lib. 10. de Civit c. 16. 4. Reg. 1. v 10. Plato l. 10. de Republ. Elias his calling down fire from Heaven Here you have another of the Dr ' s Questions To lay forth this folly yet more plainly shall we go on à little Plato recount's that Aerus slain in à battel lay ten dayes dead had his Body cast into à burning Pile of wood and there not only came to life again but also made à Relation of all the Accidents which happened in that Fight Pliny saith Medina tell 's the like cited by Medina l. 2. p. 58. B. Story of Cneus Aelius Tubero stark dead who thrown into à great fire forthwith revived and afterward had the dignity of Pretour confered upon him in Rome Nay some Grecians have Open fopperies of Heathens worth nothing but contempt Written that the fabulous Aesop of Phrygia really dead was restored to life Now to retort the Dr ' s Questions I ask why may not these Resuscitations be thought every whit as Miraculous as those were whom Christ and his Apostles raised from death to life If he Answer all are true alike but not of equal certainty because Scripture gives indubitable assurance of what is read there he must grant that Virgils Magician could as truly force the Stars back and Lucans Charmes fetch down the moon from Heaven Shall I credit Aesops resuscitation I will give as much beliefe to Lucans lunatick Fancy No disparity can be imagined 16. If on the other side the Dr Judges with Medina and all Christian Writers this fetching down the moon and these pretended Resuscitations of the dead to be meer Fictions and Heathenish inventions or at most no more but Charmes and Illusions he Answers his own Questions and must list his Wonders among lying Fables or hold them as I now said Cheats done by Legerdemain In case he yeilds not thus far to the common Iudgemet of Christians he will be forced to bring the greatest Miracles our Saviour wrought into open Contempt for who can set à high value upon those certain Miracles testifyed by eternal Truth to be greater than ever man wrought Is Heathens have done as great ones yea and some greater 17. The Dr's chiefest Aime in some of the Reason and Religion Disc 2. c. 8. num 20. Questions proposed was to discredit two known and clear attested Miracles whereof I gave à large Account in another Treatise The one relates to the Admirable cure wrought by S. Francis Xaverius upon F. Marcellus Mastrilli à dying man restored to perfect health in à moment of time I show'd there how the Miracle was examined upon Oath openly attested before lawful Judges legally approved and finally believed F. Marcellus Miraculously cured in à Moment upon humane Faith over all Italy France and Spain I much urged one manifest Proof taken from S. Xaverius his Prophesy of Marcellus his going into the Indies and there dying à Martyr for Christ which being known and openly divulged long before Marcellus suffered would have exposed all those who made it publick to shameful Disgrace had not the real Effect of the Virtuous mans Martyrdom evidently shown the Prophesy fulfilled and most exactly true Neither S. Xaverius his Prophesy exactly fulfilled proves the Miracle Divel nor mortal man could certainly foretell things so remote lyable as I noted to à hundred casualities and uncertainties For what if Marcellus no strong man had dyed in the way What if Pyrats had taken the Ship that carried him What if it had perished by Tempest Would not think ye the most prudent men have exploded all those as besotted who so peremptorily avouched upon the Prophesy Marcellus his arrival in the Indies and there dying à Martyr God therefore was the Author of that Prediction and consequently his Divine Power using S. Xaverius as Instrumental wrought the Miracle Much more you have of this Miracle in the place already Quoted 18. Reader now give à little attention and Aelian l. 9. de animal cap. 33. you shall hear how Strangely the Dr goes about to obscure this manifest Work of God by à meer fabulous Story He cites Aelianus and thinks as I said Aesculapius his cure upon à woman in the Temple of Epidaurus to have been as great as this done upon Marcellus Briefly 19. The Title of that 33. Chapter is of à great The Dr would confute this Miracle by à False fabulous Story Vertue contained in an Herb called Abrotonum or Abrotonus in English Souththernwood excellent against belly worms not curable saith the Story by humane Art To perswade this incurability Hyppis Rheginus as Aelianus has it tell 's of à woman Sick of these worms whom no Physician could cure She therefore went to implore help of the Gods at Epidaurus when by chance Aesculapius was abroad however his Officers or Ministers there took her in hand and first commanded her to rest à while then cut off her head and one of them forcing his hand into her belly pulled out à mighty great Mawworm But could not joyn the head to the Body as it was before till the God Aesculapius came home Upon his return he chid those Ministers and said they had gone beyond all humane skill then Aesculapius set's the womans head upon her shoulders and restord her to life O Aesculapius cryes out Hippis Rheginus great is thy wisdom amongst all the Gods and wonderful are the Cures wrought by the herbe Southernwood Thus Claudius Aelianus who neither relates the Story as à Truth nor can ascribe so great Virtue to any Herb as to restore life to à dead woman You will say Aesculapius did the wonder by his divine Power That is to Say the Divel if Vives in his notes upon S. Austins 16. chap. cited any did it For as Ludovicus Vives observes Aesculapius was himselfe the Serpent he means the Divel in à Serpents Likeness or had with him as companion à Dragon-Divel and therefore is usually painted with à Dragon or Serpent wrapped about à staffe 20. Here you have briefly Dr Still Story told out as vain à Fable as ever was heard or at most an Illusion of the Divel And can this be paralled with à Saint's Miracle wrought upon à great Servant of God when the very Circumstances as Aelianus recount's them give the Divel as great Power in working Miracles as ever our Saviour had All is à Fourb never examined never attested upon Oath never approved by any nor as I shall presently note gained Belief among the wisest of Heathen 21. Whoever desires more of these Heathenish August lib. 18. de Civit c. 17. 18 S. Austin's Words Fictions or false Illusions may read S. Austin Some saith the Saint relate incredible things of the famous witch Circe that changed Vlisses his companions into beasts others talk much as I was informed passing through Italy of women that giving cheese to Travellers could make them appear like bruit Animals So Apulius writes of himselfe in
call to mind how the Divel had like to have strangled him in the attempt had not violence been used to rescue Luther The story written by Staphilas Luther's Luther's and Calvin's Iugling own Scholar is known as well as Calvins fourb who suborning one Bruleus to feign himselfe dead pretended to raise him from death crying out Adolescens tibi dico Surge Young man I say rise up when behold à just punishment of God manifested the double fraud Bruleus was dead indeed and Calvin Shamed You Bosius de signis Ecclesiae liâ—sig 11. have another fearful story recounted by Bosius of à chief man among the Anabaptists neer the borders of Polony that Called many to be present at his Baptism and said they should see wonders that day the Holy Ghost descending and what not No sooner had the wretch set his foot in the Bath but in place of the Holy Ghost à fearful Divel appeared and first carried him into the air then to the horrour of all the Spectators strangled him in the water These things I briefly relate out of approved Authors chieflly to show how different the genius of these men was from our Dr s they fancied Miracles so strong à support to their new Gospel that nothing could set it off better or more advance it our Dr contrary to his Progenitors spirit will have all later Miracles blasted or of no account because forsooth he has none to glory in Thus much only in passing 3. We now go on in our discourse and show an absolute necessity of Miracles chiefly at the first propagation of the Gospel because the high Mysteries of our faith which require à firm assent and an humble submission to the first Verity revealing truth cannot stand fast unless it rely upon à most certain foundation and this must either be an Evidence of the truth revealed not granted in this life or the most Supream Authority imaginable I mean the Divine veracity which neither can deceive or be deceived To advance By what Motives God induces to beliefe therefore our faith to the highest certitude and infallibility whilst God gives us not Evidence of the sublime Mysteries believed far above our reach and natural Capacities it was necessary to lead us on by Sign 's and Motives suitable for that end but no external Signe or Motive can be more perswasive or make à stronger impression upon minds than Gods own Seals and Signatures of truth undoubted Miracles By these great lights he raises us out of our natural drowsinesse and by them as most attractive Inducements prepares hearts to believe without hesitancy though the Mysteries of Faith seem strange to nature and would be rejected unless set forth adorned and confirmed by prodigious Sign 's Hence all De Lingend Fer. 4. Domin 1. quadrag P. 7. acknowledge à mighty force in Miracles nay some Authors observe that God never proposed any new Doctrin without rational Inducements in making it credible by manifest Sign 's and wonders Who saith De Lingendes is ignorant of the stupendious Miracles wrought by Moses All How and when Miracles were Shoâ—â—n know when the Law was published in the Mount how many new and great Miracles were exhibited The new Priesthood of Aaron had its confirmation by Miracles Solomon's Temple gained great repute upon the sight of Evident Miracles when S. John the Baptist preach't the Baptism of Pennance himselfe was the Miracle Miraculously conceived Miraculously exulted in his Mothers womb Miraculously loosened his Father's tongue and many years lived in the desart more like an Angel than à man without house cloths meat or humane conversation Thus Miracles strengthened and made every new Modern Sectaries never wrought Miracle Doctrin truly proposed credible only our Sectaries are the priviledged persons that without Mission or commission brought à new learning into the world yet never had the good luck I use Erasmus known words to cure à Lame horse much lesse to work à Miracle on man woman or child 4. Courteous Reader please now to consider à little Is it true that God endued his Prophet Moses with the grace of working Miracles Did he manifest great Sign 's at the Promulgation of the law in Mount Sina Did he the like when Aaron was ordained Priest Did he shew wonders at the Baptists preaching Pennance Did he ennoble Solomons Temple with illustrious Miracles Ecce plus quam Salomon hic We are now to mind you of à more miraculous Prophet than Moses of à more Miraculous Priest than Aaron of à more Miraculous Preacher than the Baptist of à Lawgiver as Miraculous as ever published law finally of à more Miraculous Edifice than Solomon erected I mean the noble house of God the Militant and Triumphant Church of Christians founded by no other than our great Thaumaturgus our ever glorious and renowned Lord JESUS God and Man whose Miracles manifested here on earth surpassed in true worth and excellency all the wonders of men and Angels Of this subject I am now to speak and will endeavour so to clear our Saviours Miracles and those the Apostles wrought from all doubts and Cavils that none shall hereafter oppose them upon any rational Principle This performed we will proceed to the Miracles done in the Church 5. Dr Stillingfleet Seem's to make short work Dr Still pag. 66. with the Miracles of our Saviour and his Apostles It is saith he agreed on both sides that the Miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles did sufficiently prove that they were Teachers sent from God Then he insist's something of the assurance we have for them by the universal Testimony of all Christians and that Christ and the Evangelists declared they were wrought for this end that men might believe Dr. Still Slip's by the main difficulty Christ was sent from God It is agreed saith our Dr on both sides c. But Sr give us the rational Ground of this agreement otherwise you prove nothing against Iewes and Heathens who here undervalve the agreement of Christians neither are the passages of Scripture produced by you in behalfe of those primitive Miracles or the end they were wrought for of any account with these Aliens from Christ You tell à Iew that our Saviour cured one born blinde and did it for this end that men might believe he was sent from God the Iew answer's the Divinity of that Scripture cited has no more weight with him than the Miracle has you would prove by it yet you know à Proof should be alwayes clearer than the thing proved Here is an equal uncertainty for no more doth such à man believe your alledged Scripture to be truly Gods word than the Miracle to be à true Miracle Whoever therefore pertinently handles this matter must in à contest with these Adversaries of Christian Religion first distinguish between the different Principles of Iewes and Heathens those admit the old Testament as true Heathens no true Scripture at all Next he is to prove
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
the Mores were converted upon it Doth this condemning the Mores Incredulity imply à Denial of all Miracles Stella in c. 16. Lucae page 292. 1. Colum Certainly no. But to take all doubt away read Stella where he saith there are very many Miracles vvroûght vvhich for number and greatnes are admirable and far surpasse all those Signs granted to unbelievers and therefore the faithful are easily discerned from Infidels by Miracles God's ovvn certain Seals and knovvn Characters of Truth Yet more Those saith he who believe not the Roman Catholick Church will believe no Miracles Though the Dead were raised to life again Is this to tell us as the Dr falsely imposes on Stella that the Power of Miracles is ceased 16. The Dr replies Stella doth not only Say 2. Colum ibidem that the Povver of Miracles ceases now proved false But moreover affirm's that the receiving of it vvould do more hurt than good For men vvould Say that the Christian Faith vvas not sufficiently confirmed before I Answer The Dr once more egregiously cheat's the Reader For Stella speak's not of all men But only of such as are actually Believers And saith that all fully persvvaded of the Truths they believe and firmly embrace need not to seek after new Miracles for this End and mark the words to confirm that Faith they hold most certain which is true Doctrin Then presently Hee More of the Dr's Iugling adjoyn's if such believe not Moses and the Prophets he means the Doctors and Pastors of the Catholick Church neither will they believe though they saw men raised from the dead Hence you see how the Dr would Trapann you while out of this true Principle A faithful man actually Setled in à firm beliefe of all the Catholick Church teaches ought not to require or desire more Miracles to confirm that faith From this Principle I Say he would infer that Miracles cease and conclude That God out of his great mercy will shew none in order to the Conversion of Infidels Iewes and Hereticks Is this consequence good think ye Miracles for such and End as is specified are not now necessary Nay for that End would do more hurt than good Ergo it is not convenient that God work them upon other Design 's Viz. For the glory of his Church for the confusion of Infidels or as Stella notes for à clear Mark whereby Believers may be distinguished from the professed Adversaries of Christ 17. Our good Dr in the next place Quotes Victoria Relect 5 p 100 with me printed at Lyons 1557 â—anciscus de Victoria in his Relections who saith he heard of no Miracle or Sign wrought for the Conversion of the Indies Never was there the like blind Quotation foisted in by any Dr. Reader Victoria hath two Tomes containing twelve Relections six in the one and six in the other The fifth Relection in the first The Dr's Quotations dark and blinde Tome is de Indis posterior sive de Iure belli where I find no 200. page That 200. page went before under the Title of his second Relection De potestate Civili or Civil Power In the second Tome one Relection is de Arte Magicâ neither have we there any 200. page nor à word in either place like to that which the Dr cites But Suppose Victoria saith he had heard of no Miracles wrought for the conversion of the Indies that only proves all truths came not to his eares while others have both heard and expresly mentioned most glorious Miracles But this is evidently true And 18. To prove my Assertion I will here only Josephus Acosta Histoire naturelle des Indes tant Orientalles qu'occident Liv. 7. c. 27. Dedie au Roy 1595. produce two most worthy creditable Authors Josephus Acosta in his natural History of the Indies is one Where he recount's several great Miracles wrought by Almighty God in the open View of those Barbarians forceable enough to convert the hardest heart What can be more admirable saith he than to hear that three or four Poor Travellers Cabeca de vaca and his companions passing along with some enraged Indians were threatned death unlesse they cured the Infirm and diseased among them The distressed Captives having no other medicine at hand made use of Spiritual Physick the Sacred Prodigious Miracles wrought among the Indians Gospel and the prayers of the Holy Church In à word by only Saying those devout prayers and making the Sign of the Crosse upon the Sick Infidels much like the Apostles they instantly cured innumerable The Bruit whereof running abroad They were forced to goe up and down and to do the like wonders in many Villages where they healed all sort of diseased Persons Thus Josephus Acosta Who likewise tell 's you of à strange Miracle done by à Souldier of Peru called Lancero upon à desperate wound which he cured by Saying some Holy Words One by à Souldier of Peru. and making the Sign of the Crosse upon the wound No lesse admirable is his relation of those Barbarians that besieged the Spaniards in à place called Cusco and by casting fire on their little Cottages covered with straw so sorely pressed them that without assistance from Heaven all had perished had not à certain Lady the Blessed Virgin visibly appeared over those Cottages and quenched the Fire as it fell upon the straw This the Infidels saw and afterwards recounted as à prodigious Miracle 19. Yet more It is known for certain saith Acosta by the relation of many Historians that in the several Battels the Spaniards fought against the Indians as well in new Spain as Peru those very Infidels saw in the Aire one like à Cavalier mounted upon à white horse with à Sword in his hand chasing away their forces Another by S. Iames. and fighting for the Spaniards Whence proceed's that great veneration the Spaniards bear to the glorious Apostle S James These few Testimonies I omit others may suffice to confront Dr Still who cites Josephus Acosta as one that saies Miracles were only necessary in the beginning of Josephus Acosta de procurandâ Indorum salute l. 2. c. 9. 10. Christian Religion And not to wrong the Dr his words are these Acosta at large debates this case why God doth not now give the Power of Miracles among those who preach to Infidels as he did of old and he offer 's at several reasons for it of vvhich this is the Chief that Miracles vvere necessary in the beginning of Christian Religion but not novv 20. Reader I have perused with great delight this pious and curious Author both De naturâ novi Orbis and likewise De procurandâ Indorum observe well of what Miracles Acosta speak's Salute and after à serious reflection made upon the two chapters quoted dare boldly averr that the Dr contrary to all conscience grosly abuses Acosta and every unwary Reader The Question proposed in the beginning of the 9. Chapter is thus
know more accurately all natural Secrets than mortals do They can when God permits show strange Effects and very real ones also I say Real For all are not though some be meer Illusions of the eyes or Phansy as Delrio and Michael Medina Largely prove and solve the contrary Arguments Delrio Dis gnis magic lib. 2. quaest 16. Medina cited lib 2. page 56. Delrio l. 2. quaest 10. Delrio cited quaest 16. However real saith Delrio no Divel can change the now setled order in Nature or by local Motion or otherwise unfasten the established course of the Vniverse whereof the Divel is à part only And à part cannot do more than the whole 9. Delrio showes that Witches are really transported by Divels to remote places where many meet together sport and banquet For Proof hereof he relates two strange Stories the one borrowed from Gulielmus Neubrigensis is of à Neubrig l. 1 rerum Angl. c. 38. Countryman who passing one night by à Grot heard Singing and merriment looking in he saw à large room all enlightned with à great number of men and women feasting together One who served these Guests offered the man standing at the Door à Cup to drink but he wiser povred Delrio's Stories of Two Magicians out all the liquor and rid away with the Cup as fast as his horse could run The Cup saith Neubrigensis made of à strange unknown matter of à fashion also no less odd and unusual was presented as à Gift to Henry the Elder King of England and afterwards given to the King of Scots 10. The other Story Written by Robertus Triezius one of Lisle Delrio recount's and showes Delrio quest 6. à pritty strife between two Conjurers The one had laid hold of à young woman placed on à wooden horse behind him and carried her through the Air by à Castle in Burgundy where as it happened another Magician was with many more at à banquet That strange sight discovered of à couple so well mounted riding through the Air The Conjurer in the Castle began his Charms and forced man woman and horse down into à Plain before the Castle where they remained immoveable The Conjurer with his woman thus fixed perceiving that the other in the Castle had thrust his head and neck out of à window between two barrs of Iron to revenge himselfe presently clap't à great pair of branched horns upon his forehead He could not draw his head back the horns hindred forward he durst not venture the Precipice being fearful Finally an agreement was made The horned Magician dismissed the other with his woman and the Brother Conjurer on the Plain in requital took off the Magicians horns within the Castle If these Stories be true Written as very certain it seem's clear that all things told of Magicians are not meer Illusions or fancies only Delrio Quaest 10. 11. Notwithstanding such real matters done I assert with Delrio and others that neither Divels cannot by their natural Power produce any substantial Form Divel nor Magician can by their natural Power immediatly produce any substantial Form for an instance the substantial form of Fire The reason is clear Nemo dat quod non habet No cause can naturally give being to an effect which is not precontained in its natural Virtue But no more can the Divel immediatly give à real being to the substantial form of Fire of à rat or Serpent than produce another Divel or one soul another Soul I say immediatly without Dispositions previously introduced into à Subject fit to receive such à Form which are not done in à moment Exod. 7 11. 12. Some willing to oppose this Doctrin urge that Feat of the Aegiptian Magicians whose Rods cast down like that of Moses were turned into Serpents And this done by Necromancy was à work of the Divel and no illusive but à true real Conversion as appears by the words of Scripture Similiter ac What is to be said of the Aegiptiā Magicians Moses They did as Moses had done So S. Augustine and many Fathers Judge Quoted by Delrio whence it followes that the Divel can give being to Substantial Form's I Answer he can help to such productions of imperfect Animals usually called Insecta in case he more quickly introduce into à Putrified rod apt dispositions for à frog or Serpent which Caitan thinke was here done But this reaches not to the Immediate Production of either substantial or accidental Form Others say That the Divel by à slight Legerdemain secretly conveyed into the place of the Magicians Rods true Serpents and so solve the difficulty Be it how you will Moses his rod changed into à Serpent devovred that of the Enchanters and therefore was evidently the greater Miracle 13. By all hitherto noted our Assertion above Viz. That neither Divel nor Magician can raise the dead to life seems more and more confirmed which appear's à greater work than to produce any natural substance A further reason hereof convinces The Soul separated from the Body is either held mortal or immortal Why Divels cannot raise the dead If mortal it perishes and cannot return again but by creation But no Divel can Create or produce something out of nothing This being the work of God only Omnipotent If immortal it is cast out of this Universe and consequently nothing in the order of nature has Power to act upon it or to reduce it to the Body which it first informed Whence Franciscus Victoria notes Victoria Tom. 2. de arte Magica page 279. excellently well That these Divels are usually employed about lesser matters in finding out Thieves or Robbers who have deprived men of their goods Much more they cannot do 14. But what shall we say to the VVitch of 1. Reg. 28. v. 19. Endor by whose Charms Samuel long before dead appeared and told King Saul of the ill Success of his war as also of his death the next What to the with at Endor day Some Answer Samuel did not appear but think another spirit assumed his shape and spake to Saul This opinion seem's contrary to what we read in Ecclesiasticus where Samuel is Eccl. 46. 23. said after his sleep or death to have notified to the King the End of his life and exalted his voice out of the earth in Prophesie It is also contrary to the Doctrin of S. Austin expresly teaching that Souls S. Aug. de curâ promortuis gerend departed this life often show themselves to the living and he takes one proof from this Appation of Samuel And who can doubt but that Moses being dead appeared with our Saviour in Samuel truly appeared his glorious Transfiguration Samuel's soul therefore called out of Lymbo truly appeared but not by the Charms of that Pythonical woman for the Apparition prevented her Enchantments and was sooner than she expected whence like one amazed she cryed out at the Sight of Samuel and asked why Saul had deceived her 15.