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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67100	A discourse of miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church, or, A full refutation of Dr. Stillingfleets unjust exceptions against miracles together with a large discovery of the Doctors unexcusable frauds, manifest in his many false, perverted, and impertinent quotations / by E.W.	E. W. (Edward Worsley), 1605-1676.	1676 (1676)	Wing W3614; ESTC R16804	246,745	416

our Saviours Miracles and the Apostles to have been really wrought by Arguments not taken from Scripture or if he make use of the new Testament against the Iew he is to lay aside that Question wether it be God's word or no Unlesse before the dispute the Book be evinced written by Divine inspiration Thus much premised 6 I argue against à Iew and ask whether he Christ's Miracles proved against à Iew. allowes the Historical part of the new Testament where the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles are recorded to be as good and as true à Story as the relation made in the old Testament of Mose's Miracles And now I trouble not his head with the Question about the Divine Inspiration of either book but only enquire after their truth In case he yeild's equal truth to both he must grant that Christ cured the blinde raised the dead and that the Apostles wrought such Miracles as S. Luke recount's in the Acts of those blessed men c. If as is most likely he bluntly reject's the Gospels relation as not true I ask what answer will he give à Heathen that no less boldly cast's off the Story of Moses Miracles as false and plainly assert's that the same reason let it be what you will whereby he attempts to discountenance the truth of one Narration will every whit as much enervate the truth of the other and thus all Miracles related in Scripture goe to wreck which is to say God never wrought any by Moses and the Prophets by Christ and his Apostles This the man of the Synagogue proves or nothing In case he reply Christians that admit Mose's Miracles are tongue tyed and cannot plead against them I answer we plead not against any for we hold all most true yet justly tax à Iew of à grosse Inconsequence which à Heathen laies before his eyes and once more say the same proofs and reasons whereby he endeavour's to reject the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles destroy at one blow the truth of the greatest Miracles which Moses or the Prophets ever wrought that is in à word there is neither proof nor reason to deny either all are most true and Strongly made out by reason supposing this one rational ground which none can deny viz. That books of History known and received all over deserve credit upon humane faith 7. In discoursing with à Heathen about Miracles Heathens also Convinced recorded in Scripture à rational demand is whether he yeild's as good credit to the History of this Book as to Titus Livius Caesars Commentaries or any other ancient writer If he affirm the Miracles there set down are with him upon moral certainty believable in case he denies I am not to take his bare word but must know the ultimate reason of his denial which will ever be Petitio Principii or in real truth no reason but à selfe conceipted fancy just as if one should sencelesly reject what ever Livy or Caesar has written because he will bluntly A reply answered do so upon no reason The Heathen may reply There is à great difference between all natural history and the Miracles registred in Scripture for these because strange and unusual so strongly check and abate beliefe that reason cannot but boggle and hold all forged by à few simple men that wrote them whereas no such extravagant wonders are found in natural History I answer first we read of innumerable great wonders in natural History as of Mountains rising up and justling together of certain Cities in Syria seated on hills and thence violently thrown into à Plain some miles off without any dammage c. Things certainly unusual though not so strange as à true Miracle I answer 2. All matters of Matters of fact in Scripture not feigned but manifestly proved true fact recorded in Scripture most evidently are not feigned however admirable and above the force of nature therefore it s highly against reason to hold the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles forged because strange and wonderful I prove demonstratively that matters of fact recorded in Scripture are not feigned upon this ground The Prophets long before Christianity was established foretold clear matters of fact which some thousands of years after evidently proved true as that Christ should be born of à Virgin that the old Priesthood should fail and à new Priest and King raign forever that the greater people the Iewes should become the less and the Gentils far lesser become the greater all strange and wonderful Predictions whereunto we may add our Saviours most certain Prophesy in that known Parable of the vineyard where speaking to the chief Priests and Pharisies he clearly foretold their ruin and rejection before it happened and no lesse clearly the destruction of Hierusalem These Prophesies the whole world has now seen for many Ages fulfilled and verifyed Hence I discourse whoever fortel's wonderful future things long before the event which afterwards visibly come to passe speak's truth and cannot forge nor feign because Facts exactly agreeing with the Predictions take away all suspicion of forgery but this you see is evident if you compare the Prophesies of the old Testament with what the Writers of the new have expressed and we se fulfilled with our eyes therefore all wonderful matters recorded in Scripture however strange are neither false nor forged A Heathen cannot deny the evident and now known fulfilling of these Prophesies because the Book of the old Testament was extant and read by Iewes long before the Evangelists wrote their Story 8. I argue 2. with Lingendes and rationally Ling. cited pag. 44. evince the truth of our Saviours Miracles by the Testimony of Writers in several nations most different from one another and further Ancient writers and Publick Fame prove the primitive Miracles ground my discourse upon an universal publick Fame received the whole world over which own 's those primitive Miracles as undoubted For ancient Writers this Author first remit's us to Joseph the Iew who speaking of our Saviour saith Eodem tempore c. In those dayes Iesus à wise Josepus l. 18 Antiquit c. 4. man lived if yet lawful to call him man only that wrought strange wonders and had many followers both Iewes and Gentils This Christ whom the chiefe of our Nation accused Pilate condemned to dy upon à Cross Euseb lib. Hist Eccles c. 11. Hieron de Script in verbi Josephus rose again the third day as the Prophets had foretold and as we read in the Jerosolimitanian Talmud named Gavoda Zara Miraculously cured innumerable diseased though the latter Iewes attribute this power of working Miracles not to any virtue in Christ nor to the Divel as their Progenitors impiously did but say they were wrought at the pronouncing of an ineffable name called by them Sem Hammaphoras or à name expounded The Turks Alcoran witness de Lingendes recount's at large the Miracles of our Saviour where you read of his cleāsing

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

avail to corroborate the Faith of Believers now The Churches Approbation impaires not in the least the Doctrin of the Church where they are wrought But of this more afterwards You will Say again if Miracles wrought in the Church make her Doctrin credible S. Austin did not well in omitting to plead by Miracles I answered the Saint proceeded most wisely in taking his recourse to Scripture For had he insisted upon Miracles not owned by those Hereticks The whole Contest would have been whether such as Optatus and S. Ambrose attested had been true or no which would have caused an endless Dispute and Therefore he falls upon an undoubted Principle The Testimonies of the Law and Prophets owned by the Donatists and upon that Ground strongly refutes them leaving Miracles to their own weight and Efficacy The Dr having very lamely cited this passage out of S. Augustine vainly Triumph's and thinks that never two more plainly contradicted each other in this Point than S. Austin and E. W. who saith he appeal's to Miracles for à Proof of the Catholick and infallible Church and such as are equal to those of Christ and his Apostles Of this Equality I have treated already and told Mr Dr wherein Church Miracles The Dr's vain brag as raising the dead curing the blind and healing the infirm are equal and how they differ from the like wonders done by Christ and his Apostles As for your Triumph Mr Dr before the least Shadow of Victory all I say is if it comfort your heart hold on Till you have better perused S. Austin and these my short Notes upon his Doctrin That done you will I am sure have little heart to brag the second time 10. The following Quotations our Dr gathers out of S. Austin are either not found at all in the Passages he cites or so wholly impertinent that I verily believe he never read S. Austin or set them down at random to the great vexation of à Reader For who would not be vexed to se an Author magnificently cited in different Characters and when he turn's to the Dr Still page 582. place pointed at find's nothing like it Thus the Dr Quotes S. Augustine to this purpose Viz. That Miracles are no Proof of the true Church for S Aug. trac 14. in Joan. cap. 3. though Pontius and Donatus might do vvonders and see visions yet Christ has forevvarned us not to be deceived by Miracles First there are no such words in this place or any thing like that Sence 2. Were the sence found els where you have thus much only Asserted and it is very true False Miracles are no Proof of the true Church 11. The Dr ' s next Quotation is nothing De verbis Dom. serm 18. to his purpose Briefly S. Augustine in that place compares the Miraculous cures wrought by our Saviour on Souls now with those which he anciently did upon Bodies here on earth and calls these the lesser cures grounding his Discourse upon this Principle As the Soul is more excellent than the Body so à cure wrought in that nobler part of man is greater than Miracles done upon à Body which our Lord did to draw men to Faith Now saith the Saint when Faith is spread all the world over He work 's those greater wonders in Souls And for Spiritual Cures esteemed greater than Corporal that cause shewed those lesser done on Bodies Now he open's not the Eyes of the blind yet open's the blind hearts of men by the Preaching of his Doctrin Novv he raises not dead Bodies yet brings à foul that vvas dead to life again Novv the deaf hear not yet the hearts of many shut to his sacred vvord are so opened that they Believe and live in obedience to his Lavves before neglective of that duty Thus S. Austin whose main Drift is not to deny Miraculous cures wrought upon the infirm for these he evidently own 's above but to give Preheminence to our Saviours own proper Spiritual cures dayly wrought in the Church of God by Divine Grace and the preaching of his word which the Saint deservedly esteem's greater wonders 12. To the End you may see this was the S Aug. l. 22 de Civit. c. 8. only thing S. Augustine aimed at Turn once more to his eight Chapter where you read of the dead raised to life of the blind restored to their sight and of desperate diseases perfectly cured You read moreover of one Martialis à Prime grave man most averse from Christian Religion Martialis cured in soul and body who by the earnest prayers of his Pious Sonin-Law made at S. Stephen's Altar from whence He took some Flowers and in the night time laid at his Fathers head With the successe he wished The very next morning He was found à Paenitent Convertite called for à Priest and was reconciled having ever afterwards S. Stephen's words in his mouth to his last breath Lord JESUS receive my soul Thus you see that both corporal and spiritual cures were wrought in those Dayes 13. The last Testimony our Dr Quotes out Quaest ex novo Testam c. 63. of S. Augustine may passe for one of the most famous or infamous rather That ever man cited You have the place pointed at in the margent where the Saint is supposed to Assert and he speaks fully to this Purpose saith the Dr that Signs and Miracles vvere vvrought by the Apostles to bring men from Insidelity to Faith c. No harme hitherto then followes this Addition for the Dr's purpose Amongst Believers Signs and Miracles are not necessary but a firm hope If this Author speak of an absolute Necessity it might be answered All latter Miracles are not so necessary though God of his great mercy hath pleased to show them for other Reasons and à main one is to distinguish the true Church from all Heretical Conventicles Yet I have not said all Know Reader 1 These Questions out of the old and nevv Testament full of grosse Errours are not S. Augustin's but the work of some Heretick as Bellarmin observes Perhaps of one Hilary à Roman Bellar. de Script Eccl. verbo Aug. Bell. verbo Ambrosins Deacon who wrote many Books and propagated the Luciferian Schism See Bellarmin cited Hence it is that these Questions in the Lovain Edition of S. Austin printed in à different Character are there also taxed of many grosse Errours the like you may se in Frobens The Dr's quotation not found at all Edition Yet here is not all Worse followes And t' is my greatest Exception against the Dr. Reader I have perused that 63. Chapter as the Dr Entitles it others call it the 63. Question which is very short and do assure you there is not so much as one word or syllable like that which the Dr imposes upon this Author Is this fair Dealing think ye 14. From these Testimonies of S. Augustin Dr Still page 584. saith our Dr laid together we observe