Sacristy doore and desired another Masse to be said by way of Thanskgiving for the wonderful cure wrought upon her F. Peter Hullin said the Masse whereat she knelt the whole time though as the custome is rose up by her selfe without difficulty at the reading of the Gospel Masse done She left her Crutches in the Church and walked home as sound and strong as ever she had been in her life All these particulars Peronna deposed upon Oath as most true when she was most rigidly examined and obliged by Oath to speak nothing but Truth of the state and continuance of her malady as also of the cure whereunto she subscribed her name Peronna Roault 5. Now if any suspect Fiction or jugling in this Deposition made by the Gentlewoman though methinks it is very unlikely that one who stood in no need of any temporal reliefe should juggle so long or feign an Infirmity for thirteen years together I answer all fear of fraud is taken away upon the manifest proof of these two things 1. That the disease was such in the main particulars as the Patient her selfe deposed 2. That she was restored to perfect See these witnesses named in the first Tome of April already cited health as is now said But no fewer than 16. or 17. sworn Witnesses all named in the Processe or full information of this Miracle gave in Evidence of these main particulars To produce every one in order would be needlesse while hundreds yet living in Calais conscious of the Miracle are ready to Testify it These few therefore shall suffice One à maid Servant deposed she was present when Peronn'as Limbs were so violently rack't out of joynt that she heard à noise much after the like manner as if bones had been broken in her body and swore also she had often handled and seen one of her Legs much shorter than the other the like Attestation other Witnesses gave Fr. John Beaumont appointed to hear the infirm Gentelewoman's Confession at her own house the last Lent before her cure deposed upon Sworn Witnesses of this Miraculous Cure Oath that her voice by reason of the obstruction in her breast often intermitted by continual coughing was so low and inarticulate that though most attentive he had much A doé to understand her Others gave Testimony of her frequent Convulsion fits Others present when the Kings Physicians visited her after à long consultation had upon the disease deposed they heard those knowing Doctors say no Cure could be hoped for So Mons t Valet Judged and the Ordinary Physician then of Calais Mons t Crocque deposed that after many frequent Visits made he had often discovered Peronna so fearfully assaulted with sharp Accesses of her malady and the corrupt humours of her strange distempered Body that he Judged her incurable by humane Art and therefore left all to God's Divine Providence and assistance Now for as much as concern's the Truth of Peronna's speedy recovery perfectly wrought in the Church of the F. F. Minims by the Intercession of the glorious S. Francis de Paula not only the forementioned Witnesses but innumerable other Inhabitants of Calais can and will depose to this day So that if humane Faith be not utterly extinct or of no account among rational men the Relation here briefly set down is upon moral Certainty most indubitable 6. The whole Processe and Information of the Miracle the Original whereof is yet extant in the Convent of the FF Minims at Calais two worthy Priests Robert Feubre Bachelour in Divinity and Curate also in Calais and John Tiffaine Cantor in the great Church there by Commission of the most Reverend Lord Bishop of Bologne presented to his Lordship which done his Lordships Approbation is as followes 7. Having seem and examined the Information given by our command which Mr Robert Feubre Curate The Miracle approved by Episcopal Authority and Dean of Calais offered us concerning the cure of Madamoiselle Peronna Raoult wrought in the Church of The FF Minims this present year 1661. the 9.th of April within the Octave of S. Francis de Paula we willingly acknowledge the Cure to have been truely Miraculous and obtained by the merits of that great Saint And because God requires that his Glory be manifested for favours done above the ordinary course of Nature VVee to stir up Devotion in all faithful People towards the blessed Saints in Heaven and mereover to Convince the Heresy of those who forbid Saints to be invocated have permitted and do permit this Miracle to be made publick and thanks rendred to God and the Saint in what ever Solemne manner shall be Iudged meet and convenient In VVitness hereof we set our hand and Seal Given at Bologne April 29.th in the year 1661. subscribed ✚ FRANCISCUS EPIS BONONIENSIS 8. From Callais we passe into England once à happy Nation no lesse shining with innumerable glorious Saints and Miracles than now God knowes made dimne yea fearfully dark by Sin and Heresy Two monstrous Evils The Sinner want's goodnes and seldom cast's à thought on the Saints in Blisse But Hereticks want Justice and honesty who violently Rob the blessed in Heaven of those Wonders which God Manifestly works by them here on Earth While Heaven and earth abhor's this open Plagiary I call for Justice and due Restitution if any be found so gracelesse as to deprive one English Saint of those very many most certain and clear Miracles which God wrought by him in life and after death I mean our ever renowned S. Thomas Cantelupe Cambden in Britānia pag. 461. London print 1607. that worthy Bishop of Hereford nobly born saith Cambden speaking of Herefordshire who for his Sanctity was Canonized and publickly held so pious à man that he came not short of King Ethelbert Martyr in virtue Nay perhaps excelled him Thus Cambden who it seem's had heard of the Saints glorious Shrine or Monument but saw it not being before his time destroyed by impious hands 9. You have also an exact account of some Entituled the life and Gests of S. Thomas Cantelupe by R. S. printed at Gant 1674. Chap. 20. Surius de S. Tho Here. in à manuscript I have by me great Miracles wrought by the Saint in à late English Book with many excellent Observations made upon his admirable life I esteem the Book and shall hereafter make use of it I likewise much value what Surius recount's of our renowned Bishop's Miracles who made his Collections out of approved Manuscripts yet exstant in Rubrâ valle à Convent of Canon Regulars neer Bruxels where many learned Volumes are preserved and brings to light almost innumerable done after the Saints death He raised to life saith Surius threescore dead and restored sight to 41. blind He cured 21. strucken with Palsies I saw add's this Author in one Volume kept in the forenamed Monastery à Relation of other wonderful Miracles which altogether amount to 425. 10. But Reader the Records I most rely
unanimously teach the Apostles to have wrought stupendious Miracles when at their preaching the Idols fell down and innumerable Believers were gained to Christ therefore the truth attested stand's uncontestably certain That these Witnesses are mighty numerous and without dispute worthy credit is undeniable being justly listed amongst the most wise learned and virtuous that ever lived Such are our Austins Chrysostoms Gregories Damascens Bernards with innumerable others who if occasion had offered it selfe would have willingly dyed for the truth of Apostolical Miracles Now if these Givers in of Evidence Seem not Satisfactory you have yet more viz. The whole humane Authority of Christs Kingdom I mean his Church She both tell 's us what our Saviour promised of these greater wonders and upon the Evidence had never ceased to preserve them in the memory of all her Faithful Children to this day 20. And thus you see that when we took one Proof for Miracles from publick Fame which some may say is fallacious we argued not so pressly as now while we evince their truth by the Testimony of the most choise learned and creditable Witnesses that ever spake since Christianity began And if our supposed Stranger find's not à Pregnancy of reasoning in this Discourse I shall soon dismisse him and deplore his condition as one in whom the light of reason if not utterly extinct seem's more then à little Eclypfed It may be some Critick will Object we have not yet shown how the Apostles Miracles are said to be greater than In what Sence Apostolical Miracles are called greaâ—â—r then our Saviours those wrought by our Saviour For an Answer all know that à Miracle may be considered with à double respect first to God an Infinit Power and so taken the greatest ever done cannot be called à Miracle because the greatest Transcend's not an Omnipotent Power Again consider à Miracle as done by one that has no more force to work it than to move the Heavens under that Notion it justly acquires the denomination of an effect truly Supernatural because far beyond all force in nature You may se what I aime at by this plain Instance Should à Giant lift up à weighty burthen all would Judge he work 's proportionably to his Strength but if à weak infant did so who would not justly proclaim the wonder The Miracles of Christ our Lord rightly compared to à Giant in Holy Writ were effects easily and Connaturally flowing from the Omnipotent Word united to humane nature infinitly in themselves more valuable than all the works of men and Angels but yet lesse wonderful than the Apostolical Miracles if on the one side we regard the mighty Power of our great Thaumaturgus and on the other cast an eye upon those weak Instruments that did them The weaknesse The weaknes of the Instrument hightens the greatnesse of à Miracle therefore of the Instruments whereby they were wrought much heightens the greatnesse of their Miracles Again the Apostles Miracles may be said greater because all summoned together were more numerous than our Saviours 3. They are greater in the Effect witnesse the glorious Conversions of Nations which followed upon the Apostolical Signs and wonders whereas Christ our Lord reserving that Honour to his first Choise and elected Ministers converted not halfe the number while 〈…〉 ived on Farth 21. Thus much of the Primitive Miracles and if any think I have stayed too long upon à known Subject My answer is All that know and own these Miracles as true rationally prove not their truth against Iewes and Gentils wherein I hold Dr Still very deficient Again if I show and 't is my chiefest Intent that Miracles wrought in the Roman Church are not only Defensible but every way firmly proved upon the same rational Grounds as those now mentioned none can deem my labour lost I Say upon the same rational Grounds for hitherto we have waved Proofs taken from Divine Revelation and only pleaded by Reason This therefore we endeavour to Demonstrate CHAP. II. The same rational Arguments whereby the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles are proved euince also true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church Other clear proofs for Church Miracles A contest between Antichrist and Dr Stillingfleet The Dr is worsted If the Church doth Propose Forgeries for true Miracles none can believe Christ's Miracles upon the Vniversal humane Testimony of all 〈…〉 ed Christians True Miracles distinguish the Church from all false Conventicles 1. THe Parallel of these rational Arguments easily drawn from the precedent Chapter may be thus compendiously laid forth to every Reader Is à Heathen as we said to admit the Historical part of Scripture where Christs Miracles are recorded to be as morally certain upon humane Faith The first proof alledged applyed to Church Miracles only as any other known History he yeilds Assent to and if he denies this will he not soon be driven to ground the Denyal upon his own perverse will or selfe conceipted Fancy Nothing can be more clear Say then I beseech you is not à Sectary when he read's the Writings of Holy Fathers and other known Historians where the approved Miracles of the Church stand upon Record in reason obliged to hold these as morally certain upon humaine Faith as he doth innumerable other Passages written in the English or French History or à Iew ought to own the History of the new Testament In case he boggles we shall hereafter so overcharge him with the express Testimonies of Fathers and other choise approved Writers that his bogling will appear as it is Perversness Francy or plain dotage 2. Is it again true that some Gentils and The second proof applyed Iewes also though Adversaries to Christ frankly owned his glorious Miracles Nothing can be more clear But we have far more professed Enemies that acknowledge Miracles to have been wrought in our Catholick Community the Parallel therefore hitherto fail's not To produce à list of all would be tedious à few only borrowed from Englishmen shall suffice His Majesty Rex Jacobus lib. 3. Daemonolog cap. 4. King Iames hold's it true that the Papists really free popossessed Persons of Divels because Orthodox men say so and Ey-witnesses have seen such Miracles done Mr Covel in his Answer to John Covel cited by Brerely Protest Apology Page with me 529. Burges sayes No man can deny but that God after the death of his Son manifested his Power to the amazement of the world in the contemptible Sign of the Crosse which has been the Instrument of many Miracles Brerely again produces à clear Testimony taken out of Dr Boord à Physician who Se Protest Apology pag. 348. in his Extravagants annexed to his Breviary of health after many bitter Invectives against the Pope and Clergy of Rome reports himselfe to have been an Ey-witness of à Gentlewoman possessed with Divels brought from Germany to Rome and there freed from those evil Spirits yea perfectly cured The
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
forgery in Miracles and so do I They moreover tax some Writers off Errours in recounting the Gests of Saints and I highly applaud them when they speak Truth and prove it yet all are far from denying true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church wherein lies the whole Debate betwixt the Dr and me Observe I beseech you The Dr makes à great Account of one Testimony produced out of Luke D'Achery who set forth the Lucas d'Achery lib. 1. c. 1. 2. 3. de pignoribus Sanctorum Paris print 1651. works of Venerable Guibertus Abbot of Novigento where some things thought by the Vulgar great matters though meer Illusions are much reproved For an Instance A Boy belonging to à Souldier chanced to dye on good Friday the People because he dyed that day made resort to his Tomb offered wax candles and other little Donaries as Testimonies of their Devotion Some feigned themselves deaf others lame and the Abbot of that place willing enough to have men think that Miracles were wrought there gave encouragement to à beliefe of these Fopperies Two or three Stories of the like nature Achery relates out of venerable Guibert Immagin all be faithfully told And ask as I did above whether this Consequence be tolerable False Miracles have passed among the Vulgar for true ones Ergo never true Miracles were wrought in the Church I Ask again whether this Argument be not à clear conviction ad hominem D'r Still believes the venerable Abbot of Novigent in the Relation he gives of feigned Miracles which some by abuse judged true Ergo if we plead by the Abbots Authority Dr Still is obliged to believe him when he plainly set's down and own 's true Miracles to have been wrought But most An Argument ad hominem against the Dr. evidently the Abbot confesses à hundred times over that God has done innumerable great Miracles in the Church Therefore if he deserves credit in his Relation of Cheats why should he lose it in the other part of his History 5. Now to point at all the true Miracles D'Achery Lib. de Laude B. virg c. 10. 11. à pag. 302. owned by this Abbot would be à long Task Two or three set down in D'Achery whereof one most prodigious wrought upon à woman called Theodeberta by the assistance of the blessed Mother of God may give Satisfaction to every Reader In à word this Theodeberta condemned to Dy for having Slain à young man that solicited her to Lewdnes after earnest Prayer made to the blessed Virgin humbly confessed her fault and vpon her Publick confession was to be burned in à great Pile of wood There tied to à Stake halfe naked A Stupendious Miracle seen by many Ey-witnesses the wood wholly consumed the bands also wherewith the was bound burnt to Ashes Theodeberta stood still in the middle of the Flame without any hurt at all Her Enemies seing this furiously heaped more wood upon her set that on fire and barbarously struck the poor Penitent with their long Poles but all would not do not so much as one hair of her head nor the Linnen-wear she had on much less any part of her Body received Dammage This Miracle recounted by Guibert in the place now cited was seen and attested by innumerable Ey-witnesses What saies our Dr must the Abbot be believed when he Tell 's us of Cheats and lose all credit while he recount's true and undoubted Miracles Had the Dr dealt ingenuously he should have Said Abbot Guibert 't is true speaks of many Impostures practized in that Age But withall own 's unquestionable Miracles This latter Mr Dr fraudulently omit's and therefore notoriously trangresses against sincerity in setting down one halfe of à Story without the other 6. What followes in the Dr to his Page 610. is such flight stuff as you have heard little worth notice So is that too often babbled out Flaw imputed to Baronius who it seem's mistook the Signification of the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore is mercilesly handled though the Cardinal corrected the Errour before Mr Still was borne Such trash as this out of wearisomnes I passe by and will examin other Quotations where you shall see far greater flawes on the Dr's part than the mistake of à Greek word comes to Of Dr Stillingfleets Flawes in his false and faulty citing Tostatus Roffensis Didacus Stella and Iosephus Acosta 7. Our Dr first Quotes Alphonsus Tostatus Tostat in c. 9 Levit. cited by the Dr. the learned Bishop of Avila and so unworthily pervert's his whole Sence that I am scandalized at the Proceeding Tostatus demand's why God in the consecration of Aaron the first high Priest sent fire from Heaven to consume his Sacrifice And Answer 's the Miracle was not done principally for Aaron but to testify how the Sacrifice of any Priest became acceptable to Almighty God And therefore saith Tostatus there appeared no necessity of having the same Miracle renewed at the consecration of other Priests In like manner add's this Bishop at the beginning of the Primitive Church clear Signs appeared to those who were Observe the Miracles whereof Tostatus speaks baptized and converted to Christ The Holy Ghost Visibly fell upon them in the forme of à Dove as we read in the Acts of the Apostles These words which explain the whole drift of Tostatus our Dr fraudulently omit's But now saith he Such Miracles and Mark the Expression are not wrought upon the converted neither doth the Holy Ghost descend Visibly on the baptized as he then did Afterwards Hee gives the reason why these great Miracles were necessary at the beginning of Christianity Because the Mysteries of Faith are not Demonstrable and therefore when the Gospel was first preached Fuerunt ista necessaria those visible great Signs were necessary to introduce it but now being established there ought not to be any such Miracles Thus most faithfully Tostatus true Doctrin laid forth with the Dr's jugling Tostatus if you doubt turn to the Place cited and believe your own Eyes That done you may justly admire the jugling and too open fraud of this Dr who forsooth because Tostatus Saies and truly that those Visible Signs of the Holy Ghost descending upon the converted newly baptized are not seen in this Age will needs thence infer that he Denies all other Miracles Is this either Conscience or any consequence God showes no more some kind of Miracles Ergo he works none at all May not I truly assert that God in the latter Ages of the Church never wrought so many prodigious wonders at once as he did at our Saviours Sacred Passion when the Sun was darkned the Rocks were split the Dead came out of their Graves c. Can any hence inferr That I therefore Deny all other Miracles wrought at Loreto at Compostella and Sichem Certainly No. Because though I grant not such admirable Wonders ever to have happened since our Saviours death I may yet
afford Miracles in abundance However grant which is not true that God in any one latter Age favovred his Church with á greater number of Miracles than he did the Primitive who can repine at his Providence he is Lord and may do what he pleases Or who dare censure us as Lyars and over credulous if by real Proofs taken from undoubted Records we make our Assertions good and evince the Truth of every Miracle in particular 5. Dr Still after à tedious rambling much Page 667. to this Sence That God would contradict himselfe should he confirm à Doctrin by Miracles contrary to Christian Religion already proved by Miracles à Truth known to all makes this Inference Therefore although in the beginning of à Religion the Doctrin is to be proved by Miracles yet that being once supposed Miracles afterwards are to be tryed by the Doctrin Would Dr Still either prove his Protestant Miracles by Protestant Doctrin or Protestant Doctrin what ever it is by Protestant Miracles I should be better Satisfyed But the Good man offer 's at neither I Answer How Miracles are proved by the Churches Doctrin and that Doctrin by Miracles this common Doctrin often proposed by our Divines All new Miracles wrought in the Church are to be examined and proved by the Churches Authority is True and therefore whatever Miracle after due Examination is found contrary to the Churches Doctrin as it is established and proved Orthodox by the Ancient Signs of Christianity the Ancient Prophesies also by the Sanctity of thousands and thousands and the large Extent of this great moral Body Such à Miracle I say ought to be rejected as false though an Angel from Heaven which is impossible should visibly exhibit the greatest 6. Some hereupon will say Not only new but all Miracles though now old are to be tried and proved by the Churches authority For the first Miracle wrought in the Church was then new so was the second and all other ensuing respectively to the time and place they were done in But all these together cannot if we make á right Analysis be proved by the Doctrin The Difficulty proposed or the Authority of the Church because the Churches Doctrin and Authority is Primarily proved by her Miracles which seem's impossible For who can first prove the Churches Doctrin true or Evidently credible by Miracles and afterwards without à vicious Circle prove her Miracles true by the Doctrin which is not proved true or evidently credible But by Miracles 7. Shall we in this Trial of Miracles try also Dr Stillingfleet's speculative faculty à little Has the like Force against our Saviours Miracles and propose the same Argument against the Miracles wrought by Christ and the Apostles using the very same words The first Miracle Christ wrought was then new the like is of the Apostolical Signs the second also ensuing respectively to the place and time when done was new and so of the rest But all these taken together if we make à right Analysis cannot be first proved true by Christ's Doctrin because that Doctrin is primarily proved true or evidently credible by Christ's Miracles which seem's as I said to imply à Vicious Circle For what can be more Circular than first to prove Christ's Doctrin by Miracles and afterwards to prove the Miracles true by the Doctrin not otherwise proved true or evidently credible than by Miracles What Answer gives the Dr to this Argument Will he say Christ's Miracles are now supposed true I may say as much of Church Miracles But believe it if we make à right Resolution of Faith we are obliged to show our Suppositions reasonable and goe deeper into matters than only to Suppose and prove nothing 8. My Answer conformable to what I delivered Part. 1. c. 6. num 17. in the last little Treatise against Dr Still is thus All Miracles whether wrought by Christ or in the Church may be considered two wayes First as Objects of Sence seen or known by undoubted Witnesses and under this Notion as previous to Faith they illuminate the mind and only rationally move to accept Christ's Doctrin anciently delivered and now taught in the Church But are not the last ground or only Formal Object of Beliefe and therefore Faith depend's not on the sight or bare Appearance of this The difficulty solved or that Individual Miracle 2. Miracles may be considered as most certainly true and this full Assurance of their Truth we have not from any outward appearance for Divels may delude us But from the Churches Approbation which Church is not only supposed but rationally proved God's own Oracle by the glorious light of external Motives Miracles chiefly Thus far led on by reason we prudently receive her Doctrin and say that all new Miracles are to be tryed and proved by the Churches known and received Doctrin what 's Contrary we reject as spurious and false What is conformable when the marter of Fact is made Morally certain we rest in and own as undoubted after this Oracle has sealed Chap. 17. from n. 1◠and n. 38. all up in à Legal Trial and given in her Approbation Se more here of afterwards 9. You will Say if the Churches Approbabation be required as necessary before we yeild An assent though sure implies not the certainty of Faith à sure Assent to the Truth of à Miracle How can we Show that the Doctrin of Christ or the Church is made evidently Credible by Miracles not yet known evidently true when meerly considered as previous Inducements or not firmed by any certain Oracle They move to Believe I Answer Those who heard of Christ's Miracles only relyed on Moral certainty very easily Tell me I beseech you Had all those who only heard of Christ's Miracles and Doctrin far distant from the place where they were wrought any previous clear Evidence of their Truth or did they then believe them by Faith fixed only upon the humane Testimony of such as made à Relation of them It is impossible because Faith requires à more noble Motive The knowledge therefore they had was then only morally certain which as I shewed in the last Treatise is enough with other helps to Assent to Christ's Doctrin upon this Motive that God revealed it 10. By all hitherto noted the Reader may Why the Churches Censure is necessary concerning Miracles see how necessary it is to have an Oracle ever ready at hand by whose Censure and Judgement true Miracles are discerned from the illusive Charms of Divels and wicked men Nothing that is counterfeit can passe this Tribunal Though therefore the Divel often Transform's himselfe into an Angel of light and may dazle mens Eyes with à false Lustre of fair Wonders yet the Church will find him out and lay open the Legerdemain 11. Dr Still told us just now That in the beginning of Religion the Doctrin is to be proved by Miracles Upon à meer Accident I met with à Protestant Brother who
Miracles to have been the greatest Miracle of all Thus S. Augustin Argues and 't is à convincing Dilemma 16. You Ask next what were the stronge Arguments of Christian Religion before it was Propagated Those seemed convincing or not if not convincing it was Propagated by weak and unconcluding Arguments and we are not bound to believe it If convincing we know them or if we know them not how can we Judge they were convincing I Answer this whole discourse built upon two false Suppositions fall's to nothing One is that Miracles either seen or heard of preceded not the first conversions of Christians The other That there were some other rational Arguments as strong and convincing for Christian Religion before its Propagation as Miracles were 17. I say contrary and prove that Miracles preceded all great conversions made to true Christian Miracles were ever previous to all great conversions Religion Those Signal Wonders wrought by our Saviour sensible and visible as rational Arguments first induced the blessed Apostles and some few more to believe in him T is true Christ's Holy life and amiable conversation had great Influence upon minds to say nothing now of the attraction of Divine Grace working inwardly But the Lustre of his glorious Miracles Gods own powerful Language made the deepest Impression on men who were first led on by reason And therefore could not but Discover à mighty weight and efficacy in this one Motive of our Christian Faith Now if we speak of that ample and large Propagation which ensued upon the Apostles Preaching in several parts of the world or of those â— other great Conversions wrought by the Catholick Church in after Ages none can deny but that most Signal glorious Miracles not done to be gazed on ever preceded as à chief Cause and effected that great Work of God among most Barbarous Nations Finally that no other convincing rational Arguments greater or comparable with Miracles can be produced as previous to its Miraculous Propagation appear's by your silence Mr Burnet you alledge none neither are there any alledgeable of so great poise as Miracles were 18. You Say 4. There was good reason to believe the Gospel when our Saviour wrought his Miracles in the Sight of the Iewes and this great Argument the Apostles urged but that reason remain's yet good and still proves it true whether the world had embraced it or not I Answer the reasons were then good because Miraâ—les rationally prove à Doctrin good when an Infallible Oracle tells us what its meaning is the Apostles in those Dayes were living infallible Oracles and could not only ascertain every one of the Gospels Divine inspiration but also when Difficulties arose among the faithful declare its genuine Sence But now yee Protestants Say matters are much changed for there is no certain Oracle no Church taught by the Holy Ghost that can Infallibly avouch these Writings were from God that such and such in the more difficult Passages is their true Sence and meaning So that every man left to his private Judgement may draw what Religion he pleases out of Scripture And this we se done before our eyes by men called Christians yet differ in the Fundamentals of Christian Faith 19. Upon this ground your Question next proposed signifies little What say you if the Gentils had rejected the Testimony of the Apostles as the Iewes did Had we not been bound to believe the Gospel if those sacred Writings had been with à most religious care conveyed down to us Sr Methinks you goe too farr in your Supposition Saying if the world had not embraced the Gospel and both Iewes and Gentils rejected it we are yet bound to believe it Why so I beseech you Upon what Principle are we If all had rejected the Gospel how are we obliged to receive it obliged to admit à Gospel which the whole world all Iewes and Gentils rejected S. Austin you know teaches and I am wholly of his Judgement That he would not believe the Gospel unlesse moved thereunto by the Authority of the Catholick Church which Church I am sure embraces à great part of the world And had in it many who once were Iewes and Gentils Hence you see Sr it is very hard to Suppose the Gospel universally set at naught and that à strict obligation lies on us to receive it But let this passe 20. Suppose we receive the bare Word of the Gospel what Sence shall we make of it in à hundred abstruse Passages what Religion shall we suck out of it Arianism or Pelagianism Nestorianism or worse It is impossible to clear this Difficulty without recourse to an Infallible living Oracle upon whose Judgement all in this present State must rely or can believe nothing You put much force in those who carefully conveyed the Gospel The false Conveyers of the Gospel not found in the Principles of Protestants down to us Very good could such men be found But here we are at à stand The blessed Apostles who lived not alwaies left those Writings in the hands of the Church But this Church saies Dr Still above à thousand years since altered Christ's revealed Doctrin changed the Apostolical Faith and became as Idolatrous as Those who worshiped the Sun or à Red cloath All others out of this Church named Christians were known condemned Hereticks Were all this true no more would I take the Gospel from this supposed Idolatrous Church or these false condemned Hereticks than believe the word of à known Perjured Person or credit one esteemed à common Lyar. And thus in the Principles of Protestants the careful conveyance of the Gospel failing all Faith in Scripture fail's with it But enough of this Digression VVe return to Dr Stillingfleet CHAP. XV. How Miracles are to be examined Christ wrought not his Miracles by natural Magick or Necromancie by stronge Imagination or the different Aspects of Stars VVhatever rational Argument proves Christ to have wrought true Miracles by Divine Virtue as forcibly proves Church Miracles to proceed from the very same cause Though Divels may work some strange wonders they cannot raise the Dead or cure desperate Infirmities Of the Aegyptian Magicians Feates A word of the witch at Endorâ— Other matters handled 1. DR Still thinks it very reasonable for page 668. and 669. us he means Protestants after so many forewarnings in Scripture of false Wonders to Examin all pretences of Miracles by trying whether they can be distinguished from deceiptful appearances which may be wrought by à Povver lesse than Divine Answ I think it also Very reasonable and wish Mr Dr that you who yet never went about to examin one Miracle would undergoe the pains you hold so reasonable Take courage therefore examin with greatest rigour either all or some of those you have in the 3. Chap. above And if you find à flaw in any shame me boldly But I tell you before hand you will have à hard Task For no sooner shall you discredit those by
say 3. Miracles are à Sign 1. Cor. 14. 22. not but Believers to Unbelievers The Apostles words are thus Linguae in Signum sunt non fidelibus sed infidelibus Prophetiae autem non infidelibus sed fidelibus That is the extraordinary gift of Tongues was à Miraculous Sign in the Primitive Church both useful and then Necessary for the Conversion of Heathens but Prophesies belong to the faithful not to Infidels Here is nothing in favour of the Dr. I say moreover as the Gift of Tongues was then à Sign and à Stronge Inducement to an Infidel's Conversion so all the ancient and latter Miracles since have been Signs and Inducements to them But are not so in order to à faithful Believer The Reason hereof is clear All the Miracles from the beginning of Christianity to this day whether seen or heard of by credible Witnesses were shown an Infidel first to evidence the Credibility of Christian Religion to draw him from Infidelity and to beget Divine Faith in him But à Believer long since established in Faith and fully assured of the Verity of Catholick Doctrin as One already sound in Faith requirs not Miracles to confirm it he neither expect's nor desires more Miracles than God's graciously will show So when exhibited he look's not on them as any first Motives or Inducements to believe for he is already sound in Faith and Therefore need 's no further proofs taken from Miracles to convince That whereof he hath full certainty already 24. Contelorius an Author I have not seen Dr Still page 695. saith the Dr tell 's us It is not necessary to à Miracle that it be done for the confirmation of any part of Christian Faith Yet Mr Dr thinks Miracles may be wrought for the Confirmation of some General Truths believed by all Christians I hope those are parts of true Christian Religion But mark the Expression It is not necessary Saies this Author that Miracles be done to confirm any part of Christian Faith Doth this imply they are Though it bee not necessary that God work ◠Miracle to confirm faith yet he may doe i◠for that End not done for that End Certainly no. It is not necessary that Dr Still write more Books Doth it therefore follow he will hereafter leave off Scribling No absolute Necessity forces Almighty God to work new Miracles Ergo God will work no more is à Lame consequence And just like the Dr ' s which run's thus Since therefore the far greater number of Miracles in the Roman Church are vvrought for another End hovv can they prove from them the Infallibility of their Church Hold Mr Dr you goe too fast Your Author only saies It is not Necessary that à Miracle be done for that End you blindly leap further And would thence infer many are defacto vvrought for another End Keep Close to Contelorius his words It is not necessary c And your Inference will be thus or nothing Though all the Miracles which God ever wrought have been done to confirm some part of our Christian Faith Yet it is not necessary that every particular Miracle be done for that End Here is all you get from Contelorius Again Suppose gratis that many Miracles have been wrought only for the benefit of him that receives them How doth this prejudice our Cause when we manifestly make it out that innumerable have been expresly done in confirmation of every Catholick Article taught by the Church as is largely proved already Sec. 16. CHAP. XIX The Conclusion 1. THus Reader by Gods good Assistance we are as you see come to an End of Dr Stillingfleets Enquiry into Miracles A Treatise far more fastidious and tireing than hard and difficult for you have not in the whole Book one rational Argument one Testimony of any Orthodox Church one clear Sentence of à Father or so much as any one Authority of Divines produced against the approved Miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church This I Averr and do it with so great Confidence that I challenge Mr Dr to rejoyn if he can and Disprove what I say Yet after all you must hear the poor man brag as if he had done Wonders in taking forsooth more pains The Dr's Idle brag not meerly to detect the frauds and Impostures of the Roman Church but to preserve the honour of Christianity Frauds and Impostures Dr Not one have you shown through your whole Treatise in matters hitherto debated nor shall you ever show any hereafter You have indeed preserved the Honour of Christianity But Hovv Just as wicked Sec. 17. n. ◠Philostorgius witnes Photius did S. Basil's whom he made more renowned by his Senceless railing at the Saint Your weak Efforts Mr Dr your Calumnies your Taunts your Jeers your open Falsities wherewith you manfully strive to obscure God's own Seals and Signatures are so far from Eclipsing their Lustre that Miracles thereby are made more glorious 2. Reader had this Dr gone about to Disswade from à Beliefe of the Sacred Trinity or the Incarnation because the Mysteries are very difficult and surpasse our short Capacities he might perhaps have had followers and gained some to his Opinion But to vapour only as he doth against A bold attempt to set against plain Objects of Sense seen by thousands plain matters of Fact visible Objects of sense seen by innumerable sworn Ey-witnesses and by that means to hope for Proselyts or to draw one of ordinary Prudence to his Sentiment is so desperate an attempt so profound à folly That the like could have never entred any man's head but Dr Stillingfleet's 3. What therefore moved the Dr to Write his Enquiry or for what End came it forth Was the great pains he speak's of taken to Discredit forged or meer pretended Miracles A needlesse It is hard to say what moved the Dr to write this Enquiiy entertainment seing the Church long since had laid à heavy Censure upon all that Doe so Did he conscious of his fraudulent Proceeding think his Book would take with à simple sort of People that want leasure and Abilities to trace him through his many Meanders Or could he perswade himselfe if such poor Souls were ensnared or imposed upon he had done an Heroick work If so He is unworthy humane Conversation and can hope for nothing but à large allowance of Disgrace before God 4. It may be replyed The Dr verily thought his Enquiry would gain esteem among the learned and be valued of as à singular rare Piece Speak so He Discovers à mighty want of Judgement For how could this man who No applause to bee hoped from the Learned never yet through his whole Book was able to cast the least blemish upon one approved Miracle◠brag of his pains How could he think that the learned would applaud his Labours or so much as take notice of so empty and fruitlesse á work Now that he has not made the least rational Exception against one
A DISCOVRSE OF MIRACLES WROUGHT IN THE ROMAN CATHOLICK CHVRCH OR A full refutation of Dr Stillingfleets unjust exceptions against Miracles together with à large discovery of the Doctors unexcusable frauds Manifest in his many false perverted and impertinent Quotations BY E. W. ANTWERP Printed by MICHAEL CNOBBAERT at the Sign of S. Peter 1676. Permissu Superiorum THE PREFACE TO THE READER A Year and more is pas't since it pleased Doctor Edward Stillingfleet to move some difficulties about Two main points in Controversy and to Show his Skill in Both. The one speculative relates to the Churches Infallibility and the Resolution of Faith The other in the Second Part touch'd upon à plain Matter of Fact the Miraculous Translation of the Hâ—ly house of Loreto from Nazareth to the place w 〈…〉 now stands honoured by à frequent Concourse of People from all Parts of Europe In my last little Treatise I endeavovred to Satisfy the Dr in the Speculative Part and as I think cleared all Difficulties objected against that Miraculous Translation And did this to please the Dr though hitherto He never gave mee thanks for my pains much less returned any Word of Answer Having ended that short Treatise I promised à Satisfactory Reply to the rest of Dr Stillingfleet's many Cavils carelesly thrown out at Miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church And here comply with my Promise where I show that never man had worser luck in any Engagement than the Dr in this undertaken Enquiry His chiefest Aime was as every one see 's so to manage matters as not only to cast à blemish upon some latter Miracles but to disgrace all wrought in the Church though in the Pursuit he shrinks so far as never to meddle with the true State of the Question proposed or rationally to oppose one clear and approved Miracle as you shall see hereafter The Method held by me in this Treatise is as followes I first Evince the Truth of our Saviours Miracles by Arguments drawn from rational Principles For we may I hope suppose this to bee à rational Princiciple That some Books of History universally received are for the Substance true and not wholly forged Thus much only granted I Discourse and require no more 2. I prove upon the same rational Grounds hereafter alledged true Miracles to have been wrought in the Roman Catholick Church and produce many most clear ones seen by Ey-witnesses whereof none ever yet doubted 3. I waite on the Dr in his other Pilgrimâges made to Compostella and S. Maximin's in France and upon that occasion defend Pope Evaristus his VVritings 4. I produce the Testimonies of Ancient Fathers so manifest and pregnant for the Churches Miracles that no Catholick Writer of this Age ever yet did or can speak vvith greater Energy 5. I examin such Authorities and herein have taken some pains as the Dr thinks make most against the vvorking of new Miracles since the Apostles Dayes And I did more vvillingly engage in this particular upon the Dr's ovvn Provocation I desire them saith he in his Epistle Dedicatory not to spare me in this present subject of Miracles wherein I profess to relye on their own Writers If they show me any wilful mistakes therein I will endeavour to give them publick satisfaction Stand to your vvord Mr Dr And if I do not shovv à vvhole large List of many gross mistakes driven on by Malice Ignorance or both I 'le crave your Pardon and vvillingly ovvn my Errour before the vvhole vvorld Reader in this Contest there can be no long debate the comparing Authorities after you have opened the Dr's Book and mine vvill clear all and afford Great Store of Mistakes Now Seing the Dr relies on our ovvn Writers and hopes he err's not my Demand is In vvhat doth he rely on them for Has be any Catholick Author that opposes approved Miracles So it is saith the Dr. The Testimony of those who Dr p. 440. deliver Miracles hath been contradicted by men of greater Authority than themselve I Say contrary The Proposition is manifestly untrue Such men of greater Authority vvere never yet heard of nor can one be named as is made out in this Treatise vvhere you vvill se that the Dr fraudulently introduces Authors contrary to Miracles vvho vvith all might and main in express Terms allow them It is true Dr Iohn Launoy one of little credit as appear's afterwards quibbles at many matters of Fact reputed Miraculous yet never hitherto durst deny the Church to have had true Miracles wrought in it What the Dr Quotes from Melchior Canus and Ludovicus Vives relating to à suspension of all latter Miracles is more than most profoundly simple as you may read C. 10. n. 16. Now if the Dr in Lieu of relying on true Miracles lean upon this fallacious Principle That there have been Many forged by ungodly men and will list these among the Churches true Signs he is unworthy to be dealt with and doth not only Mistake but most grosly Calumniat's Some who they are I know not thought the Dr not to deal fairly in his Quoting Authors whereof be seem's very sensible in his Preface and deem's it so groundlesse à Calumny yea so void of Proof that he desires no better Argument of à bafled Cause than such impertinent Clamours Soon after followes à Brag of à larger Size Do they indeed think me à man so void of Common sence as to expose my selfe to the contempt of every one that will take pains to compare my Citations Have I Books only in my own keeping Or are they so rare that they cannot get à sight of them How then come they to know them false cited Reader I have beâ— me Thanks be to God the Books the Dr remits me to I have compared with my own eyes his Citations and after that pains taken certainly know that the Dr has grosly erred or to use his own words exposed himselfe to publick Contempt For Proof hereof I must speak plainly though little to the Dr's comfort and do make my Assertion good in the ensuing Treatise Not one only but all the Dr's Citations produced against the Churches approved Miracles are either very falsely Quoted Or peevishly perverted to à sinister Sence or finally wholly impertinent to the matter here debated False Citations are many perverted ones more and the impertinent almost numberless To prove every part of my Assertion in this place were to bring back one great Piece of this whole Treatise into the narrow compass of à short Preface However à few hints at some cannot take up much roome It is false though the Dr assert's it That Gerson Saies in à certain Epistle That now the working of Miracles is wholly taken away and none but false Christians Dr p. 688. pretend to it It is salse That according to S. Gregory whatever Miracles we Suppose to remain in the Church we do not look on them as wrought for the confirmation of any necessary Part of Christian Faith
strange as what Bede VVrites though most lamely cast off by the Dr and refuted by asking What shall we think of them Much less can such trifling Questions imply any thing like à strict Examination A strict Examination Reader ponder's first what Strength the Authors have which are produced for à Thesis The Dr weigh's none nor alledges any that calls the Translation of that House or these other VVonders now recorded Fabulous It supposes 2. That whoever denies an Assertion plainly proved and what can be more plain than my alledged proofs for the Translation Is obliged to give measure for measure and either show his Adversaries Testimonies unconcluding or infringe their force by some contrary Reason or Authority The Dr Strangely forgetful of this Duty doth neither But as far as Huffs and flurts hurry him on layes about him lustily You have no more However such faint empty stuff must passe for à strict and rigid Examination May this Procedure hold à Iew or Heathen needs only to Huffe and tell us VVe Christians are all ridiculous in believing à Crucifyed man to be our Redeemer wherunto if he give an Overplus of Ieers easily cast out of an Infidels mouth he proves every whit as much against Christ as our Dr doth against the House of Loreto There is yet more of this ill Nicknam'd strict Examination in the Dr. Reflect à little I Quoted Reas and Relig. C. 8. n. 5. as grave and learned Fathers as ever wrote S Irenaeus S. Basil S. Hierome S. Ambrose and S. Augustine so clear aend express for Miracles that no Testimonies can be plainer It seem's the Dr durst not jerk these great Authors vvith his usual Taunts and Scoffs but betakes himselfe to another Subterfuge men vvho live by shifting can do no better I 'll tell you what it is Very vvisely he vvaves all slip's by these Authorities and though provoked to reply return's not one vvord of Ansvver to any May not this think ye pass also for another Strenuous proof of his Strict and careful Examination Two things may be considered in the Dr's wild Enquiry The one what he hold's of substance in it The other relates to his pretty Mode and odd way in writing To the First I say in à word plain Dealing is best and more amply prove it in this Treatise There appear's nothing like Substance through his whole Enquiry And first if the Dr shift's off all I required Satisfaction in or rather if he wholly wave what the world look's on as most Material in our present Controversy He is far from meddling vvith that vvhich deserves the name of Substance But this is Evidently so Fray Reader reflect à little My desire vvas and is still This all men look on as Substantial that the Dr vvould upon solid Principles Shovv but so much as one approved Miracle forged false or fabulous In Lieu of doing this Mountebank like he step 's upon the Stage and vvould beguile us vvith à varnish of meer painted vvares Idle Stories I mean concerning Miracles feigned by ungodly People altogether as impertinent as if he had told us so many Fables out of Aesop For no more can forged Miracles disparage God's true Wonders than Counterfeit Scripture the Verities revealed in the Gospel Again And here once more vve find à vvant of Substance VVho vvould not have expected from this Man of Words after so many brisk Attempts and flurts at Miracles Some clear Testimonies taken from the Ancient Church from Ancient Records from Tradition Councils Doctors and Divins But herein he is as mute as à Fish and neither doth nor can attaque us this vvay You have heard hovv the ancient Fathers and Modern Authors renovvned upon the account of their Learning and Virtue plead in Defence of Miracles And all the right the Dr doth such men is not to believe them Yet requires that vve credit his Philostorgius his Hazenmiller and his false Daniel de Dieu Vile Outcasts and detestable Heretiques Are vve not thus think ye Substantially Match't vvith Authorities I produce Miracles Seen and attested upon Oath vvrought by Saints and great Servants of Almighty God And He to be even vvith me makes à florish vvith the golden Thigh of Pythagoras and Aesculapius his cure done upon à dead vvoman Both false and fabulous or at most vvorks of Necromancy as is proved in the Treatise I all along insist upon such Miracles as have been knovvn and ovvned by the Very best of Christians And he to retaliate like one that had Vovved never to meddle vvith vvhat is Substantial trifles avvay time in telling long Tales of the Prioresse of the Annunciada at Lisboe and of one Fulco cryed up for à vvorker of VVonders vvho as the Dr vvill have it proved an Impostor I bring to light Miracles so clear and illustrious that none upon the Sight of their Evidence ever yet could though Criticks vvise and learned call into doubt And this Dr to Eclipse their glory fob's me off vvith such as are either dubious or at most but in à mean Degree probable Most fitly did S. Augustine Writing against Faustus lib. 5. C. Vltimo once blame this unjust Proceeding in his Adversary Vestrum oculum malevolus error Saith the Saint Thy Peevish and perverse Errour dravves thy Eye Faustus to regard nothing but chaffe in our standing Corne whereas had'st thou look't about thee thou might'st have found wheat both pure and precious Reader Miracles only doubtful much more forged ones passe for Chaffe the Church relies not on them yet vvith such Deceiptful Baites the Dr like Faustus vvould fain vvhedle us into à mean conceipt of God's certain great VVonders VVhereas the Contrary is evident for false and forged Miracles vvhen discovered as the most have been are so far from fouling the Glory of God's true Wonders that they confirme their Truth and make them more Illustrious Had the Inquisitors or Prelates of the Church think yee vvho left no stone unturned to find out such Forgeries and discovered many upon that Sight à less Esteem of God's Certain Miracles that pass't the Churches Tribunal with all possible Applause No. All thereupon extolled the Churches zeal and Vigilancy having Long since learned from S. Augustine That as Evil has its Good and gives à Grace to Vertue Errour add's Beauty to Truth So these feigned Signs set forth the Glory of true Miracles The Dr therefore get's nothing by his long list of forged VVonders Reader you will find hereafter the Dr's Arguments in this Controversy drawn from Reason as lame and bare as his Instances and Authorities VVhence I conclude that if he bottom his Discourse upon the fore-mentioned Principles And these fail or yeild him no support I rightly insinuated above and here again Say it more plainly That his whole Book is nothing but à Rapsody or à Work too unadvisedly set forth in real Truth not worth Notice or Answer Howeuer because once engaged I haue undertaken à Confutation not ill thought of by good
On what Records we most rely in this enquiry on lyable to no exception are certain and no other than the very Authentique Depositions of Faithful Witnesses rigidly and severely examined in the Processe of our Saint's Canonization The Original Records I mention carefully preserved to this day in the Vatican Library at Rome sent thither by our King and all the Bishops then in England Those two worthy men often cited Godesridus Henschenius and Daniel Papâ—brochius after their visiting many Libraries up and down the world in order to their great Work now in hand had Licence granted by Pope Alexander the VII freely to make use of what Manuscripts they pleased extant in the Vatican and about 14. years past besides other Collections gathered sincerely out of the Original there all the juridical proved and approved Miracles which God wrought by this glorious Saint in number about 429. This Extract or Copy I have now by me very long 't is true Yet pleasant to read where you may see an ingenuous candour and plainenisse on the one side Through the whole Processe And so rigid à Search made to find out Truth on the other as if Damnation had been concerned and it was no lesse in case of Perjury or giving in false Evidence Not one past for an approved Miracle But under Solemn Oath which the examined Witnesses deposed to be most true upon the Holy Gospel laid open before them Some Choise ones mong many most clear and Evident you shall have presently In the mean while it will not be amisse for the Readers better Satisfaction to touch briefly upon à few Particulars whereby more light may be had of the whole Procedure in the Processe concerning our Saints Canonization 11. No sooner had those many Signal Miraculous Wonders wrought upon the living and dead by the Intercession of S. Thomas raised his Sanctity and Miracles to à publick Of the addresse the English made to the See Apostolicke For the Canonization of S. Thomas Fame all England over but the whole Nation as well Prince as People the learned Bishops also with the Clergy and Religious joyntly concurred and petitioned the See Apostolick to have their Bishop declared à Saint in Heaven by whom God had certainly wrought Innumerable Miracles here on earth The most active in this pious Enterprise was the Lord Bishop Richard Successor to S. Thomas who had long lived with the Saint and knew much of his Virtues The Other was Henricus à Schorha deputed Procurator by the Chapter of Hereford that presented à Writing to the Lords Commissioners containing the great respect and Veneration all had of the Saint grounded upon his Virtues and frequent Miracles wrought in à manner dayly at his Monument To this Transcript or Writing ten Bishops all named set their hands where upon the publick Processe in order to his virtuous life and Miracles began The Commissioners appointed by the Popes Holinesse for the hearing all that passed in the Processe were first two Bishops Mimatensis saith my copy Londinensis and one Arch-Deacon called Wilhelmus de Testa besides four Authoriz'd Notaries by the See Apostolick The Notaries Authority stood without limit of time but the Lord's commission Dated the 13. July 1307 lasted only 4. Months and Therefore no more were examined by them The depositions sent up to Rome obtained the CanonizatioÌ„ but 39. Miracles whereunto they subscribed The Notaries Commission continuing irrevocably brought the whole Processe to an end Depositions made and exactly reviewed by the Commissioners à clear Information of every particular was in due and Legal Form sent up as the manner is to the Congregation of Rites for à Further Trial if necessary whereupon saith the Relation his Holyness Pope John the XXII having had by what was done full Satisfaction at the Instance of our King and Prelates procedeed to à Solemn Canonization which was Celebrated at Rome with great joy with greater in England chiefly in the Carhedral Church of Hereford Thus much premised 12. The mainest Point remain's and it is The depositions made by sworn Witnesses are many to give the Reader satisfaction concerning those innumerable Depositions made by sworn Witnesses who brought in Evidence of our Saints Virtuous life and Miracles The Work would be Immense and not suitable to à short Treatise should I run throught all the Depositions with their Circumstances as they are in my Manuscript I must therefore content my selfe with à few only And if these most undeniably manifest prevail nothing upon our Sectaries Incredulity the whole Manuscript I have though I should Transcribe all particulars with their Circumstances as they lie in order would prove inefficacious and do them little or no good at all 13. The first Deponent or sworn Witness The first deponent was the Lord Bishop Richard was no less à man than Richard Lord Bishop of Hereford and it is à Wonder to see how rigourous an Examination pass't upon him in this Tribunal had he been one of the Vulgar sort the Lords Commissioners could not have used greater Severity The Holy Gospel as my Manuscript has it laid open before him with the forme of an Oath presented to every one rich or poor Noble or ignoble He swore according to that Tenor that his Answer to all Interrogatories in this weighty matter should be without fraud and fiction exactly true The very most of the Questions proposed Bishop Richard being one who had long conversed with S. Thomas chiefly concerned the Sainct's Charity Sanctity Prudence Mortification Sobriety abstinence c. where in the Commissioners received full Satisfaction That done the Bishop also gave in Evidence of 3. or 4. Miracles wrought by S. Thomas after his bones had been translated from our Ladies Chappel to his other Sepulcre But because I find the Relation of these Miracles very long having no time to run over The life and Gests of S. Tho. Cantelupe c. 20. from p. 238. the tenth part of all I wave them and pitch upon Some more compendiously set down no lesse choise and clear They are an Overplus to those Six or seven you have already very faithfully recounted by Mr R. S. Cited 14. One clear Miracle was wrought by S. Thomas upon à Child about two years and three Months Old called Roger Son to one Gervase One memorable Miracle wroâ—â— hâ— by S. Thomas upon à Young Child that served in the Castle of Coneweye in Walrs The Child unfortunately fell down in the night time from à Bridge belonging to that Castle into Ditch under the Bridge distant from it 28. foot the mischance happened in the year 1303 and 6. of September The Mother of the Child called Dionisia living in à little House neer the Castle thought her little one had lodged that night with his Father in the Castle but next morning making enquiry after him the found to her Sorrow the Child half naked and dead upon à hard stone in the bottom of the Dith where
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
may to verify that Maximin both be reassumed and yet still remain on earth in Mantua in S. Maximins Church with the Xantons also and some other Parts of Europe And thus the Divine Blood now shut up in our Saviours Body in Heaven And here on earth in the Blessed Sacrament may without Prejudice to Faith be thought Individually the very same yea and were this certainly known adored likewise with Latria or Divine worship I am Sure the Doctrin is held sound by the learned Gregory de Valencia and maintained by many other great Divines 22. Yet Ferrandus Cited § Addo Sudorem Valent in 3 P. Disp 1. quest 5. punct 1. Dul. 3. Lucae 22. v 44. Pondering that Passage in S. Luke And his svveat became like drops of blood trickling dovvn to the ground curiously observes that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies grumos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is concrete or little clottered Balls of Blood which condensed by the Cold of the night trickled down in that Agony And however mixt with earth were afterward gathered up by careful hands though the Dr simply tell 's us S. Magdalen had no time at our Saviours Passion to do that service to her Lord and Master Now these very Particles or precious drops may well augment that Treasure whereunto so many lay claim and prudently Judge they yet have in keeping some Quantity of our Saviours sacred Blood And truly when no meaner à man than Pope Clement the V. earnestly sollicited Henry Bishop of Claremont to have but à small Portion of our Saviours Blood sent him then in that Bishops custody This fact alone recounted by Ferrandus Showes methinks what high esteem the greatest Prelate upon earth had of that highly valuable Treasure 23. It is Strange to see what slight Stuffe followes Lib. 1. c 2. sect 3 § lacrymas in the Dr. When Ferrandus Proves out of excellent Authors that our Saviours Teares perhaps more copioufly Shed than those of the Poenitent woman Luke 7. 37. are yet preserved in France and moreover Showes out of Antiquity that Teares have been kept very long The Dr Medles not with his Proofs but wonders at the matter and thinks it à pretty competent Miracle that teares should last so long Again when he Assures us upon undeniable Authority that some Locks of our Saviours hair some parts of his swadling bands with his Seamless Coat Reliques easily kept without Corruption are yet in being and tell 's us where and in what places The Dr still wondring Answers no Authority Lib. 1. c. 2. sew unica But jeers at all Lastly when he makes it clearly out that à considerable quantity of the Blessed Virgins milk naturally more liable to corruption than hair or cloths continues yet preserved with great Reverence in Judea Italy Spain and France the Dr got into à Jocular humour laughs at the Author but finding his Reasons and Arguments too hard very wisely as his fashion is waves them in à word replyes to none 24. Here is one attested by as grave Authors as ever wrote and well wroth the Readers knowledge In the time of Baldwin King of Hierusalem à meer handful of Christians Three thousand in number and no more totally routed and overthrew fourty thousand Saracens If you Ask how the Victors came armed Baronius Robertus à Monte Marianus Siculus Baron to 12. ad ann 1124. A monte Append ad cron Sigl anno eodem Mari. Sicu lib. 5. Rerum Hisp and other Writers Answer The Patriarch carried our Saviours Ensign or the Banner of the Holy Crosse an other great Prelate à Lance And lastly the then Bishop of Bethlem marched on bearing before him some Quantity of the Virgins Milk enclosed in à little Pyx of Gold To these armed with sacred Reliques God gave that known and most signal Victory Joannes Mariana à man of great repute for Learning and Judgement recount's how nobly Lewis Joan. Mariana lib. 13 De reb Hisp cap 8 the most Christian King of France enriched the Cathedral Church at Toledo with most precious Reliques to this day carefully preserved in the Holy Sanctuary of that Church together with the Kings own Authentick letter The Substance whereof set down by Mariana is as followes 25. Lewis by the grace of God King of the King Lewis his letter to the Canons of Toledo French sends Greeting to his beloved the Canons and the whole Clergy of the Church of Toledo We desirous to gratify you with à Present of great Value moved thereunto by the earnest Petition of John our Venerable Archbishop of Toledo have taken out of our own Sanctuary choise and selected Reliques which were sent us from Constantinople and freely bequeath them to you Viz. Some of the wood of our Saviours Sacred Cross with one of the Thorns which crowned his blessed head some Quantity also of the Milk of the ever blessed Virgin Mary parts likewise of the purple Garment wherewith our Saviour was clothed as also of that Linnen which he girded about him at the washing of the Apostles feet and some of the Sindon wherein his Sacred Body when it lay in the Holy Sepulcre was wrapped We Therefore ask and require in our Lord JESUS that you receive and conserve these Holy Relicks with all due respect and Reverence in your Church That you be often mindful of me in your dayly Sacrifices and devour Prayers Given at Estamps Anno 1248. May the 8 th Thus that pious and most Christian King whose high esteem of Holy Reliques and amongst the rest of the Virgins Milk yet preserved sufficiently methinks Check's the Dr ' s boldnes when he rashly tell 's us without any semblance of Proof Dr Still page 484. There can be no sussicient credibility in the Testimony given to the Reliques of the Roman Church There are Dr already most credible Testimonies produced Ergo they can be given And are so perswasive to our Intent that no Foolhardy Spirit of incredulity amongst you whereby you would fain obliterate all memory of our Saviour besides à little bare talking of him shall ever abate or Discredit while humane Faith is in the world 26. The Dr in the next place return's once more to the Vial at S. Maximins and hopes with Page 485. another throw to break it in pieces This Vial saith he is supposed to be of S. Mary Magdalen's own bringing into France and its worth the vvhile to knovv hovv it came thither Answ It is well worth the while when to purpose to write whole Volumes as have been Written upon this subject Sure all are not to the purpose for I find no little Confufion among Authors though no one I ever yet read Opposes what I formerly asserted and still defend as à Truth Viz. That at S. Maximins in France there is à Miraculous Vial called by the name of S. Mary Magdalen's which Liquifyes and boyls up every year seen by thousands and owned
if all still reverence Blessed Magdalen's Reliques if several Synodes assembled consisting of most Virtuous and learned Prelates have approved them if they remain still recorded in many Martyrologies If finally Almighty God hath declared for S. Magdalen and her Reliques by his own clear Signs from Heaven unquestionable Miracles If these particulars I say be manifestly made out long may Mr John Launoy and his weak Partizan Dr Still attempt to Eclypse the Magdalen's glory but in vain Whilst She and the other Saints now mentioned live renowned in all Vertuous minds to the great Confusion of Hereticks Thus you have Courteous Reader some part of S. Mary Magdalen's Triumph here Epitomized more largely set forth in the Authors quoted 35. For as much as concern's the Sorbon Paris print 1659. Dr's Objections tediously Spun out in à whole Book it is sufficient that I who only Defend the boyling up of that Blood in à Vial at S. Maximins remit you to the Authors cited F. Launoy's Objections answered Denys n. 11 John Guesnay and Monsieur Denys Monsieur Launoy Saies first without any regard to ancient Tradition that the whole Story of Blessed Magdalen want's the Testimony of Ancient Writers within the first Age of Christianity No Wonder at the want replyes Monsieur Denys if we consider the many Saccages and ruins fallen upon Provence and particularly upon Marseils by the Goths Vandals and Saracens nine several times to Say nothing of other sad Disasters Mr Launoy Objects 2. What ever we Launoy page 228. produce for S. Mary Magdalen's arrival at Provence is taken out of à fabulous Book composed in Hebrew by S. Marcella Servant to S. Martha the Book saith Launoy is of à Denys n. 43 very late date about five hundred years since not older Monsieur Denys Answer 's some strange Phrensy seiz'd on Launoy in this Discourse For in another place he grant's that Book to have been extant twelve whole Ages past though neither here nor there he brings Proof Author or Witness for any thing he Saith but his own bare and proofless Word In the same place Monsieur Denys Showes we rely not only upon those Acts of S. Marcella having other both grave and Ancient Authors that Write of this Subject and recount many Particulars not expressed in Marcella's Acts. Monsieur Launoy Objects 3. The Tradition of the Greek and Latin Church whereby it appears that S. Mary Magdalen dyed at Ephesus for Proof whereof he Quotes Modestus Bishop of Hierusalem recounted by Photius Saying Magdalen out of whom our Lord cast seven Divels was à Virgin went to S. John at Ephesus and there ended her Dayes Monsieur Denys Answer 's it s à shame to see how this Dr contradict's himselfe In one Pamplet he will have Magdalen to Dye at Ephesus in Another he produces Martyrologies that say she dyed at Hierusalem In one Writing he find's Martyrologies Launoy contradict's himselfe for her death upon the 16.th of January in others that day is Transferred till 22. of July In one place Magdalen must be à Sinner dispossessed of seven Divels in another à pure Virgin Yea and Martyr also In à word saith Denys non erant convenientia Testintonia eorum and therefore worth nothing Launoy's Plea taken From the Tradition of the Greek and Latin Church you have amply refuted by Denys and Guesnay who hold Modestus his Testimony Denys n 32 cited an unsound Apocrypha Dr Stillingfleets little rubbish gathered out of Launoy he has no more is easily Swept away by the labour here performed To say more seem's needless 36. Now we proceed to another Question having again told you that it is far from my intention to dissolve all difficulties Proposed in this matter not by Monsieur Launoy much lesse by Dr Still but because I meet with strange Confusion among Authors in their debates concerning two Mary Magdalen's thought by some distinct Persons and à Third if yet distinct Luke 7. 37 not called Mary by S. Luke but Peccatrix à Sinner who watered the feet of our blessed Lord with her Teares and wiped them with the hair of her head Had we more light in this and some other particulars much might be cleared which yet lies in obscurity And what shall Monst Launoys most dim abstruse and mistie Discourse without Decision of matters necessary to be known be thought able to Contest with the whole Gallican Church Her Tradition and the Authority of Popes Kings Princes and People already mentioned It is no lesse than à high Degree of pride to attempt it CHAP. VII Of Dr Stillingfleets rude bold and shameful vilifying two renowned Saints The Glorious S. Dominick and the Seraphical S. Francis of Assisium 1. I Stand astonished at the Spite and Enuy of our unconscionable Dr who could not but know before he put pen to paper the great Wonders Authors of unspotted fame have recorded of these two glorious Saints He could not but know in what Strange manner Divine Providence Propagated the two Holy Orders founded by S. Dominick and S. Francis and this without the help of Arms humane Enticements or any earthly commodity The Propagation of Christian Religion gained much in the minds of men by it's spreading over all Nations and upon that Account was deemed by the great S. Austin Miraculous And shall we S. Austin lik 22. de civit cap. 5. think the large streaming out of Religious Orders visibly before our eyes altogether destitute of Divine Assistance The Dr could not but know if ever he perused History how many painful Missioners have been sent out of these Religious Orders into several parts of the world for the Conversion of Iewes and Infidels as also of the happie success they had in drawing innumerable Souls from Infidelity to the Profession of Christianity Finally he could not but know that never Protestants to their Shame be it did any thinge like them either in the neerer or further Parts of the large Universe and yet Forsooth these Holy Saints must be laid at and reviled by à Petit Dr though he neither refutes one Miracle Written of them much lesse can cast à blemish upon their Innocent and Virtuos Lives 2. I Say he cannot for stark shame deny one Of the Doctors fraud and Iugling Miracle Authentically recorded of S. Dominick or S. Francis having none of Authority to side with him should he desperately attempt à Denial what does he Therefore Il ' tell you he proceed's fraudulently and juggles all along First he slily passes over the greatest Wonders whereby the glory of these Saints is most advanced not à word spoken to this purpose and here Lies his Fraud 2. He pick 's out some few Miracles recorded by Authors most capable at as he thought of bearing Jests and these he set's forth with huffs and Scoffs hoping by that pretty varnish to make all ridiculous Here you have his Jugling And cannot an Atheist or Heathen think ye would he try his Ieering Faculty
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
Bollandus it will not be amisse to Preacquaint the Reader with à notorious cheat that run's through his one and thirty leaves Pray observe it These Authors now mentioned though vilifiyed by the Dr even Colganus most laid at produce their Records Testimonies and Manuscripts in behalfe of every Miracle asserted or at least say they are Producible whether true or false is the only matter in Question Should not the Dr Think ye had he intended to Satisfy à judicious Reader have shewed these alledged Records and Manuscripts forceless or of no Account Should he not according to the Method of all Writers have proved them contradicted by other grave Authors or at least made their Flawes if any were apparent by Cronology or some other Circumstances worthy à Readers entertainment Thus Bollandus ' Henschenius and Papebrochius whom he cites seriously goe to work and have Discovered upon mature Examination no few mistakes in matter of History But our Dr content only with à bare Relation of what those Authors say wholly waves this necessary Labour and most simply perswad 's himselfe that the Extravagancy of The Dr makes the wonder in à Miracle the only Proof against it the Wonders so he speaks or the seeming Ridiculousnes of them is full Proof enough against their being so much as probable Alas your Atheists and Heathens may taught by the Dr upon the same Ground deride and jeer at the very most of the Miracles recorded in Holy Scripture I say therefore Though I am not of so easy Faith as to believe all that Captgrave and Colganus recount to be manifest Truths if they reach to Probability it 's well yet thus much I Assert that for any thing the Dr Opposes they may be most true so Pitifully and miserably he handles this whole Matter 3. You shall see by à few Particulars for I intend not to accompany the Dr in his long Carrier all through whether I speak not Truth Mr Cressy's whole Book though once perused I have not at present speak's as the Dr tells us of many Saints S. Iustianus S. Ositha S Clarus and others that walked as the Report goes of S. Denis in France with their heads cut off Mr Dr in this place should have confuted the Legends this Author relies on he ought to have proved them counterfeit by some Authority greater or of equal poise with these Legenders He might at least have said upon no improbable Guess as the more exact Writers do that many Saints had indeed their Heads cut off and that to Show they were Martyrs our Ancestors painted them like S. Denis carrying their heads in their hands which afterwards Some perhaps over credulous without due examination mistaking the Painters intent made à Story of Thus I say Judicious men Discourse whether well or no I am not to Define yet know that our Dr who waves all reasoning in this matter too Dr Still page 508. rudely refutes Mr Cressy with these few boysterous words What can be imagined more absurd and be supposed to be done to lesse purpose than such foppish Miracles as these Is not This as I noted above to Decry Miracles because they seem wonderful to à vulgar Fancy and may not à Heathen laugh as lowd at Elias dividing the River Jordan with an old Cloak I am sure Elias his Action considered in it selfe is altogether as Extravagant and if well set forth with an Atheist's Jeer may be made every whit as ridiculous Pray you Tell me when the Dr after à leaf or two jeer's at Cap Many Miracles in Scripture as Strange as those are the Dr Laughs at grave and Colganus who say that S. Aldem and S Deicola hanged their Garments on the Sun-beams tell me I say Whether of these two Miracles may seem the more odd and extraragant Viz. That the Sun-beams supported wet Garments or that Elias his cloak divided Jordan I think the Wonder is much à like in both and this the Dr only sport's with for he wholly leaves the matter of Fact unexamined O but Scripture relates what we read of Elias and old Legends perhaps very doubtful give these other Stories Credit A simple Reply For here we Parallel not humane Authority with Divine but Ask whether Scripture makes the Miracles there recorded Lesse Wonderful than these other Most evidently No. Therefore the Doctors whole Confutation of These Miracles taken from their seeming Extravagancy becomes à senceless Plea while Scripture in à hundred Passages forces on us the Beliefe of Things as Strange to Fancy or natural Discourse What can be more Extravagant than Samson's taking two Judges 16. 29. Pillars whereon à house rested and holding the one in his right hand and the other in the left brought ruine by the fall of that Fabrick to three Thousand Philistiens It is hard to conceive the placing of these Pillars so fitted to Samsons reach and the Ruine so universal that none of the three Thousand escaped More Instances of the like nature you have above 4. Out of all I conclude that as long as A Miracle necessarily implies Wonder the Dr weakens not the humane Authority produced by Catholick Writers in behalfe of Miracles and this he never attempts so long he feed's his Reader with an empty sound of words in rejecting Miracles because of their Wonder for à Miracle necessarily implyes à wonder and most justly in curr's à Censure for his tedious Tattle seasoned with nothing but Jeers and reproachful Calumnies 5. Innumerable Instances he hath just of the some Strain not worth refuting Capgrave Capgrave it seem's relates the Miraculous feeding of S. Kined Son to à Prince of little Brittany by his own daughter to whom an Angel brought à Brasse bell which the Child sucked and received nourishment sweeter than any milk and this makes the Dr great Sport Soon after Colganus is cited for à strange Miracle wrought upon Colganus S. Berach Abbot said to suck in his Infancy the right Eare of his Uncle ut quidam fingunt add's Colganus in his notes as some feign For although Colganus such à Miracle be not impossible to God that can fetch oile out of à hard rock yet Divine Providence could well give Nutriment to the Child by some easier means as he fed S. Macarius Witness Surius Dr Still page 517. Palladius in his Life and S. Giles by the milk of à Hinde See Surius 1. Septem The Dr excepts against the long lives of some Saints related by Colganus S. Mochaius lived 150. years much about the Age of old Thomas Parr in England But Kieran S. Abban and S. Mochteus out went Them not falling much short of 300. In all which time S. Mochteus neither Spake idle word nor eate meat Nay others sayes our Dr will have it that in one hundred years he eat nothing What These others not named say imports little Colganus I am sure uses Colganus 24. Mart. Page 734. this Expression taken out of old Verses
there cited Nec quidquam opsonii intra admisit He eate no meat which is not to Say he eate nothing for he might well feed upon bread Fruit and such like things Now if as some Criticks note Opsonium properly signifies Piscis assus broyled Fish there needed no Miracle to refrain from that à whole hundred years For as much as concern's the long lives of many not only mentioned in Scripture but in known History also see Colganus his large Notes where Colgan in vita S. Kieran 5. Mart. page 466. num 42. you have his Authors Quoted and here he meets with à Dr who repeats much of what he Writes and thinks to refute all by à simple Narration or barely telling us He writes so and so VVas there ever such à way of impugning Authors found out before this new Invention of Mr Dr Yet thus he hold's on Page after Page now he makes sport with the raising of à dead Robin-redbreast to life now with S. Juo's boots Now he brings in à Story of à Bull giving Still page 527. as much milk as any Cow And which I casually omitted Ask's whether any thing was ever done by Christ and his Apostles like the turning of Butter into à Bell as S. Oudoceus Capgrave in vita S. Oudocei page 258. Bishop is said to have done VVitness Capgrave Yes Mr Dr both you and I have heard of as great Changes Viz. Of Lot's wife turned into à Pillar of Salt and water changed into wine In case these Examples satisfy not you shall have more Authentically recorded 6. Here methinks being quite wearied in following the Dr thus far it is high time to An Atheist may reject the Miracle in Scripture upon the Dr's Principles leave the remainder of his Collections to the Judgement of every prudent Reader with this true Observation upon them that if Jeers and Derisions can do it the Dr has behaved himselfe manfully and taught every Atheist by his Procedure to slight all the Miracles God hath done upon this principle Miracles seem wonderful to his short Knowledge ergo ought to be vilifyed If he has any better Argument blame me boldly Hence proceeds his frequent and no lesse impertinent Interrogatories where speaking of S. Mochteus long Abstinence he Ask's whether it be not à pretty reasonable Fast for à man Mentioning some that speak in their Mothers wombe he would know whether the Baptist Leaping in his Mothers belly was comparable to this And in recounting other Miracles he wisely Demand ' s are not these now pregnant Instances how such Saints exceeded Christ and his Apostles And this Question comes over and over Did Christ and his Apostles any thing like to these Miracles Pitiful Impertinent neither he John 20 30. John 21. 25. nor I know what Signs and Miracles Christ wrought Witnesse S. John Nay more were the many other things saith the Apostle Christ did Written in particular the whole world would not contain the Books that might be Written notwithstanding the Dr remit's us to what Christ and his Apostles did 7. For an upshot of this whole matter the Still p. 565 Dr leaves the Reader to Judge whether the Testimony on which these Miracles have been received ought to be compared in point of Credibility with that Testimony on which the Christian Church hath believed the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles I Answer the Dr cheats the Reader For the true Christian Church believes the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles upon Divine Testimony by How the Dr cheat's his Reader à certain act of Faith These other Miracles mentioned by Colganus and Capgrave rely at most upon humane Authority And If they force from us à probable Assent wherein there is à great Latitude That 's all and aboundantly enough because I am apt to think that when Cronology and other main Circumstances come to the Test chiefly about the long Lives of some Saints and other strange Wonders much may occurr to à diligent Searcher not too well grounded But to Decry all as the Dr doth whilst he Examins none is foul play and above measure blamable For it seem's morally Impossible that after so great pains taken by Authors who carefully remit you to Their Manuscripts and other Testimonies all should prove Forgeries though some Perhaps may be doubtful or in à mean Degree propable If evinced False we utterly reject them 8. The Dr in the Close of his Discourse to gain credit for his pains Tell 's us he has not raked the Kennels of Iacobus de Voragine of Cantipratanus and such like Writers of no Account it seems with him But made choise of latter Authors praysed and highly approved by learned men Capgrave saith he was esteemed one of such excellent parts that he had scarce any equal none Superiour to him in England in his time Colganus his first Tome containing the Acts of the Irish Saints was published with great Approbations from the General of his Order the Professors at Lovain from the Ordinary Censor Librorum and four Jesuits having besides the commendatory Epistles of Vernulaus and Erycius Puteanus Now saith he the Jesuits collections at Antwerp begun by Bollandus and continued by Henschenius and Papebrochius were Published with as much Ostentation of care and Judgement as any thing can be set forth in that kind Thus the Dr. 9. Reader I would willingly know what harme is done to these Authors by Mr Dr wherein I beseech you has he lessened rheir credit Has he clearly shown the Original copies from whence they took Miracles Forged Has he disparaged in the least Degree the Authenticalness The Dr disparages none of these Records but is apt to think something may be à misse in them of those Records Has he upon any good Authority proved so much as one of these Miracles false or improbable No he never fall's upon this solid way of reasoning What then dos he I told you he barely relates what Authors write and there forces in à Jest or an impertinent Question leaving every matter of Fact unexamined just as it was before If true then it is true still if doubtful t' is yet doubtsul if probable still probable Here is all you have from our Doughty Dr who confesses his own lost labour plainly enough So that what ever judgement saith Still page 567. he be passed upon the Miracles they cannot deny the Books I have made use of to be of greatest Authority of any extant in this kind and yet after all I am apt to think they will meet with à great deal of Infidelity from all that have not captivated their understanding to the Obedience of the Roman Faith I am apt to think Mr Dr What à faint Expression is this Who holds himselfe obliged to captivate his understanding to your Thoughts Had you truly told us that these Miracles upon due Examination have been proved false or improbable had you shown their Original Records unauthentick you
while he admit's these Testimonies and attestations and denies the Miracles attested by them For example 22. He believes upon humane Authority that King John gave Order that the Saints Miracles should be rigidly examined And hold's it true because Writers of good credit say so But the very same Authors say also that the Miracles already mentioned were really done in the sight of many Spectators Why doth the Dr boggle at this having no greater Evidence of the Truth of that Order given by the King For it may be à fourb Than he has of the Truth of those Miracles attested to have been really done which he must Say are false and feigned Nay more why is not all that 's Written of S. Xaverius far from Truth feigned false and counterfeit 23. F. De Lingendes cited proposes this De Lingendes Feria 4. Domin 1. Quadr. Question VVhat could move those Iaponians most averse from our Christian Lavves and manner of living to forsake the vvayes they had long follovved c VVhat humane Interest could induce them to feign innumerable Miracles wrought by S Francis Xaverius à poor needy and unknown Priest Who God knowes brought them no worldly Advantage yet they boldly asserted his Miracles and did it with so great Zeal that many of their Barbarians Converted by Miracles feigned not Much lesse could those Pious Missioners forge any own accord dyed willingly in the Fire to Testify our Christian Faith suck't into their Brests by the force of clear Miracles partly seen with their Eyes and partly experienced in Themselves The like add's De Lingendes I may say of innumerable other Barbarians converted to Christ by the efficacy of glorious Miracles Now if these Barbarians did so upon no humane Interest much lesse could these worthy Fathers à long time Missioners amongst the Indians after so much Zeal shown in propagating the Gospel when all had an Ample share in Tribulation and many dyed to attest our Catholick Verities avouch horrid Lyes and Damn their Souls by forging Miracles that never were CHAP. XIII The Dr ' s unjust Calumny laid upon F. Hierome Xaverius proved False Of his lost labour in telling impertinent Tales of forged Miracles His famous Story of twelve English Iesuits Showing Tricks in feigned Exorcisms rejected as improbable A VVord of Hazenmillers lowd Lyes 1. MR Dr is yet pleased to continue Dr Still page 617. fine his Harangue and Asks what will Iesuits stick at in matter of lying who have had the Impudence to insert fabulous Miracles and Stories into the History of the Gospel For proof hereof he tell 's us that Hierome Xaverius à neer Kinsman to S. Francis with his Associat's was permitted by Acabar Emperour of the Mogols to live in Agra the Residence of that great Monarck and to give Account of the life and Miracles of Christ But saith Mr Dr the Subtle Iesuit well understanding their own Doctrin about the insufficiency of Scriptures durst not put into the Emperours hands the four Evangelists but framed an excellent Gospel of his own declaring that he took it Historia Christi Persicè à Hier. Xavier conscripta latinè reddita à Ludov. de Dieu out of the Gospel and Books of the Prophets To make this Good the Dr remit's us to one like himselfe of the Ministerial Brood Ludovicus de Dieu son to Daniel de Dieu à new Gospeller who banished Bruxell's upon the account of his Pestilent Errours after the Duke of Parma had taken that City fled into Holland and there Preach't 22. years I have perused this Book Written first in the Persian Language by F. Hierome Xavier Ludov de Dieu Epist Dedicat. which this De Dieu afterward turned into Latin and verily perswade my selfe that never worthy Missioner was more grosly abused than the Zealous F. Hierome Xaverius is by this false Dieu and our fraudulent Dr. The Story briefly is thus 2. F. Hierome having gained the Favour of the forementioned Emperour to live in Agra offered to his View the life of Christ in the Persian language For the substantial Part exactly taken What F. Hierome offered to the Emperour out of the Prophets and the Gospel But willing to make the Relation full and acceptable he first used different Expressions from the precise words of Scripture which all Preachers and Interpreters do in their further Explanations of Holy Writ 2. As Occasion required he added many pious Considerations most Suitable as he thought to beget in the Emperours mind à high Respect and honour of our blessed Saviour 3. After he had laid the foundation of his History upon the Gospel and recounted exactly the Birth the Infancy the Circumcision the Miracles the Doctrin of Christ c. the substance I say according to Scripture for the perfecting of his History here and there he introduces other ancient Testimonies not Divine Now mark the Fraud of these two Adversaries Dieu and the Dr Because the Father kept not alwaies close to the exact words of the Gospel and made his pious Additions as is noted Dieu cryes out in his Title Historia Christi sed contaminata the History of Christ but defiled The Dr as lowd Dr Still page 623. the very Story of the Bible horribly adulterated It is à flat Calumny Mr Dr. 3. I say contrary F. Xavier neither adulterated the Sence nor any one word of the Holy Gospel For to deprave and adulterate the Gospel is either to Propose some thing as Gospel or as revealed by Almighty God which God never Spake in Scripture This the Father did not Or to Produce à true Revelation there expressed and to Pervert or contradict it Now Show me Mr Dr by the Help of your false Dieu where F. Xavier either pervert's à Revealed Truth which is The Father depraved not the Gospel And why in Scripture or proposes that as the Revealed word of God and mark my Expression which is not in Scripture and you touch the Point But this is impossible the Father being far from such Transgressions Therefore prudently Entitles his Book not the Revealed vvord of God but the History of Christ partly much enlarged by Circumstances which easily might occur to every Pious mind yea and probably happen and partly augmented with the Testimonies of other Authors 4. For an Instance of the first The Father De Dieu page 41. cited by De Dieu supposes our Lady devoutly on her Knees about Midnight bowing her head towards the ground when the Angel came to Salute her This no more but à piovs Circumstance was never Proposed to the Emperour as à Truth revealed by Almighty God Again when he relates upon humane Authority that in De Dieu page 74. the night of our Saviours Birth the great Temple of Peace at Rome fell down and that much about the same time three Suns were seen in Spain which closed at last together like one Sun He tells us Sapientes dicunt Wise men Say the Vision
the Virtues of that worthy man largely set down too long à Subject for this place without the least mention of any imputed and contrived Exorcisms In case the Dr except's against my Author as one that 's partial or waves matters he should have related I require this Justice at his hands that he remit me to some VVriter who either proves F. More Partial or Weston guilty of those enormous crimes falsely I avouch laid to his charge Believe it F. More was no way Shy num 17. in faithfully recounting what difficulties Weston met with in Wisbick Castle caused chiefly by à Dr of Physick and another unnamed Priest that afterwards turn'd Apostat perhaps such an one as Tyrel once was He tell 's you also num 25. what false Aspersions were laid upon F. Weston and in what manner the Holy man was vindicated and cleared But not à word all this while of Records entred into any Court of High-Commission Weston vindicated or of twelve Exorcists Employed by Weston to feign Possessions that never were The whole Story even as the Dr set's it forth by the Very Circumstances showes it selfe à Fable yea an open Calumny peevishly invented to dishonour Priests and Catholick Religion 31. But enough of this And much more Dirt gathered up by the Dr wholly useless for any other End save only to make him that pack't it together ridiculous Observe I beseech you The Dr Supposes the long Tales hitherto told to have been cheats and fraudulent Dr Still page 663. fictions yet simply concludes This may abundantly suffice for the first Particular which was the comparing the Miracles of the Roman Church with those of Christ and his Apostles Are all indeed Forged Miracles cannot be called Miracles of the Church Fictions Mr Dr like that of the Prioresse of the Annunciada in Lisbon Have all been found cheats and forged Miracles So it is say you How then dare you Sr impudently call them Miracles of the Roman Church when you know and the whole world knowes That this Church abhorr's all feigned Miracles or what ever of that Nature is or hath been discovered manifestly false I say Therefore such filth deserves no more the name of Miracles wrought in the Roman Church than your new Negative Protestant Articles deserve to be called the old Positive Tenets of Faith or false Scripture the true Word of God Now according to my Promise in the 4.th Chapter I am to follow Mr Doctor as he leads us on to the End of his Enquiry CHAP. XIV An Answer to one os the Doctors Exceptions against Miracles VVhether Miracles in the first Age of Christianity were but few How Miracles are proved by true Doctrin and true Doctrin by Miracles No counterfeited Miracle can passe the Churches Tribunal without censure Of à late VVriters exceptions against Miracles The admirable Propagation of Christian Religion convinces that Miracles have been wrought 1. WE usually say an Argument that proves too much proves nothing but all Dr Still Arguments proposed against approved Miracles wrought in the Church make every whit as much against the Miracles of Christ and consequently prove too much Therefore nothing at all What is here Asserted you will find made good in the ensuing Chapters 2. I replyed to one of the Dr's Exceptions Page 665. c. 2 n. 17. where he thinks Miracles needlesse in future Ages because those wrought by Christ and his Apostles in confirmation of their Doctrin were abundantly sufficient without more I Said then that none can know by à bare owning those ancient Miracles what Doctrin Christ taught For all called Christians as Arians and Pelagians admitted Christ's Miracles yet grosly swerved from his Doctrin Dr Still I suppose None can say what Doctrin Christ taught by owning only ancient Miracles admit's all the Miracles our Saviour wrought yet he shall never prove one Essential point of Protestancy by them no more shall the Arian evince any Doctrin of Arianisme true that way if no other Oracle illustrated by Miracles interposes its Authority and ascertain's him that such and such is Christ's Doctrin concerning the greatest Mysteries of Faith For example That Christ is truly God and man one Essence and three distinct Persons c Tell me Reader what Sence find you in this Inference Our Saviour raised Lazarus from the dead cured the blind man cleansed the Lepers Ergo God is thereby proved one Essence and three distinct Persons Again if Dr Still take on to pare away what Miracles he pleases if he thinks so many will sufficiently serve for future Ages I Ask why are not Christ's Miracles alone excluding those the Apostles wrought sufficient for us all Nay why may not only one Miracle wrought by Christ without more if conveyed down by Tradition bring with it that Al-sufficiency the Dr speaks of Page 666. 3. The Dr seing such abundance of Miracles pretended to in all Ages and Countries and finding them so sparingly wrought in the Writings of Scripture unless for confirmation of à new Religion thinks we must either hold that God has changed the Method of his Providence in being once sparing and now too liberal or that we through ignorance and Credulity take those for Miracles which are not so Mr Dr's Religion as Protestancy is one of the newest in the world yet I never heard of any Miracles so much as sparingly wrought for its confirmation But ad rem 4. The Dr grosly mistakes Miracles wrought in the first Age of Christianity were neither scarce nor sparing but contrarywise Admirable great and numerous in so much that no one Age after that can Parrallel the Miracles then wrought The Signs and Miracles which Christ wrought saith S. John were many Though all are not John 20. v. 30. registred in Holy Writ The visible appearing of the Holy Ghost upon the then newly Baptized their speaking different Languages and working other Miracles seldom or never seen afterwards much augment the number and set forth the glory of Miracles in those Dayes Add hereunto The Primitive Miracles many and admirable the innumerable Miracles which the Apostles wrought in their Preaching up and down the world And in the Conversion of Nations you will find no want at all but great Plenty may Ecclesiastical History gain beliefe And I see not why that ought to be esteemed of lesser Credit then the Dr's Tale of Pythagoras his golden Thigh or his feigned cure wrought by Aesculapius whereof more presently In the mean while the Dr may read what strange Miracles the Priests and Deacons of Achaia recount of S. Andrew the Apostle what others Write of S. Thomas in his Preaching to the Medes Persians Bactrians and finally to the Indians Of S. Simon and Judes admirable Conversions and Miracles also wrought in Mesopotamia in Aegypt and finally in Persia where meeting together they dyed for Christ and suffered à glorious Martyrdom The like we read of other Apostles whose Holy Lives and labours