Fuga sæculi. Or The holy hatred of the world Conteyning the liues of 17. holy confessours of Christ, selected out of sundry authors. Written in Italian by the R. Fa. Iohn-Peter Maffæus of the Society of Iesus. And translated into English by H.H.

S. Antony proceeds in his discourse: and what followed therupon. Chap. 20.

THe Philosophers now being brought into streights, & forced to shift heere and there, S. Antony smiling, proceeded forward. The truth of the things, which I haue told you, is euen to be seen with the very eyes; and yet neuerthelesse, whereas you, as Profes∣sours of Logick, ground your selues vpon sillogismes, and without such instruments, allow not Religion: tell me first, The know∣ledge of God, is it more exactly purchased by dialecticall demon∣strations, or by operations of Fayth, occasioned through workes, o•…•… demonstration founded in words? And they answering, that Fai•…•… proceeding from workes, without doubt, was the more ancient of the two, and brought the greater certainety with it. You haue an∣swered well, said S. Antony, because indeed Fayth consists in a cer∣tayne interiour disposition of the Mynd; whereas Logique seemes to leane meerly vpon the artificiousnes of those, which put the words and the propositions together; in such wise, as when one, by the me•…•…nes of Fayth, hath the vertue to worke, he hath no need of the art of argumentation at all; since the very same which Faith tea∣teacheth

vs, do you seeke to proue by reasons and discourses, and many tymes are you not able so much, as to expresse with wordes, that which we penetrate with the vnderstanding: and no mer∣uayle, beause the Christian law, is not founded in specious & pom∣pous reasons, but in that power and Vertue, which by Christ, is sub∣ministred to vs, from the Eternall God.

And that this is true, behold vs heere, who neuer hauing lear∣ned any letters, do belieue in God, acknowledging in his factu•…•…e, the Prouidence, he hath of the Vniuerse. And this our habit of mynd, how operatiue, and efficacious it is, you may gather at least from hence: That whereas, the foolish Inuentions, Sects, Phan∣tasyes, and I dols of you Grecians, in effect do vanish, and come to nothing: the Christian Verity extendes it selfe on all sides, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you with all your Sophistryes, conuert not the Christians to Gentilisme: but we, not proposing, nor teaching any other then the Fayth in Christ, go daily defacing your vnhappy superstitions, and diaboli∣call ceremonyes, in making Christ manifest to all, to be truly God, and the Sonne of God: and you withall your smooth, and elegant speech, are not able to hinder the progresse of the Christian do∣ctrine: wheras we only with the name of the Crosse, do suddaynly chase away those very deuils thēselues, which you dread, & adore for Gods. And where, but the signe of the Crosse is made, can no art Magique auayle, nor haue Sorceryes there any force at all. And if not, then tell me, I pray, where now are your Oracles? Where your Egiptian Enchaunters? When ceased, and vanished trow you these infernall arts, but since the coming of the crosse of Christ?

And do you now then thinke the Crosse, to be worthy of scorne; & not rather the things, by it conuinced, annihilated, & destroyed? And that so much the more, as your rites were neuer yet persecuted of any, but haue beene alwayes for the most part receiued, and ho∣noured of the world: Whereas the Christian Fayth with al the per∣secutions & tribulations, which it hath hitherto suffered frō Kings and Princes, continually flourisheth and multiplyes, now more thē euer. And when was there euer in the world, more light, & greater knowledge of God? When euer attended they so much to Sobriety, Continency, and Virginity? When was death so much euer contē∣ned, as since the holy Crosse hath beene knowne, and adored? & he that belieues it not, may behold so many squadrons of Martyrs, and such a number of Virgins, who for the loue of Christ, haue conser∣ued

their bodyes immaculate, and vntouched. And howbeyt the things already said, are most sufficient for the cleering of our Fayth: neuerthelesse since you yet stand requiring of demonstrations, be∣hold the persons possessed with ill spirits (and by good hap some were present at that tyme,) and causing them to come forth in the midst, he said, as followes. Eyther do you with your sillogismes, or with any other art you, haue of Enchauntments, or inuocations of your I dols, deliuer this people; Or else if you cannot, leaue of to entercounter with vs, & acknowledge the Omnipotency of our Sauiour.

Heereupon S. Antony inuoking the name of Christ, he made two or three signes of the crosse vpon the possessed, who from the crye•…•… they gaue, and from prancks they played, and from the torments, and violences they suffered, being suddaynely returned to full and perfect health, became now very still, and gaue infinite thanks to our Lord God. Whereat the Philosophers, with reason, remayning asto∣nished, S. Antony spake to them in this sort. Why do you so wonder heereat? These are no workes of ours, but of Christ, by the meanes of such as belieue in him. Do you then belieue in him likewise, and become Christians, and you shall see, that ours are no bablings a∣whit, but meerely the effects of a liuely Faith, which if you had, you should not neede, to go begging of arguments. These were the words of S. Antony, and they likewise admiring the same, wēt their wayes, shewing him great Reuerence, and confessing withall how much they had beene helped by him.