SECT. XXVII.

That miracles are ceafed, I can neither prove, nor abfolutely deny, much lefs define the time and period of their ceffation; that they furvived Chrift, is manifeft upon record of fcripture; that they outlived the apoftles alfo, and were revived at the converfion of nations, many years after, we cannot deny, if we fhall not queftion those writers whofe teftimonies we do not controvert, in points that make for our own opinions; therefore that may have fome truth in it that is reported by the Jefuites of their miracles in the Indies; I could with it were true, or had any other testimony than their own pens: they may easily believe thofe miracles abroad, who daily conceive a greater at home; the tranfmutation of those visible elements into the body and blood of our Saviour: for the converfion of water into wine, which

he

he wrought in Cana, or, what the devil would have had him do in the wilderness, of ftones into bread, compared to this, will fcarce deferve the name of a miracle: tho' indeed, to speak properly, there is not one miracle greater than another, they being the extraordinary effect of the hand of God, to which all things are of an equal facility; and to create the world is as eafy as one fingle creature. For this is also a miracle, not only to produce effects againft, or above nature, but before nature; and to create nature as great a miracle, as to contradict or tranfcend her. We do too narrowly define the power of God, restraining it to our capacities. I hold that God can do all things; how he should work contradictions I do not understand, yet dare not therefore deny. I cannot fee why the angel of God fhould question Efdras to recall the time

past,

past, if it were beyond his own power; or that God fhould pose mortality in that, which he was not able to perform himself. I will not fay God cannot, but he will not perform many things, which we plainly affirm he cannot: this I am fure is the most mannerly propofition, wherein notwithstanding I hold no paradox. For ftrictly, his power is the fame with his will, and they both with all the reft do make but one.God.

SECT. XXVIII.

Therefore that miracles have been I do believe; that they may yet be wrought by the living I do not deny but have no confidence in those which are fathered on the dead; and this hath ever made me fufpect the efficacy of reliques, to examine the bones, queftion the habits and appurtinances of faints, and even of Chrift himself: I can

not

not conceive why the cross that Helena found, and whereon Chrift himself died, should have power to restore others unto life; * I excufe not Conftantine from a fall off his horfe, or a mifchief from his enemies, upon the wearing those nails on his bridle which our Saviour bore upon the crofs in his hands: I compute among your pie fraudes, † nor many degrees before confecrated fwords and rofes, that which Baldwin king of Jerufalem returned the Genoese for their coft and pains in his war, to wit, the afhes of John the Baptift. Thofe, who hold the fanctity of their fouls doth leave behind a tincture and facred faculty on their bodies, fpeak naturally of miracles, and do not folve the doubt. Now one reafon I tender fo little devotion to reliques is, I think, the flender and doubtful respect I have always held unto antiquities: for that indeed which I

admire is far before antiquity, that is eternity, and that is God himfelf; who, tho' he be ftiled the Antient of days, cannot receive the adjunct of antiquity, who was before the world, and fhall be after it, yet is not older than it: for in his years there is no climacterick, his duration is eternity, and far more venerable than antiquity,

SECT. XXIX.

But, above all things, I wonder how the curiofity of wifer heads could pass that great and indifpufact not table miracle, the ceffation of o

accoun

ted for

*

racles and in what fwoon their reafons lay, to content themselves and fit down with fuch far-fetched and ridiculous reafons as Plutarch alledgeth for it. The Jews, who can believe the fupernatural folftice of the fun in the days of Jofhua, have yet the impudence to deny the eclipfe, which every Pagan confeffed at our Saviour's