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
so much as probably against great Miracles wrought in the Church The like Account we give of other Authors falsifyed by the Dr. 215 Chap. XI A briefe Account of the Dr's large Excursion from his Page 595. to Page 664. Of his false Quotations and fallacious way in Arguing The rest Shewed à long list of impertinencies 236 Of Dr Stillingfleets Flawes in his false and faulty citing Tostatus Roffensis Didacus Stella and Iosephus Acostà 24 Chap. XII Of S. Xaverius his admirable life and most glorious Miracles VVitnesses of these Miracles and undoubted Testimonies produced The Dr's simple Exceptions against them demonstrated vain and frivolous His unjust Aspersion laid on Iesuits discovered 259 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 Exortisms rejected as improbable A VVord of Hazenmillers lowd Lyes 277 Chap. XIV An Answer to one of 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 counterfeit Miracles can passe the Churches Tribunal vvithout censure Of à late VVriters exceptions against Miracles The admirable Propagation of Christian Religion convinces that Miracles have been vvrought 296 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 nay work some strange wonders they cannot raise the Dead or cure desperate Infirmities Of the Aegyptian Magicians Feates A word of the witch at Endor Other matters handled 313 Chap. XVI Why Miracles are wrought in the Church Of their twoo fold End Miracles rationally prove the Doctrin of Christ and the Church infallible Clear Miracles have been wrought in confirmation of every Doctrin taught by the Church Of Dr Stillingfleets simple Reply to two known and renowned Micles Whether Aesculapius cured à woman in the Temple of Epidaurus The Dr's Story of Pythagoras his golden Thigh examined found à fourb or at most Necromancy 326 Chap. XVIII Of many other Quotations partly impertinent partly false produced by the Dr Arguments against Miracles Answered pag. 345 Chap. XVIII Whether it be reasonable to have Missionaries novv sent into England and vvork Miracles there The Dr vvishes this done More of the Dr's many false and impertinent Quotations Antichrist's Wonders no true Miracles Miracles knovvn upon Moral Certainty sufficiently induce to Faith 358 Chap. XXIX The Conclusion 373 COVRTEOVS READER THe Erratas in this Impression however small are many Wonder nothing better could not bee expected from à Printer that knowes not à word of English The very most I hope of these faults are Corrected In case the Reader discover more which is likely He will I am confident either passe by them or charitably amend them A DISCOURSE OF MIRACLES WROUGHT IN THE ROMAN CATHOLICK CHVRCH Or à 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 CHAP. I. VVhat is meant by à true Miracle God only the cause of supernatural Miracles Of their absolute necessity VVhether the Miracle of Christ and his Apostles can be rationally proved against Iewes and Gentils Dr Stillinfleet hit's not on these rational proofs You have them hereafter clearly set down against all exceptions and Cavils 1 By à true Miracle we understand not every wonder that causes admiration but an effect or supernatural work of God far surpassing all created power which neither Angel Divel nor man can do by their own forces and therefore necessarily depends on God infinitly powerful Whence it followes that à Miracle has à necessary connexion withtruth and when known as such gives us Infallible certainty of that for which it is primarily intended The reason hereof seem's clear because God speaks by his works as men do by words God infinitly wise yea truth it selfe and as we now suppose the sole principal Author of Miracles can no more attest à lye by his own supernatural works than by the words he speak's in Holy Scripture Now that he speak's by works is manifest out of Holy writ The Heavens Psai 28. Rom. 1. 18. Austin Egist 49. declare his glory The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven And S. Austin confirm's it as we saith he speak's by words ita Divina potentia factis loquitur so God doth by his works and if he speak's by works Miracles for exemple he delivers truth God saith the Apostle to show the Heb 6. 17. 18. heires of his promise the stability of his Counsel hath interposed an Oath that by two things unmoveable whereby it is impossible that God should lye we have à most stronge comfort who have fled to hold fast the hope proposed c. Pray you reflect would an Oath in à mortal man though liable to deceipt be horrid if taken to depose à falshood None doubts it Much more say I would the exhibiting à Miracle whereby God as it were swear's he speak's truth be horâ—â—d could he that cannot deceive work one for example raise the dead to testify à lowd untruth Hence also followes à second impossibility and 't is The power of working Miracles not tyed to men's fancy that God cannot give the power of working Miracles to any when and in what manner man's fancy likes best for could this be done He would not only deprive himselfe of his own absolute Dominion but also rashly subject it to the will of another who by malice or ignorance may abuse it and publich errour in stead of truth As great an impossibility is it if not greater that an infinit wisdom ever work à Miracle to confirm à false Doctrin because an Infinit truth cannot contradict himselfe or give Testimony to à lye nor force an errour upon rational creatures subject to him by his own noble and glorious works 2. Hence also it is that none of our late Reformers in Germany or England ever wrought à Miracle to confirme one of their Novelties No wonder saith Petra Sancta Desertores Silvest Petra Sanct. Tom. 2. Thaumasiae c. 3. Pag. 26. verae fidei c. The singer of God whereby Miracles are wrought leaves Sectaries that forsake God and his Church Here you have also the true reason why Dr Stillinfleet though without successe sett's so briskly against Miracles Alas the poor man has none to embellish his new faith with and therefore would fain have those glorious wonders valued of as needlesse superfluities worth little but contempt He may yet remember how earnestly Luther endeavovred to work à Miracle in freeing one possessed with à Divel and also
but Saith some one we Protestants credit Papists when they tell us that the Gospel is à true Story and believe them also in the Report they make of Christ's Miracles Most unreasonably done for if those men never told you true word of Miracles wrought in the Church but quite contrary cloy'd your eares with forged Stories their credit utterly lost deserves nothing but contempt as to Christ's Miracles if false in the one of mighty consequence hold them boldly fallacious in the other 15. What will you say if Dr Still to help himselfe in à present Exigency draw back à little and tell us He never yet plainly denyed all our Church Miracles Very good newes if true whence it followes that unless he will quite suspend his Judgement as doubtful of all he must necessarily grant some great Miracles those chiefly approved by the Church my desire is to know which and how many he will yeild us having upon his Concession certainty of so many I shall thence infer that either All approved Church Miracles are to bee admitted or None Some perhaps Either all approved Miracles must be allowed or none may here propose this Question what if the Church had never had Miracles done in it would not our Saviours admirable Wonders either written in the Gospel or conveyed down by Tradition have been sufficient to check Antichrist's pride and the legerdemain of that false Prophet Were this supposed Christians would have been in no worse condition than now though the Church tell false Stories of her Miracles I Answer the Supposition which notoriously impaires the Churches humane Authority and consequently takes off that high respect all bear to Christ's Miracles is à meer Impertinency Observe my reason It is one thing to Argue upon à false Supposition by imagining no Miracles wrought in the Church and another What followes if the Church had been without Miracles to make this Oracle an upon Lyar. In the first case had none been wrought the Church would never have divulged any but in the other Supposition She is perfidious while she ascertain's us of Miracles which Sectaries say were never done and therefore loses all credit and can gain beliefe of none 16. We come at last to the true fundamental Ground of Miracles wrought in the Church and prove them absolutely necessary None upon à bare owning those ancient Wonders wrought by Christ and his Apostles true can show who among so many dissenting Christians in the fundamental matters of Faith make at this day Profession of Christ's Doctrin Therefore other Miracles are absolutely necessary to mark out and distinguish Miracles proved necessary in the Church she true Professors of Christ's Doctrin from false Sectaries Whoever denies Miracles absolutely necessary for this end must either say that the Christian Societey where Christ's Doctrin is truly professed cannot be known or distinguished from false Sectaries though it gives in Evidence of undoubted Miracles Or which is as bad he must grant that all Hereticks are here-upon proved true Professors of Christ's Doctrin because forsooth they acknowledge Christ and his Apostles to have wrought such and such Miracles and this is evidently false for condemned Hereticks as Arians and Pelagians easily assent to that owned Truth but are not therefore to be listed among the true Professors of Christ's Doctrin Much more therefore is required and it is that Christ's true Society doth not only talk of primitive Miracles or own them true but besides really show you the like admirable distinctive Signs as raising the dead curing the blind and lame manifested by Christ and his Apostles peculiar to it selfe not Common to others of à contrary saith But this Prerogative whereby Faithful Believers are marked out and differenced from Hereticks belong's only to one living Oracle the Roman Catholick Church which took its rise from Christ and his Apostles and ever since stood Age after Age gloriously illustrated by known and renowned Miracles And thus we have it clearly distinguished from all Hereticks Whenas Sectaries men utterly forsaken like dirt cast out of the house of God lie under disgrace altogether unable to confirm their Novelties by one true supernatural wonder Thus Providence showes them no lesse naked and bereft of true Miracles than cold inefficacious and unlucky in their Conversions and drawing Infidels to Christ 17. By what is now Said you may discover Dr Still p. 665. no little lamenesse in Dr Still Discourse The Doctrin of Christ saith he being confirmed by the Miracles wrought by them there cannot be any such necessity in succeeding Ages to confirm the Much Lamenesse in Dr Still Discourse same Doctrin by Miracles The same Doctrin Sr You speak at random pray you tell us in this confusion of different Religions while every one lay's claime to Christ's Doctrin who are proved the true Professors of it by avouching Christ to have wrought great Miracles Or make this Consequence good Christ Cured the blind lame and deaf Ergo Arians who contradict Protestants in the Essentials of Faith or Protestants that contradict the Arians are proved the faithful Professors of Christ's Doctrin because both Judge well of Christ's Miracles If so Catholicks may come in with the best and show themselves sound in Faith upon this account But thanks be to God we can say more for our cause and rest not only in à bare Beliefe of those ancient great Wonders but as I noted above demonstrate à Church Characterized and gloriously marked out by the like supernatural Sign 's which those first great Masters evidenced when they preached to the world and thus our Church is distinguished from all false Conventicles 18. There is no shifting of the force of this Argument but by one of these two desperate evasions Either it must be said that publick Miraculous works evidently done by one or many Authoritively sent to teach Christ's Doctrin are not at all marks of Truth and this is contrary to the Gospel Our Lord working with them the Apostles and confirming the Mark 16. ◠19. John 20. 30. word with Signs that followed These Signs are written add's S. John that men might believe that Iesus is Christ the Son of God c. Or 2 You are flatly to deny the Church ever to had one true Miracle wrought in it which is evidently false as has been proved whereof more presently The only owning ancient Miracles Maintain's any Religion In the mean time you se that to plead for Christ's true Doctrin by only owning those ancient Miracles true licenses all dissenting Christians in Fundamentals to maintain any Religion true or false as they please The Arian may teach as he teaches and so may the Monothelit without Reproof if he tell us he hold's Christ's Doctrin confirmed by primitive Miracles though he cannot say upon à bare owning those Signs what Christ's Doctrin is whether for an Instance the Divine Word truly assumed Flesh or that God is one Essence and three distinct Persons
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
England and the Indies to the Catholick Faith were as I pleaded done by Miracles or not if so done we have our Intent if not it was the greatest Miracle of all to see so many Aliens from Christ gained to the true Faith without Miracles Again those painful Missioners whom God made his Instruments to work so many admirable Conversions through the whole world were in the vulgar esteem of the Nations converted held Sots Impious and Cheats or contrarywise Loyal and faithful Messengers of Christ and his Church if loyal and faithful none can cast à blemish on them if judged Impostors Sots or impious you utter the most shameful Improbability that ever Tongue spake or heart harboured and must say that the wisest Nations of the world were all stark mad when listening to the Doctrin of these supposed Fools they abandoned their Errours believed in Christ and ever afterwards lived and dyed in the Roman Catholick Faith This Argument alone is so stronge that twenty Dr Stillingfleets shall never break it in pieces 7. Lastly for à Close of these rational Arguments I introduced à Stranger yet far from yeilding assent to our Church Miracles and because he knowes that Iewes and Sectaries lay no claim to that gift nor ever did any since the Apostles dayes this man much of Dr Stillingfleets mind stand's earnestly for à cessation of all Miracles though if misled he is willing to quit his errour My endeavour is to unbeguile him and therefore I ask whether he denies or grant's the Miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles In case he stumbles here you have his full refutation already set down if contrarywise he owns those as true upon publick Fame and the great Conversions God wrought by them I put into his hands the best and choisest Records whereby we prove prodigious Miracles to have been wrought in the Church and am content to undergoe publick Disgrace before à whole learned University if I make not this Assertion good viz. No other rational exception shall this An application of the last Proof insisted on above man bring against the verity of these Catholick Records than à Iew or Heathen produces aginst the Truth of the four Evangelists where our Saviours Miracles are recorded That is to say as à Iew or Heathen shall never speak rational word against the first wonders registred in the Gospel so our supposed Stranger will be as much silenced in his undertaken quarrel against latter Miracles recorded by Authors of unquestionable Fame The Fame of these Wonders by reason of the larger extent of the Church now than anciently is more Universal and the Conversions made by Her laboriours Messioners sent up and down the world in latter Ages are far more numerous than those the Apostles wrought Now if we appeal to Witnesses as we pleaded above for the Apostolical Signs and Miracles there is no Kingdome under the Sun that ever brought to light so many grave Writers against whom no exception can be made for any matter of Fact that happened in it as we produce in the present Controversy For all the learned Doctors and vigilant Pastors of Christs own far extended Kingdom no lesse numerous than worthy credit teach and have ever taught that true conspicuous and undeniable Miracles have been wrought in this great moral Body and the Church Herselfe upon her own humane Authority still we abstract from Divine Relation asserts the same and to this day preserves à Memory of her long since past and present Wonders in the minds of all her Children Therefore he or they who undervalve so many incomparable clear Giveâ—â— in of Evidence never excepted against by Orthodox Christian what Gods Enemies and the Churches Adversaries babble out upon no rational Proof carries little weight I say such men ought to be dismissed without Reply as unworthy to be dealt with and reckoned among Protest without Princ. Dis 1 cap. 1. Reason and Relig. Dis 2. cap. 8. those in whom the light of reason iâ— fearfully eclipsed I quoted many of these approved Witnesses in my two Treatises and am now lesse willing to transcribe all again You shall have more and choise ones hereafter And thus much of the Parallel of Arguments Rational proofs For Miracles alledged in my other Treatises 8. We are now as the Title promises to insist upon other proofs and these following I chiefly urged in the Treatises cited 1. We find by experience à strange confusion of different Sects in the world and se that all pretend to serve God in Spirit and Truth whereas most certainly one only Society doth so for as there are not many Gods but one true so there cannot be many Religions dissenting Miracles denote and mark out that Society wherein God teaches truth in Fundamentals true but one only or none at all In this horrid Confusion while every one laies claim to Truth it is as I said absolutely necessary to have that happie Society clearly marked out wherein Divine Faith is taught but no Mark can be more palpable or better avail to discern this Society from false Sects than glorious Miracles Gods own Seals Christs own Cognisances and the clearest Characters of Apostolical Doctrin 9. I Argued 2. A Church not marked with these illustrious Signs is as dark à thing as à Sun without light whence it is that though Two unlucky Rebels Luther and Calvin laboured with might and main to set à false Glosse of Miracles upon their new Doctrin yet God crossed their designe made the Authors of the fraud infamous and would have the new Monster appear as it truly was dark without light dull without life and so totally strip't of all Supernatural Signs that Shame and ignominy only covered that naked nothing whereas his Sacred Providence for the quickening of Faith and Devotion in the Church both inwardly plyes our hearts with Divine grace and outwardly also excit's us to fervour by à frequent sight of such visible wonders as made the world Christian I Argued Iewes and Infidels gained to the Church by the force of Miracles 3. If Miracles as all confesse were necessary for the Conversion of Iewes and Infidels when Christ and his Apostles taught the world it is à Paradox to hold them uselesse or unnecessary in after Ages when Iewes as hard hearted and Gentils as barbarous and uncivilized that never knew Christ have been instructed and innumerable gained to our holy Faith not because they barely heard Verities preached but upon this Inducement that they often saw all confirmed by Evident Signs and wonders from Heaven 10. To goe on in this discourse I would know whether Dr Stillingfleet can allow the Divel liberty to ranger up and down and to do much mischiefe upon innumerable possessed with unclean Spirits and whether he will grant also that Christ our Lord like one carelesse The freeing possessed Persons from Divels proves Miracles leaves his Militant Church destitute of all help and means whereby such enslaved Persons
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
the Change of an ancient Religion is intended for this Change will be aimed at in those dayes the whole Contest lies here whether false Wonders previously known as false are false Signs previously known as false Seem weightless to be set more by than all the certain Miracles God has wrought I say again that man is stupid or stark mad that will quit his ancient Faith and yeild himselfe up Captive to the Divel at à sight of VVonders which he knowes are meer Illusions Hence Antichrist I think with all his Legerdemain will never seduce faithful Christians in so great numberâ— as some imagin VVherefore Scripture speaking Matth. 24 of false Christ's and false Prophets showing great wonders Antichrist may passe for one among them saith not that the just shall be seduced but that the Elect if it were possible may be led into Errour 21. What Iewes and Gentils will then do others Dispute our modern Sectaries if any at that time be in the world are to look to it for most certainly Antichrist to inveigle them will show far greater Signs than ever they saw done by Luther Calvin or any at their unfortunate Change from Catholick Religion to Protestancy If that Monster have them all at his beck the Wonder will not be great for it is very consequent after à shameful deserting Christ's Church to abandon God Christ and all that good is 22. Some may Say Antichrists Signs though not true Miracles visibly exhibited cannot but as present Things are wont to do move much when the true Miracles wrought by Christ and in the Church only registred then not seen may have lesse Influence upon minds and perhaps perswade little while Antichrist with his Power and Threats will certainly dismay many I Answer How Antichrist's Signs will be discountenanced Apoc. 11 Those present fallacious Signs will be then discountenanced when the living shall behold true and far greater Miracles shown by Those two witnesses Enoch and Elias pointed at by S. John who shall not only Preach against Antichrist's Doctrin and invite both Iewes and Gentils to Penance but also wearing Sackcloth Prophesy with Power given to shut the Heavens and convert waters into blood Finally slain God will raise them to life again And here you have Aug 20 de civit c. 29. tract 4. in Joan Miracles incomparably more illustrious than all that Antichrist can doe or show Read S. Austin of Enoch and Elias appearing and preaching in those last dayes who saies it is à Verity Notoriously known and so innumerable other Fathers speak cited in the Annotations upon the Rhems Testament From all now noted you may gather that Antichrist shall not work one real true Miracle 2â— Another Passage is quoted out of S. Mark 9. 38 Mark where S. John told our Saviour VVe saw one casting out Divels in your name who follow 's us not and we prohibited him and JESUS said do not prohibit him for there is none that doth a Miracle in my name that can soon speak ill of me I answer 1. It is not here said that this man cast out Divels but only endeavoured it led on most likely with à good intention to do as the Apostles did And this as Maldonate well Maldonate in hunc locum observes seem's intimated in the Text. Vidimus eum eâ—icientem daemonia That is we saw him busy about that work but nothing yet effected 2. Much lesse is it said that he wanted Faith or was an Infidel for his working in Christ's Name That is as some interpret by virtue given by Christ insinuat's the contrary O! but he followed not the Apostles The meaning may be faith Maldonate cited though à Believer and à follower of Christ's Doctrin he was not of the Apostles Company Colledge or Corporation or ever publickly Authorized to cast out Divels as they were However by particular Priviledge he might do so now chiefly at the beginning of Christianity to make Christ's Name and Vertue known among Unbelievers 3. It is no Wonder that Miracles are sometimes wrought by the Holy Name of JESUS though the man that does them be wicked for Julian the Apostata witnesses S. Gregory Nazianzen and Theoderet drove away S Gregor Naz. orat 1. in Iulian. Theod. lib. â— c. 3. Hist Divels by the Sign of the Crosse Would our Modern Sectaries leave off their ease à little would they run among Pagans and preach only the true Doctrin of Christ God perhaps might work Miracles by them but never will he doe any in proof of their erronious Opions 24. S. Matthew yeilds à third Testimony Matt. 7. 21. Many at the day of Judgement will say to Christ Lord Lord have not we Prophecyed in thy name and in thy name cast out Divels and in thy name wrought many Miracles Christ Answers I never knew you depart from me ye workers of Iniquity Hence it followes that wicked men cast out Divels and did true Miracles I Answer but it followes not they did so empowred by the Divel or by the help of Christ's Enemy and of this Power I speak in my Assertion 25. To say that faithlesse wicked men assisted by Divels can cast out Divels contradicts our Saviours Argument proposed before whole multitudes in S. Luke If saith Christ I cast Luke 11. v. 18. Our Saviours Argument Strong against the Iewes out Divels in Belzebub how shall his Kingdom stand for every Kingdom divided against it selfe is desolate c. Our Saviour in this Passage either proved that Divels cannot cast out Divels by their own power and wicked Instruments or Argued lesse efficaciouly against these multitudes who might have replyed Lord you are deceived Divels can cast out Divels and therefore your Argument drawn from à Kingdom divided in it selfe seem's weightlesse No Christian I hope will Say the Iewes had reason on their side in this Plea against Christ 26. Now for as much as concern's the main Controversy Viz. Whether wicked men can by God's permission and Power not by the Divels help work true Miracles I see many distinguish between wicked men endued with Faith and other both wicked and Faithlesse Those that cryed out Lord Lord and wrought Miracles in Christ's Holy Name are supposed to have had true Faith though impious And that such by God's permission and Power did Wonders in the beginning of Christianity to make Christ's name and Virtue more famous seem's nothing strange for God who has perfected Matt. 21. 17 his Praise out of the mouth of Infants and sucklings can also when it is for his Glory make himselfe renowned by the works of wicked men And this he has done though the particulars related in Scripture are but few done I say upon high Designs ever tending to his own and the Churches honour For example 27. Balaam an Infidel Prophecyed of à Star that should rise out of Iacob and à rod from Israël The Prophecy tending to the Honour why God wrought Miracles by
denyed great and most Signal Miracles to have been wrought in the Orthodox Church of Christ None of them ever hitherto brought in S Austin as Opposite to our Catholick Miracles Many it's true assert That false wonders have by abuse often passed for true ones which all willingly acknowledge and Say the Church upon their Discovery hath severely punished those who gave the scandal and upon this unsteady Topick the Dr unworthily ground 's the most of his whole Discourse as will appear afterwards Now to S. Austins Testimonies 2. The Dr quotes his Book of true Religion S. Austin de vera Religion c. 25. where it is Said that the working of Miracles since the Church is novv established and diffused over the world becomes Vnnecessary yet God thinks Mr Dr might do them out of extraordinary kindness to his Church in à time when many Pagans vvere yet unreclaimed Reader here Dr Still page 581. is not all for S Austin in his Book of Retractations and the Dr saw it well enough declared his own meaning thus When saith he I S Aust lib. 1. Retract cap. 1 3. taught in my Book of true Religion That after the Churches Establishment Miracles vvere not necessary that 's very true because novv vvhen hands are laid upon the Baptized They receive not so the Holy Ghost Observe what Miracles S. Austin speak's of as to speak vvith the Tongues of all Nations neither are the Infirm now healed by the shadows of Christ's Preachers that passe by them These and the like Wonders cease But vvhat I said then mark the words is not to be taken as if no Miracles vvere novv vvrought in the name of Christ for I had assurance of à blinde man cured at Millan and of many other great Miracles done in These times that I neither knovv them all nor can enumerate those I knovv Thus S. Austin Say Reader doth not the Dr egregiously juggle in raising à Difficulty out of S. Austin which the Saint had solved long since and plainly laid before all mens Eyes 3. The next Quotation in S. Austins Book S. Austin de utilit credendi c. 16. of the Vsefulness of believing is nothing at all to the Dr ' s purpose There we are Told what great Miracles were frequently done by God made man while he lived on earth then S. Austin Demands Why they are not done now He Answers because they would not move unless they were wonderful for Saith he were they Things common or usually Shown they would not seem wonderful and he explain's his meaning by an excellent Instance vvaved by Mr Dr. Should one saith the Saint who never yet saw the Vicissitude of day and night the constant motion of the Celestial Orbes the four various Seasons of the year the mighty efficacy which lies in seed the Beauty of light of Colours c. Should such à man I say first behold these wonders He would be overwhelmed with à Sight of admirable Miracles Yet We. not because we knovv the Causes of these things for nothing is more obscure But because they are common and dayly seen make little or no Account of them And so it would Were Miracles vulgar and common they whould not move happen were the Miracles wrought by our Saviour continually shown or often laid before our Eyes S. Austins whole Drift therefore is to Demonstrate that if Christ's Miracles were so common or continually wrought amongst us like the incessant Motion of the Heavens or those other wonders already mentioned They would to use the Saints words grovv contemptible Yet hence contrary to all Logick and rational Discourse the Dr would inferr that Miracles are never wrought though God often vouchsafes Pro opportunitate temporum That 's also S. Austin's expression to do them by his Servants here on earth That is not so frequently by any one man or in any such manner as our Saviour did in the first Promulgation of the Gospel 4. Here the Dr to his own confusion remit's S. Austin lib 4. Retract c. 14. us again to S. Austin When saith the Saint I mentioned in another place the Miracles our Lord JESUS vvrought in his mortal flesh I asked vvhy the like are not done novv And ansvvered They vvould not move unless they vvere vvonderful and this I said because neither so great Miracles nor all the Miracles vvrought by Christ are novv done among us Non quia nulla fiunt etiam modo And not because God vvorks no Miracles among us novv in this present Age. These last words which prove that Miracles cease not in the Church our Dr vvisely conceal's and adds to S. Austins Text another Expression not extant there Viz. As vvere vvrought by Christ and his Apostles whereas the Saint in this Passage speaks only of our Saviours Miracles without mention made of the Apostles However after this double fraud you must hear the Dr triumph And can saith he any Sayings be more contradictory than this of S. Austin's and E. W. s asserting That as many and as great Miracles yea greater are wrought since as were in their Dayes Mr Dr deal plainly read in lieu of your words As are done in their dayes as were wrought by Christ and your supposed contradiction vanishes into smoak For do not I expresly Part. 2. c. 1. â—um 3. say in the last Treatise That Christ our Lord proved himselfe the greatest Thaumaturgus the world ever beheld and far surpassed all Angels and men Patriarks Prophets or Apostles in working Miracles all nature over which none ever did before or shall do hereafter None but Christ commanded à new Star to shine at their birth No man like our Saviour darkened the lights of Heaven split the rocks rent the vail of the Temple moved the earth or rose again to Life like Christ our Lord. Therefore Ghâ—ist our Lord for above all men and Angels in working Miracles S. Austin saies well and I also assert it that neither so admirable nor all the Miracles wrought by Christ are now done amongst us Notwithstanding to verify that certain Prediction of greater wonders I said more blinde have seen more dead have risen to Life again more poor have received the Gospel in the later Ages of the Church than before while our Saviour was upon earth and this is undeniable unlesse S. Austin's Authority and all humane Faith be banished the world Hence I often Paralled Miracles wrought in the Church with those done by the Apostles ever giving Preheminence to our Saviours glorious Wonders and withal yeilded as you may see above à singular Prerogative granted the Apostles in working Miracles by Ordinary Commission which none known to me in the Church ever had since or if any had it the favour was singular and not common 5. The Dr goes on It s true indeed S. Austin saith there were some Miracles still left in the Church and he produces several Instances else where but in the same place he Denies the
pointed out the great light of the world then appearing in Bethlem Observe the Expression wise men whether then living or afterwards imports not Judged so Therefore he never proposed this as à Truth revealed by Almighty God in Scripture 5. And thus Reader you have briefly the intolerable fraud of De Dieû and our Dr discovered who will needs impose upon F. Xavier what he never said They avouch he told all these Particulars and more as Verities revealed by Almighty God and words contained in the Holy Gospel Whereas it is evident by his manner of Writing And own Expressions no such thing can be meant Though desirous to make the History of Christ compleat he grounded himselfe first upon the exact Truths recorded in the Prophets and the Gospel with à further Enlargement as you have heard The Dr therefore yet living is obliged to recall what he has falsely said And to take off his foul Aspersion unjustly laid upon à most laudable Missioner 6. In like manner I Answer to the Exceptions made against the Story of the B. Virgin Dr Still page 618. where the Dr as God would have it manfully refutes himselfe F. Xavier saith he took what he had out of à Silly Book attributed to S. Hierome rejected by Baronius and others Is it so Did he take Baron Appar n. 44. what he had out of à Silly Book Prove you Sr that he presented the contents of that Book to Acabar under rhe Notion of God's revealed Wherein De Dieu and the Dr fail Word or as Written in Scripture and you Satisfy us But this neither De Dieu nor you shall ever make Probable 7. In the next place our Dr falls foule upon the Father for asserting Issachar to have been High Priest when S. Joachim offered up his Sacrifice in the Temple It is true Baronius cited saies Issachar could be no high Priest Then But tell me Reader is not this à pardonable fault in à poor Missioner who if mistaken thought he had S. Hierom's Authority for his Assertion And then neither did nor could know what Baronius had Written of this Subject Were the Dr's grosse Errours when he Quotes Authors falsly as I have Demonstrated When he produces Testimonies for the ceasing of Miracles in the Church though he saw those very VVriters he cites most expresse for glorious Miracles in latter Ages When he looks back upon his Jugling and foul perverting the plain Sence of Authors When he call's to mind his unjust Calumny Laid on Jesuits as men Forsooth who think it Lawful to Lye for à good cause c. These and many more Abominable frauds I have discovered in the Dr though to use his own words upon another Occasion he little thought they would ever come to light Were such grosse falsities I say as minute and pardonable as that one small Oversight is of F. Xavier Mr Dr might rejoyce And read these my Writings over with à merrier heart than he is like to do But his Errours are horrible and without serious repentance unpardonable The rest that followes in the Dr of the Blessed Virgins retyred life in the Temple of her vow of Virginity which grave Authors affirm The Baron Appar n. 47. c. 56. Dr laughs at all you have plainly asserted and proved in Baronius 8. Our Dr willing to make his Imputations cast on F. Xaverius relishable and to gain his precious Author De Dieu credit cites Philip Alagambe who saies the Text of Dieu his Translation is not unfaithfully done some few things Alagambe Biblioth Scrip. Societatis page 188. Animadversiones De Dieu page 537. excepted It is very true But Alagambe add's That De Dieu's heretical Observations or Animadversions one great part of his Book comming from à naughty heart deserve to be burnt with his Preface and marginal notes This Mr Dr conceal's yet Methinks if Alagambe merits credit in the one his word also may well be taken for the other The Dr at the close of Dr Still page 623. his Discourse thinks he hath said enough not only to stop the mouth of E. VV. for the future but even of impudence it selfe An idle brag of à defeated Adversary Peruse Reader this Treatise and you will see to whom Impudence as due belong's in this place I say no more 9. The Dr from his Page 624. to 663. afford's little worth reflection or any Reply In à word he seem's much like some poor Fellowes in our Cities that goe up and down the Streets and cast into nasty Carts all the filth and Dirt they meet with And I verily think gain more by that Sordid Employment Than the Dr gets Forged Miracles introduced by the Dr. wholly impertinent by his long and tedious Narration of forgeries and false Miracles impiously Pretended to have been wrought when none were This I call Dirt busily Scraped up by the Dr and cast into the Pages now mentioned But for what End or Purpose is hard to say Is it to tell us that Cheats and Counterfeits have sometimes plaid their prancks and abused others No great Doctorship is required for that which the whole world knowes Is it to Decry true Miracles because false ones have been forged A plain Degree of Madnes For so we should decry true Scripture because false Scripture has been Fathered upon the very Apostles Is it to prove à Religion naught because some that professe it Se Eusebius Hist lib. 3. c. 19. and l. 6 c. 10. And S. Austin contra Adversar Legis prophetar lib. 1. c. 20. Se Reas. and Relig. Disc 2. c. 8. num 11. counterfeit Miracles By this Art and Arguing Protestancy is ruined For not only Luther and Calvin as I shewed feigned Miracles but others also of the English Ministery have done so Witnesse that egregious fourb practized by John Dorrell in his pretended Possessions and Dipossessions of William Summers at Nottingham of Thomas Darling the boy of Burton of Cadwall and of Katharine Wright at Mansfeild c. Whereof whole Books have been Written laying open the frauds as you may read in Brerely who also introduces Dorells notorious cheat of à Spirit Brerely Tract 2. c. 3 Sect. 7. subd 5. p. with me 546. speaking in à wall against Queen Mary with the sleeping Preachers forgery Discovered by his Majesty King James VVere it worth the while to gather up more of this filth justly attributed to Protestants we could easily match Mr Dr and bespatter as many Pages with it as he has done But who besides the Dr can endure this Nonsense Some of such à profession have plaid the Knaves and forged Miracles Ergo the Religion that decryes the Forgery is naught Or true Miracles whereof Christians never doubted are to be looked on as False 10. Mr Dr after two tedious Stories of Falco and Joannes de Vincentia held by many Impostors by others not so hardly thought of But rather freed from the guilt for our purpose it imports not to
Grain blessed by Pius who was created Pope long after S. Ignatius his death And Dr Still page 649. Still cheated by Hazenmiller was so grosly blinded as to Tell the Story over again and will forsooth have one Bead of the Rosary consecrated by Pius the fifth sent by à Brother at S. Ignatius his command That is S. Ignatius either rose from the dead and sent the Brother or Dr Still shamefully err's in his Story 16. Another Lye followes Ribadineira Still page 647. Gretser page 218. saith this Sycophant denyed S. Ignatius to have wrought Miracles and Dr Still has much to the same Sence Gretser Answers Mentitur turpiter Miller tell 's à filthy Lye Produce the passage where Ribadineira writes so The contrary is Manifest For the Title of the last chapter in his V. Book is of the Saints Miracles And in the 6.th Chapter he recount's many wrought by the merits and Prayers of S. Ignatius O but saith Dr Still They were only such as are liable to fraud and impostures Viz. page 648. casting out Divels in their way A flat Calumny without Proof Show you Sr the fraud or retract your false Aspersion The way was pious by Austerity and earnest Prayer works laudable before God and man Who ever doubts of S. Ignatius his Miracles may peruse Ioannes Maffeius where you have many and great Maffeius lib. 3. c. 14. Miracles recounted 17. For an Upshot another abominable Lye told by Hazenmiller or Policarp may passe after the rest and our wise Dr Still sets it forth in English Ignatius saith he is said to Page 648. have freed à possessed woman from the Divel by rehearsing this profane Verse out of Virgil. Speluncam Dido dux Trojanus eandem c. Gretser Answers it is à wonder that Policarp fancied not that other Verse more proper Tytere tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi Then add's It is à shame to hear these black and blockish Calumnies Could the Calumniators ever perswade Themselves that prudent men would yeild Assent to such paultry intolerable Lyes Away with this Miller and his associats neither worth memory nor Answers What they might justly expect for their folly They have Contempt and Derision 18. There is yet more of the like stuff in another fearful Story the Dr tell 's of the Jesuits in England who under the Chief Contriver one Weston or Edmonds the Jesuits Provincial forsooth employed twelve Exorcist's to show Tricks upon certain hypochondriacal men and hysterical women falsely pretended to be possessed though all at last proved Impostures Dr Still page 650. This saith our Dr happened in the year 1585. and 1586. when I believe very few Jesuits had entred that Isleland And am sure that neither Then nor ever afterwards was there any Weston or Edmonds Provincial of the Iesuits Guileilm Weston à great sufferer in persecution but no Provincial se Morus lib. 4. His Provin Angl. num 215. for the first Provincial of the English Jesuits long after was Richardus Blondus à Grave Venerable and most pious man of whose great Prudence and vertue F. Henry More gives à large account Anno 1619. 19. Our Dr goes on The Forgery hitherto mentioned making à great noise the Persons concerned were rigidly examined and their Examinations entred upon Record in the Court of High commission were soon after published with A Story as false as fearful told of English Iesuits à particular declaration of the whole Imposture Whereunto is added à lowd confession of one Antony Tyrell à Priest who saith the Dr was fully perswaded that Sara VVilliams and Friswood her Sister Anne Smith and Richard Mayney deposed the Truth in such Points as concerned their false pretended Possessions Nay more This Tyrell saith the Dr knew that all was Counterfeit and Judged so of the rest However to gain the Catholick cause Credit They held it lawful to do as they did That is to cheat the world with lowd Lyes Thus Mr Dr. 20. Courteous Reader I justly require à Pro of this foul Calumny laid upon worthy men hitherto never blemished in their Fame and Ask upon whom may I rely for Satisfaction Must I trust the Dr No He is à broken reed I have found him faulty in à hundred other Particulars and herein rationally suspect his Fidelity Shall I credit that supposed Court of High-Commission To me it is yet à thing in the Air our of my reach Nor can I examin the Records or the whole Processe if ever any such Court was in being 21. For as much as concerns Antony Terryl the Priest The true Story which Dr Still tell 's by halves and thereby egregiously cheat's his Reader in relating the mans abominable sin but concealing his humble and hearty repentance Concertatio Eccles Cathol in Anglia printed at Triers by Henry Bock Anno 1588. You have amply set down in à known Book entituled Concertatio Ecclesiae Catho in Anglia There at the Very End of the second Part you will find the guilty Terryl his own Accuser bewailing his false and detestable Calumnies most unjustly laid not only on noble men but on many Innocent Priests also And he recals all Terril his own Accuser bewail's his unjust Calumnies with so much Zeal and fervour that I never read the like humble confession publickly made by any He acknowledges himselfe à horrid Sinner unworthy to appear before God Angels and men deserving nothing but God's just Indignation and hatred from every one upon the account◠of his impudent Lyes and malicious Detractions virulently vented against Catholicks most pious and Virtuous Then he Descend's to particulars and names the Persons he had injuriously slandered The whole Relation some what long deserves the Readers perusal Some perhaps will shed Tears when they se it 22. To be short Antony Terryl was brought Brought to S. Pauls Crosse he Professed himselfe Catholick by the Protestants to S. Pauls Cross in London the last day of January being Sunday Anno 1588. in hope he would there ratify all those false Calumnies and unjust Informations whereof we now speak and withal openly abjure Catholick Religion But the Penitent Soul came thither with another Designe For no sooner had he begun his Sermon but he publickly Professed himselfe à true Roman Catholick and would have retracted his unjust Accusations had not some Standers by commanded him silence Wherupon he quit the Pulpit and was carried again to his Prison yet found means to disperse Terrils humble recantation and the Dr's unjust Dealing some Papers Written in his own hand called Palinodia Antony Terrylli subscribed Per me Antonium Terryllum Presbyterum Manu propriâ Where you have this Penitent mans most humble Recantation and Justice done to those he had wronged Read it in the Author now cited and tell me whether Dr Still has not playd the Cheat in aggravating the Crime without saying one word of Terryls hearty Repentance 23. Some may reply Though the