you shall find most glorious Miracles recounted of S. Bernard And thus much of à few choise and most clear Miracles You have innumerable more excellently well set down by F. Silvester in his Book often cited And as great Ones most certain if not greater Del Techo Historia Provins Paraq Soc. Iesu Lâ—â—dy impressa anno 1673. you have likewise faithfully recounted in the late History of Paraquaria Written by Nicolas Del Techo à long time Missioner among those Barbarians The admirable Conversions wrought there the painful labours of those Missioners and the Miracles which God pleased to Manifest for the reducing that uncivilized People to our Catholick Faith are so Prodigious that unlesse they were attested by innumerable Ey-witnesses as all have been some of à far easier Faith than Dr Stillingfleet the most obdurate man I ever met with might perhaps at the first reading boggle à little But their Evidence clearly laid forth takes all doubt away and makes them certain Besides Miracles and innumerable Conversions you have often à Relation of strange Wonders in Nature which may seem to some as incredible as true Miracles do to Many Sectaries CHAP. IV. How true Miracles may be discerned from false VVonders VVhether Heathens and Hereticks ever wrought true Miracles For what End true Miracles are wrought Of the difference between Antichrist's Miracles and those wrought by Christ and in the Church 1. I Here Suppose that true Miracles have been wrought by Moses Christ our Lord and his Apostles and consequently are discernable from all false Signs done by Divels and Impostors or if they be not discernable by some clear Marks but still remain Equivocal or lie so far out of sight that none can difference them from jugling Charms They are useless unworthy God and worthless to all rational men 2. The reason hereof given in another Treatise Protest without Princi Disc 1. c. 8. was much to this Sence God by working Miracles in behalfe of true Religion engages as it were in à Dispute against the Divel and all Adversaries that oppose it and after such an Engagement cannot but Convince and Conquer by the strength of rational Motives but his own Miracles justly and chiefly numbred among these Perfwasive Motives are upon that Account known and made discernable from all False and fallacious Signs Hence I also said No false Sect can either surpasse or match the true ReligioÌ„ in the Evidence of rational Motives that no false Sect can either surpasse true Religion in the Evidence of rational Motives or so much as match it in the lustre of Signal Miracles For had à false Religion more glorious Miracles wrought in it or the like equal Signs all things considered God would not only Stand guilty of arguing lesse efficaciously for his own Verities but natural Reason also would be left in à state of Indifferency no more determined to embrace what is true than false And thus you se if true Miracles ever more speciously set forth true Religion and cannot with the like splendor belong to any false Sect They are upon that Account distinguished from the Legerdemain and all illusive Signs of injust Pretenders to Truth 3. I hold it here time lost to insist long upon the pretended Miracles done by Heathens and Hereticks you shall not produce one wrought by them as Infidels and Hereticks that goes beyond à Legerdemain trick an ordinary Conjures jugling or at most what Spirits can do by natural Causes Wherefore S. Augustin Medina de rectâ in Deum fide lib. 2. p. 65. cited by Michael Medina expresly teaches that neither men nor Divels can by Virtue of Magick effect any other thing Quam id quod antea in utero naturae per Seminales rationes delituit than that only which before lay as it were hid in the wombe of nature Now as God limit's these Evil Spirits so in like manner he stint's the Power of Infidels and Hereticks when assisted by Divels they show wonders Again examin rigidly the Authority alledged for these Signs you will find nothing besides this or that Single Writer who talk's upon bare Hear say only which is far different No Authority for the pretended wonders of Heathens from our Proceeding for we allow no Miracles but such as have been attested by the Solemn Oaths of Ey-witnesses and made good upon all other Proofs possible for mankind to require in à matter of greatest Consequence Observe well the Comparison 4. The Miracles wrought in the Church as we have already proved and shall hereafter demonstrate have been innumerable the pretended wonders of Heathens and Hereticks quite contrary penurious and very few The first wrought by men of eminent Virtue and members of that Holy Society which God in all Ages has illustrated with Miracles have gained renown over all the world Those other dull Works if yet ever done had their being either from no Christians or very bad ones and to this day lie buried in Obscurity The How different our Catholick Miracles ars from others were those pretended ones true first far above all force in Nature show à Majesty in the Resuscitation of the dead and the known cures of desperate Infirmities The other mean and Slender are not when true above the Power of invisible Spirits The First rigidly examined we find as I said upon humane Faith most certain Those other done by Infidels and Hereticks without Oath or Examination are not only doubtful but Judged by grave Authors false Counterfeit or at the S. Greg. lib. 1. 6. Regist Epist 31. most works of Necromancy Wherefore S. Gregory plainly averr's that Sozomenus related many false things of the Novatians Miracles the like Judgement others make of Socrates whether Novatian or no little concern's our S. Austin lib. 10. de Civit. c. 16. present Controversy 5. S. Augustin having summed up the Wonders of Gentils of dead Images moving from place to place of à whetston cut in two by à rasor and such like Trash speak's conformably to what is now said Haec ergo atque alia hujuscemodi nequaquam illis quae in populo Dei facta legimus virtute magnitudine conferenda sunt These and other like Maruels are not at all comparable with the Miracles wrought amongst God's People either in Power Virtue or Greatnes Then the Saint add's Though there be some Wonders that look like things done by Holy men yet the very End for which they are done showes our Christian Works he means Miracles to be in all respects
depend on God as the sole Principal cause and secondly proceed Ex fide being ever done by Persons endued with supernatural Faith and for the most part very Holy and Vertuous 34. Here upon we briefly solve one difficulty which may occurr If false Prophets like Balaam impowred by Almighty God can Prophecy or cast out Divels why may they not also raise the dead convert nations restore sight to the One difficulty solved blind and do all the other Miracles which Christ and his Apostles wrought I Answer all this if Providence to set forth the worth of Faith and to honour the faithful in his Church will have their Miracles great glorious and many Those wrought by faithlesse and impious very few and of lesse Account Perhaps the four or five already mentioned and registred in Holy Writ are the very most or rather all that have been wrought since Christianity began and therefore prove not that the like Shall be done in future Ages 35. Having hitherto spoken of many undoubted Miracles and further declared how they differ from Antichrist's Signs and all lying wonders I might here fitly bring in Dr Still weak Objections and also insist upon his strange Answers returned to two or three great Miracles clearly set down in another Treatise But because the Gentleman most busies himselfe about these matters towards the end of his Enquiry we shall God willing meet with him there and in the mean time to make innumerable most glorious Miracles better known will condescend to his humour and follow him as he lead's us on in his other Pilgrimages to Compostella S. Maximins and so on forward till we have travelled through all the rubbish which lies between his 465 page and page 665. That done we proceed to the end of his Book I call it rubbish it deserves no better name because you neither have one Argument proposed against approved Miracles nor one Authority which is not either openly false wholly weightless or wholly impertinent If I make this out in the ensuing Discourse Dr Stillingfleet will have little cause to glory in his empty Pamphlet if I do not Let all the shame He or any can wish fall upon me Now to S. James of Compostella CHAP. V. In what manner the body of S. Iames was translated to Compostella The Conversion of Hermogenes and Philetus by S. Iames. Of Pope Calixtus his VVritings Miracles wrought by S. Iames manifestly proved against Dr Stillingfleet 1. TWo things may be controverted concerning S. James the Son of Zebedee and Brother to S. John the Evangelist The one whether he ever preached in Spain and this Cardinal Baronius seem's lesse Baronius Tom. 9. Antwerp print ad ann 816. Num. 67. to approve grounding himselfe upon à Contest in the great Council of Lateran between Rudoricus Ximenius Arch-Bishop of Toledo and the Bishop of Compostella The latter thought the Arch-Bishop of Toledo had no right to lay any command upon him by reason of the Preheminence the Church of Compostella had above all other Churches in Spain which he endeavored A Centest between two Bishops to show both because the body of S. James is preserved at Compostella and upon this Account also that the Apostle yet living preached in Spain Rudoricus opposed his preaching in Spain and urged the Bishop of Compostella Num. 69. to make that out verum Succubuit saith Baronius herein he fail'd and gave no Satisfactory proof in that great Council 2. The second thing called into doubt by Dr Still is the Translation of this great Apostles venerable Body to Compostella which happened that very year he was beheaded by Herod at Hierusalem For this you have an Epistle Num. 71. of Pope Leo the third Cited by Baronius where it is said that the dead body being thrown out to doggs and ravenous fowle was Put into à Ship carried first to Iria Flavia and thence to Compostella The manner of its Translation I have now by me which is taken out of an ancient M. S. Cited afterwards The substance wherof is as followes When the Holy Apostles according to the Command of our Blessed Saviour resolved to Preach the Sacred Gospel to an unbelieving world they made choice of S. Tesyphon ordained him Bishop and sent him with other associated Bishops to Preach in Spain then wholly Heathenish and Idolatrous These God inspired to take along with them the The martyred Body cast into à small Vessel Came safe to the Frontirs of Galicia martyred Body of S. James which they decently placed in à small Vessel and more by the guidance of Divine Providence than by the help of any Pilote safely arrived in the last Frontires of Gallicia where then à great Lady called Luparia Lived To her these wearied Passengers addressed themselves and earnestly begged to have à Plat of ground allotted where they might decently bury the Apostles Body But She saith my Relation savage and barbarous in dirision fent them to à Mountain called then Illicinus where à number of wild Oxen ran up and down Goe said the Lady and take of these as many as you can and then bury your Apostle When the Servants of God drew neer the wild beasts their fierenesse ceased and they became gentle like Lambs much after that manner as S. Ambrose in his Haexameron recount's of those beasts that were designed to devour S. Tecla 3. Upon this Sight and another wonder which S. Tesyphon wrought in destroying à Cruel Dragon that ravaged there about by making only the Sign of the Crosse the Lady Luparia or Lupa was converted to Christ and turned Her Palace into à Church Dr Still cites Joannes Dr Sill. pag. 470. Beleth à learned man and Dr of Sorbon in confirmation of this Story concerning Lupa and when he has done as his fashion is refutes it very learnedly by à simple Demand Is not this à Miracle as great and as well attested as any wrought by Christ and his Apostles Good Mr Dr. though we are far from judging either this or any other like Story to be as well attested as Miracles in Holy Writ yet by your leave we may discourse and conclude I think upon grounded Principles that all such Stories deserve not contempt Pray Sr reflect we have in Scripture that Christ our Lord commanded his Apostles to spread his Holy Gospel Mark 16. v. 20. the whole world over we have that they did so we have upon Known History that some preached in the Indies others in England others in different Parts of the Universe and made great conversions justly accounted Miraculous VVe next enquire how or by what meanes these great Missioneries got into so remote places Do Dr Still refutes the Story by Laughing at it not you think Mr Dr were all particulars known that we should discover many great favours Shown those blessed men in their Travels which might justly seem extraordinary and Miraculous Here Sr you have one strange Passage related of S. Tesyphon and his
of his Crucifyed Body And shall we call this into doubt saith Ferrandus when the Queen of Heaven in after Ages gave Assurance of it to S. Brigit Revel 6. S. Briget yet living upon earth The Dr replyes not at all to this Authority but only frigidly Saies it were Good to understand where the Prepuce is It would Sr be likewise Good to understand where your Protestancy was two or three Ages since make you but thus much out upon any Revelation imparted to S. Brigit We will yeild it once à Being in the world yea and more à longer Continuance But never yet could you or any say where or in what place it was The Sacred Prepuce Mr Dr once committed Why the sacred Prepuce cannot be Supposed lost to S. John cannot while so many lay claim to it be supposed lost In case some be mistaken in judgeing they have it and have it not the Errour arising out of invincible Ignorance is pardonable and in Justice not imputable O but Saies our Dr The same worship is given to all those places where its thought to be And as he pleases to Suppose Miracles likewise equally wrought there Answ Where God vouchsafes to work true Miracles by that Relique there I say it is and therefore will sooner grant it multiplyed by Divine Power in many places than unreasonably dare to deny the Miracles I know Ferrandus solves the Difficulty Ferran lib. 1. c. 2. sect 2 another way and thinks those several Prepuces are only so many divided Parts of the Umbelical Reins yet preserved in Italy and other Countries But I willingly wave this Authors long discourse and in lieu of it Propose à second Objection 19. S. Athanasius cited in the 2. Nicene Synode Athanas lib de Passione Imaginis Domini seem's to assert that no other Flesh or blood of our Saviour remain's now on earth besides that in the Holy Eucharist I wonder the Dr makes use of these words because as Quoted by him they necessarily prove the Blood in the Blessed Sacrament to be truly and really Christ's Sacred Blood For if none really remain on earth but that in the Holy Eucharist that most certainly is Supposed to be the true real Blood of our Saviour So if any truly say none is in the house but Peter the Assertion necessarily implies Peter to be there Briefly Cardinal Bellar. de Ecc Scrip. Anno 340. S. Athan. Bellarmine Answer 's that the Book cited is not held the Work of the Ancient Athanasius but of some other Author much later Again Saith he the late Quoted words are not all extant in the Greek Copy of the Nicene Council nor recorded in the Version of Anastasius Bibliothecarius Therefore seem an Addition foisted in by some after the debate had before Pope Pius the second concerning the Sacred Blood of Christ Moreover saith Bellarmine to Assert that none of our Saviours Blood remain's on earth besides that in the Holy Eucharist contradict's the Tradition of the Church of Mantua which glories in preserving part of the Blood which truly issued out of our Saviours Side and Pope Leo the third then eight hundred year's past declared it to be so who as many French Writers recount went at the Instance of Charles the Great to Mantua with Intention to be informed of the Truth as likewise of the Miracles wrought there by Virtue of that precious Treasure where the Pope receiving full Satisfaction approved all by à special Bull as Baronius cited by Bellar. witnesses For à Baron tom 9 ann 804 Parisiens in Henrico 3. Rege Angliae p. 717. Conclusion of this whole matter Bellar. quotes Matthew Paris who Saies that the Patriarch of Hierusalem sent to Henry the third King of England à little Vial containing à rich Present the Very true Blood of our Saviour which was received with great joy and Veneration all England over Our Catholick Bishops then preaching in their several Districts highly esteemed the Gift and shewed of what worth it was with much Zeal and fervour 20. Ferrandus Quots these words out of Pope Ferran sect 1. Pius his Bull. Veritati fidei c. It is no way against Faith to affirm that our Saviour in memory of his Sacred Passion left here on earth some parts of his own precious Blood whereunto besides Leo the third two other Popes Sixtus the Fourth and Julius the Second accord with à whole Legion of Catholick Divines saith Ferrandus The Testimony also of Euthymius Euth Monachus Zigabemus in coufut Sectae Saracenicae in his Confutation of the Ismaëlits or Saracens is here most memorable Non umbram Christi c. The Blood saith he which ran down from the Body of our Crucified Saviour proves that we have not à bare Shadow or Semblance of Christ but Christ really Crucified in mortal Flesh This Blood is yet kept amongst Christians and visibly boyling up cures many Diseases and that it is our Redeemers Blood most clear and uncontestable Miracles make manifest I hope These few Authorities and many more alledgeable may happily teach the Dr to rule his Tongue better and to Surcease from his roaring out against our abusing Mankind with Vials and turning the most Holy Religion in the vvorld into à meer Shevv and Ceremony Meer empty and peevish words void of weight and all shadow of Reason 21. A third Objection All the Blood of our Saviour Shed in his Sacred Passion vvas as many hold reassumed at his Resurrection Answerable to an old Maxim Quod semel assumpsit non demisit The Dr to his shame blindly stumbles upon the Difficulty after he had as it seem's read Ferrandus his clear Solutions but was willing to Ferran cited sect 7. conceal what he would not have à Reader know Briefly None Saith Ferrandus can Assert that our Saviour reassumed all the Parts of matter added to his Sacred Body by continual Nutrition without making it of à monstrous Bignesse yet those particles once were united to his Divine Person though never reassumed Why Therefore may we not Say that as our Redeemer left on the one side great Quantity of his Blood as à Testimony of his dear Affection to Mortals who reverently preserve it so on the other when he rose from death He resumed so much Vital Blood perhaps saith Ferrandus taken from some other matter as was sufficient to constitute his Glorious Body in à perfect State of Immortality Again were it needful Why might we not assert that that copious torrent The Dr may think this Doctrin Strange But that 's no matter Let him read Divines of Blood which fell from Christ in his bitter Passion remain's yet Hypostatically Vnited to the Divine Person His dead Body lying in the Grave retained still all confess the Hypostatical union and so did his glorious Soul in Lymbo Though all that time far distant from the Body In like manner that precious Blood which plentifully gushed out of his Veins
of his high contempt of Religious Orders approved by the Church of his grosse undervaluing Baronius Canisius Lorinus and other more learned than himselfe may please to Peruse Raynaudus in the following Quaeries 31. Yet halfe is not said of Launoys virulent Launoy's strange contempt of Authors Spirit who accounts all lying Impostors petulant Scythians Divulgers of old wives fables sellers of Trifles that dissent from his perverse and crooked Judgement in so much that the Censure of Julian the Apostata fits him right No Savage beasts seem more deadly Enemies to man than some Christians are in their Writings against Christians whom they seek not only to Torment but if possible to tear in pieces And thus much of John Launoy our Dr Still learned Sorbon Ds as like to like as an Egg to an Egg Launoy worse in this that he bear 's the name of Catholick whether really so is best known by his Writings 32. Who desires more of this Subject may please to Peruse the two Authors already cited Ioannes Guesnay and Monsieur Denys Both goe hand in hand together build upon the same Fundations and dissolve Launoys Arguments much after the same manner Their Assertion is That S. Mary Magdalen Lazarus Martha and S. Maximin arrived as you have heard at Provence in France where Blessed Magdalen dyed One Proof hereof is taken from à never interrupted Tradition received not only in France but all over Italy Germany Spain and Rome also And it seem's hard that à Consent so Universal should be grounded on à Fable The general Approbation of Popes yeilds à second and most convincing Proof You 28. Popes have approved the Reliques at S. Maximins may reckon saith Monsieur Denys in the Bullarium of S. Victor at Marseils and the Monastery of the Holy Order of Preachers at S. Maximins 28. Popes that by several Bulls have approved the Reliques in those places and some in express Terms honour them by the name of Blessed Magdalen's Reliques Boniface the VIII Charles the second King of Sicily and Count of Provence speaking of S. Maximin's Church plainly Say That S. Mary Magdalen's Body lies buried there Pope Benedict the XI uses the like expression in his Bull. In qua quiescit corpus Mariae Magdalenae Et apres saith Denys pag. 10 n. 18. at these words La cinquieme L'Authorite c. Denys nommant La Sainte Baume makes mention of à Holy Grot or Cave where the Saint lived à Penitential life The work would be long for my short Discourse to name other Popes recounted by Denys upon this matter Please yet to know that Clement the VII comming to Marseils would not return to Italy before he had done his Devotion to S. Magdalen's Holy Cave and the Church of S. Maximin where he said Masse and imparted an Indulgence to all those who upon the day of her departure out of this life and her Translation the 16. of June should visit the said Church of S. Maximin This great Prelate moreover desires That the Church of S. Maximin where the Head of S Mary Magdalen is seen upon the high Altar and we saith the Pope Celebrated Divine Masse be frequented with all due respect and Honour Gregory the XI who removed the See Apostolick from Avignion to Rome enriched S. Maximin's Church with great Gifts before his return to Italy Benedict the XIII in time of the Schism visited S. Mary Magdalen's Holy Cave and the Church of S. Maximin said Masse there which done he gave an Indulgence annexed to the day of the Saints Translation to Friday also in the Holy week when the Miraculous Vial visibly liquisies and boyls up as is already noted I am forced to omit much collected by this industrious Author who exactly point's at the year the day of every Bull and Visits made by these now named Num. 19. and other Popes there mentioned Whence he concludes upon those clear matters of Fact That the Reliques preserved at S. Maximin's are the true and Authentique Reliques of S. Mary Magdalen Now if so many Popes have both reverenced and approved these Reliques you must either rashly impeach them of Oversight and knavery in their approving Fables for Truths or ought prudently to acquiesce in their Judgement with the rest of the Christian world 33. A third Proof is taken from many Synodes and Provincial Councils held in France Another Proof taken from Provincial Councils where the fore mentioned Reliques have been approved And S. Caesarius Archbishop of Arles at the Instance of Theoderick Count of Narbon and Provence presided after that Prince had built à Monastery of Canon Regulars at Pinance and Nobly enriched it with the Reliques of S. Denys num 20. Mary Magdalen Monsieur Denys mentions other Synodes His 4. Proof is deduced from many Martyrologes extant in France That of S. Francis his Holy Order has these express words Decimo Calend. Augusti At Marseils The birth day of S. Mary Magdalen who after Christ's Ascension cast into à Bark was by Divine help carried into France and there made à happy End Se more of this Num. 22. Subject at the number here cited A fift Proof is taken from Signal great and most evident Miracles wrought at S. Maximins by the Intercession of S. Mary Magdalen The blind have received then sight the stark deaf their hearing the Lame their Limbs the dumb their Speach and incurable maladies have by God's Assistance been cured in that Holy place See Denys cited Num. 26. A Sixt Proof this Author calls the Magdalen's Triumph exhibited not only in Provence Num. 27. But all Nations over as appear's by the Honour which the greatest Persons in the world have given and still give to S. Magdalen's Holy Reliques at S. Maximins See à large Catalogue of powerful Kings and Princes of Queens Dukes and Dutchesses of Cardinals and Prelates that have gone on Pilgrimage to these Holy Reliques and honoured the place where they are with most rich and noble Presents It is also Num. 14. memorable what my Author Writes of the People within the Territory of Arles accustomed upon People yearly repair to the Seaside and thank God for the happy arrival of the Saints Thursday in the Holy week after their Visiting the Parish Church and Two little Chappels To repair to the sea side where prostrate on their Knees They offer up their Prayers and Thanks to God for his careful Providence had over the little Bark that conveyed the Saints Magdalen and Martha with the rest to their Coast where they safely landed This Custome has been ever since They arrived and the Continuance of it from Age to Age handed down by Constant Tradition seem's à convincing Proof while no man can Show it began in any latter Century 34. Hence we Discourse If Popes Kings Princes and Prelates if whole multitudes of People rich and poor noble and ignoble account as we have heard the arrival of these Saints to Marseils an undoubted Verity
Thus it is plain that no other but God called up Samuel who by Divine illumination Prophecyed so exactly of that wicked King's End and the death of his Sons which Divels naturally could not foretel In like manner we read in Scripture that when King Ochozias lying 4. Reg. 1. v. 2. 3. sick sent Messengers to question Beelzebub the God of Accaron and enquired whether he was to dye or no Almighty God to prevent the foolery commanded Elias to tell the King he should not rise from his bed but dye And thus in raising Samuel the true Messenger he prevented the Pythonissa's Enchantment if yet she used any whereof Scripture gives no light at all My Assertion therefore remain's Firm that Divels cannot raise the dead 16. Neither can they cure any desperate Infirmity though in lesser matters much may be Desperate diseases not Curable by Divels done by natural remedies but to restore Sight to one borne blinde to take à Leg or Arm cut off and joyn it again to à maimed Body are cures above the power of Divels and were never yet wrought by Necromancie Again when circumstancies plainly show that all cures wrought by Christ and in the Church were done by Divine Virtue it 's madness to make the Divel Author of them Our Saviour cured the blind man and said he did it that God's works might be manifested John 9. had the Divel think ye any hand here Others implore help from the blessed Saints in Heaven and after earnest prayer recover perfect health suddenly can such works be ascribed to Divels or Necromancy when the very circumstances of their Prayers directed to Almighty God and his Saints evidence the contrary Reflect I beseech you Shall God and his Saints be called on for à Favour and must the Divel interpose his Art and do it All is ridiculous 17. The second thing gathered from this A Comparison between the primitive Miracles and those wrought in the Church whole Discourse and most to be reflected on is the comparison made between our Saviours Miracles and others wrought in the Church Those firâ—â— before Scripture registred them were rationally proved upon humane Faith works of à Divine Power and so are all Church Miracles when attested upon Oath or seen by many Ey-witnesses whose credit was never stained The Dr therefore must either prove such sworn Persons perâ—ured and those Ey-witnesses deluded in what they saw or if humane Faith be in the world he cannot but grant that the Church has had most glorious Miracles wrought in It. In case he say he will not yeild assent to any though svvorn Ey-vvitnesses of à Miracle I Ask what if he had lived in our Saviours time and only heard by à Moral certain report of Lazarus raised to life would he not upon humane faith have prudently yeilded assent to that known and much famed Miracle If not Why should any other rational man have then prudently assented to it upon humane faith Why should not all in like manner have suspended their assent and believed nothing till Scripture registred our Saviours Miracles which would therefore like dead Signs have lain in obscurity without Universal Fame never so much as prudently spoken of Neither could they then have had any Influence upon Faith in those Dayes before mens eyes saw them Written in Holy Scripture Such consequences if granted are desperate and would be decryed as pernicious the whole Christian world over 18. It may be the Dr will say the Reporters Latter witnesses as faithful as those were who saw the primitive Miracles of our Saviours Miracles were far more honest and faithful than those are who either saw or wrote of Miracles done in the Church And therefore upon their word he would have believed those Ancient Miracles Mr Dr let us not word it hut come to Principles Show me what you have against the honesty and sincerity of S. Ambrose of S. Irenaeus S. Austin S. Ierome and S. Bernard who both saw and have Written of Miracles What exception have you against those who saw Miracles wrought by S. Thomas Cantilupe by S. Xaverius to say nothing of others Discredit these Ey-witnesses if you can But fob us not off with à proof taken from your own Incredulity that signifies as little as your many empty words and simple Jeers doe we require stronger proofs from à Dr of Divinity but God only knowes when they 'le see light ever or never 19. The Dr thinks we of the Roman Church page 699. can give no evident Distinction between the Miracles we pretend to and such as we are bid to beware of he means Legerdemain Miracles This Cavil also impugn's our Saviours Miracles which the Iewes rejected as Hereticks doe the Churches My answer is Just as you distinguish between those Primitive Miracles and all false lying Wonders so we distinguish between our Miracles and those other pretended to by Heathens and Hereticks The outward appearance The Churches Miracles are as well distinguished from Lying wonders as the ancient Miracles were of Christ's Miracles and the Churches is the very same Lazarus raised to life lived afterward many year's and so did those of whom S. Irenaeus cited speak's Now if you credit not Irenaeus S. Ambrose and others who saw great Miracles we are out of all good Principles and must contradict these grave Ey-witnesses because you forsooth are incredulous and will not believe them 20. The true distinction briefly between Wherein this distinction consist's all true Miracles whether wrought by Christ or in the Church and lying Wonders is taken from the Greatness vast number and admirable Effects manifested in those first Ey-witnesses that saw them whereof I have spoken largely above And there noted that real Miracles ever show another Lustre Light and Majesty not perceptible in any Charms or jugling Wonders You Sr say again in the same Page We cannot prove that Miracles wrought in the Church could be done for no other End than to prove the Churches Infallibility I answer first They have been wrought that 's undeniable unlesse all humane Faith goe to wreck for what End we shall see in the ensuing chapter CHAP. XVI VVhy Miracles are wrought in the Church Of their two fold End Miracles rationally prove the Doctrin of Christ and the Church infallible Clear Miracles have been wrought in confirmatian of every Doctrin taught by the Church Of Dr Stillingfleets simple Reply to two known and renowned Miracles VVhether Aesculapius cured à woman in the Temple of Epidaurus The Dr ' s Story of Pythagoras his golden Thigh examined found à fourb or at most Necromancy 1. DR Still in the page cited peremptorily concludes It must be shewed that our Miracles could be wrought for no other End but to prove the Church Infallible Why so Mr Dr Can you show that every Miracle which Christ and his Apostles wrought were done for no other End but to prove Christ's Doctrin Infallible Or did those first great Masters