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The definition of Miracles, with their distinction; In what time they were requisite, in what not, &c.
SAint Augustine, that famous and reverend Father of the Church in his 6. Booke de utilitate credendi ad Honoratium, defineth Miracles,* 1.1 to bee things beyond the expectation and power of the beholder: Whereof there are two kindes, True and False.
The false are such Miracles as are not in effect the thing they seeme to be;* 1.2 or if they be, they are not of any power that excelleth nature, but meerely of and by the power of nature, though obscured and hid; which the bad spirits as well as the good can performe.
True Miracles are done by the power of God,* 1.3 beyond all faculty of created nature, partly to draw the beholder to a due and true admiration of him in them, and partly to confirme their saith: such as these were; the bringing back of the shadow ten Degrees in the Diall of Ahaz, for Ezechias: A Virgin to conceive with childe, and yet remaine a Virgin: To draw water out of a hard Rock: To make the Sea to part in twaine; the Sunne to stand still; to turne water into wine; to cause Manna fall from heaven, and many of the like kinde com∣prehended in holy Scripture, which indeede were miraculous things of themselves, if we consider the nature of their doing; where, on the other side, false Miracles may,* 1.4 in a manner, be thought mira∣culous, but not so much for the nature of their do∣ing, as for the manner how they are done; Neque enim (saith one) constant miracula magnitudine ope∣rum; so these Miracles are not so much to be mea∣sured by the greatnesse of the worke, as by the way of doing of them: and such as these bad spirits cannot bring to passe, because how wonderfull so∣ever their miracles appeare to be, yet they doe no wayes exceede the reach of Nature: Itaut mirabi lia quanquam sint, non proinde sint, & Miracula.
Neither is it to be denied, but that God serveth himselfe with,* 1.5 and permitteth the false Miracle∣workers, intending thereby rather to trie the faiths of the beholders of them, than any way to allow or confirme their doings, as Deut. cap. 13. vers. 3. may be seene.
Now, where it is said before, that true Miracles are for the confirming, as false ones are for trying of our faiths; this must be understood to be, when the workers of them doe teach withall so sound doctrine, that his Miracles may bee judged by it, not it by them. Hereby I intend not to enforce a necessity of miracles perpetually for confirming our faith;* 1.6 for though, during the Churches infan∣cie, they served some way towards the establish∣ing and confirming of the weake and wavering faiths of the hearers; yet now they are not so re∣quisite, seeing the Law, Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles workes and writing are so universally preached unto all.
Of Prodigies, and in what veneration they were a∣mongst the ancient Romans.
BEing loath to trouble the Reader with the te∣dious definitions of Prodigies, nor with the severall and many opinions of Writers con∣cerning
them I will relate onely some storyes of them, and of the times wherein some of them hap∣pened; of all which, as the most part of the Roman Writers make mention, so particularly Sabellicus in his Rhapsoeticall history of the world; and that from the 11. or 12. Booke of his 4. Aeneid, unto the end of his Worke.
During the first Punick Warre, (which was the first betwixt the Carthaginians and Romans) under the Consulship of Appius Claudius, and Marcus Fulvius Flaccus, which was the foure hundreth and ninety yeare after the building of Rome; the Roman Histories were then both more frequent, and did savour more of truth and possibility than their for∣mer: Wherefore to begin with that time, I ob∣serve, that there never happened any remarkeable Prodigie,* 1.7 either in the Ayre, Water, or Earth, after which there were not presently Expiations, Lu∣strations, Prayers or offerings made unto their Gods, to whose Temples and Altars people of every sex, age, and condition did flock and runne, to pacifie and appease their incensed wrath; which may serve to condemne the neglect and contempt that is in Christians of the like Prodigies, and teach us (as these Heathen did when they chan∣ced) to repaire to our true God,* 1.8 and implore for mercy, and forbearance of wrath at his hands.
To begin then (as I said) with Prodigies obser∣ved in the time of the first Punick or Carthaginian Warre; of those many admirable ones recorded by Sabellicus, I finde this most worthy of relation:
In the Picenean Territory, Cneius Domitianus, and Lucius Annius being Consuls,* 1.9 a River was obser∣ved for the space of a whole morning, to runne red blood, no accident that might cause it being per∣ceived by any; for which, and some others the like,* 1.10 the Romans intituled their Novendialia sacra, or expiations for nine dayes; and Livius likewise in the time of Tullus Hostilius their third King, rela∣teth, that the like propitiatory Sacrifices were or∣dained for the like causes.
In Hetruria also,* 1.11 (which is now the Florentines bounds) the heavens were perceived to burne.
In the Citie of Ariminii,* 1.12 three Moones at once were one night seene by the Inhabitants; all which Prodigies appeared about the end of the foresaid first Punick Warres.
Shortly after, about the beginning of the se∣cond warre,* 1.13 after Hanno was overcome by Scipio, a Childe of a moneth old was heard to crie in the Streete Triumphi, Triumphi.
In the fields of Amitermin neere Rome, ships were discerned in the skie, and men in long white garments were perceived to march towards one another,* 1.14 but never to meete.
In the Picen Territory it rained stones; and the Sunne and Moone were seene to joust (as it were) at one another;* 1.15 and in the day time two Moones appeared in the heavens. At Phalascis the heavens seemed to bee rent asunder: And at Capua, the Moone seemed to burne; and, as envolved in a showre of raine, to tend towards the Earth; Civi∣tas
ob haec prodigia (saith Sabellicus) lustrata est, le∣ctisternium & supplicatio indicta, aliaque aliis diis placamina decreta.
A continuation of Prodigies, which happened in the time of the second Punick Warre; with many o∣thers that were seene under the times of severall Consuls of Rome.
IN the first yeare of this second Carthaginian Warre, under the Consulship of Fabius Maxi∣mus,* 1.16 & Marcus Claudius Marcellus, a green Palme tree in Naples tooke fire, and burn'd away to ashes.
At Mantua, a litle Rivulet or stripe of water which ranne into the River Mincio,* 1.17 was turned into blood: And at Rome it rained blood. An Oxe was heard there to speake these words,* 1.18 Cavetibi Roma.
Afterward in the Consulship of Quintus Fabius, sonne to Fabius Maximus, and Titus Sempronius Graccus, the similitude or likenesse of great, long, and tale ships appeared to bee upon the River of Taracina in Spaine: At Amiternum in Italie, a litle Brooke ranne blood for severall dayes:* 1.19 In Albano monte in Rome, it rained stones. The Sunne at divers times was seene of a bloody colour: Many Tem∣ples and holy houses in Rome were beaten downe
with Thunderbolts from heaven: some of the Citie Ensignes or field Colours were observed to sweate blood;* 1.20 two Sunnes appeared in the Hea∣vens; at one time it rained milke, at another stones.
During the Consulship of Cornelius Cethegus, and Sempronius, at what time the Africane Warres were appointed to Scipio,* 1.21 two Sunnes at one time were seene in the Heavens: and the night (which is by nature darke) appeared extraordinary light: A Comet in forme like a burning torch was dis∣cerned to reach from the East to the West; and it rained stones after that notable overthrow given to Hanniball by Scipio, (which was the last to Han∣niball) and at the time when the Consull T. Claudius was appointed to prepare for Africk, to appease some mutinies that had risen there; upon his set∣ting out to that voyage, the Orbe and face of the Sunne was visibly discerned to be lesse than usuall: Moreover in the Veliternean fields,* 1.22 the Earth rent asunder in so huge and frightfull gappes, that trees and whole houses were swallowed up in it; after which there followed showres of stones.
In the Consulship of ••n. Belius, and L. Aemilius Paulus, it rained blood for two whole dayes toge∣ther:* 1.23 And the Statue of Iuno in the Temple of Concord at Rome was perceived to shedde teares.
Of Prodigies that happened during the civill warres betwixt Marius and Sylla; of some in Iulius Caesars time; as, at his passing the River of Rubicone, the Pharsalian warres and at his death, &c.
AT the beginning of the Civill warres be∣twixt Martus and Sylla, a Mule, by nature barren,* 1.24 did foale: The Capitoll tooke fire; and which was lamentable, it being a worke of foure hundreth yeares standing, & famous through all the world, was destroyed, the whole Citie was so shaken with Earth-quakes, that the face of it was wonderfully defaced: and a woman conceived and was delivered of a Serpent.
When Iulius Caesar had cross'd the River of Ru∣bicon, contrary to the decree of the Senate, the hea∣vens, as foreseeing what imminent danger was to ensue thereupon,* 1.25 rained blood. The Statues and Images of their Gods in the Temples did sweat great droppes of blood; and many faire buildings in the Citie were beaten downe with fire and thun∣der from heaven.
On the same day that the Pharsalian battell was strooke, the Statue of Victoria, which stood in the Temple of Minerva at Eulide, was seene to turne its face towards the Temple doore, whereas before
it beheld the Altar. At Antioch in Syria, such great noyse and clamours were heard twice a day about the Walls of the Towne; that the people, afrigh∣ted with a supposed approach of the Enemy, ranne out of the Citie in their Armes. In the Temples of Ptolemais, Organs and other Instruments were heard to play before Caesars death:* 1.26 And those horses, which at the passage of Rubicon he had con∣secrated to Mars the day before his massacre, were observed and seene to weepe and to forsake their foode, and stray about. Shortly after his death too, about the proscription of Lepidus and Antonius,* 1.27 an Oxe being led out to plough, uttered these words to his Master; Why urge you mee to worke, wee shall lacke no corne, but men: and a new borne childe did speake.
Of Prodigies before the death of Galba; before the destruction of Ierusalem, and at the end of the Valerian persecution.
THere were such fearefull Earth-quakes be∣fore the death of the Emperour Galba, that at the renting asunder of the Farth, most hi∣deous noyses were heard, not unlike to the lowing of Oxen: But of all the Prodigies and Miracles that I read of, those which went before the destruction
of Ierusalem, were the most terrible, whereof Iose∣phus maketh mention at length, yet my Author re∣counteth others no lesse memorable, which were these:* 1.28 The Comet in the shape of a Sword that appeared and (as it were) did hang directly over the Citie, before the destruction.* 1.29 An Oxe leading to the Altar to be there sacrificed, in the middle of the Temple, did bring forth a calfe, to the amaze∣ment and astonishment of all beholders of it: One night, about midnight it grew as light within the Temple, as at noone-day. Hoasts of armed men, and Chariots appeared in the ayre; and the Priests heard a voyce within the Sanctuary expresse these words; Let us remove from hence. About the end of the Valerian persecution, before the death of Ga∣lenus the Emperour, (in whose dayes the Empire began mightily to decline) there was darkenesse for some dayes over all that tract of Earth, in and about Rome;* 1.30 There were most dreadfull thunders heard, with most frightfull noyses, as roaring and fearefull lowings in the ayre, and bowels of the Earth; whereupon followed so terrible Earth∣quakes, and openings of the Earth, that whole Vil∣lages and Townes were thereby destroyed: Lastly, through the dread and terrour of these frightfull noyses, and by the sight of these Prodigies and portentuous wonders, many both men and beasts were strucken dead.
A continuation of other Prodigies; with a conclution of this Treatise.
ABout the end of the Goths and Vandals wars against the Romanes, there were seene in the ayre, Armies flaming as all on fire; from which there rained drops of blood: and thereafter followed extraordinary overflowing and deboar∣ding of Rivers,* 1.31 but chiefly of Tyber; which of all other Rivers is observed to deboard both most ex∣cessively and most often; and these ever goe before some evill to happen to the City: But of all her deluges, none more memorable than that which happened under the Pontificy of Pelagius, which overswelled the walles of the City, destroyed all the Corne in the lower Countries, and procured such a famine and Pestilence, that thereby many thousands perished, amongst whom the Pope him∣selfe, after whom Gregory, the most worthy Pope of that name succeeded.
In the time of Sabianus successor to him,* 1.32 a terri∣ble and Portentuous blazing starre was seene; and the sea cast up many Monsters with visages like men.* 1.33
These, and many the like were seene before the dayes of Bonifacius the third, in whose time the Romane Church obtained of Phocas then Empe∣rour, the title of Mother and supreame Church;
for till then the Greeke Church claimed the supe∣riority.
In the dayes of Adrian the second Pope of that name,* 1.34 it rained blood three dayes. A little before the death of Sergius (the first Pope that began to change his Proper-name) terrible fiery torches and fleakes were seene in the ayre, with great noyse and thundring.
In the Pontificy of Iohn the eleaventh, sonne to Sergius, a fountaine in Genoa ranne blood in great aboundance.
About the time that Iohn the twelfth was for his flagitiousnesse and abomination deposed by the Emperour Otho,* 1.35 a great stone fell from heaven: In Naples likewise within this hundreth yeares there fell a brownish coloured one of an extraordinary bignesse. In France likewise upon a St. Iohns day there fell a great peece of Ice,* 1.36 in a showre of raine, many feete long.
In the yeare of our Lord 1012. when Ierusalem was taken by Anmrath the great Turke, there were terrible earthquakes, and fiery impressions seene over all the firmament, and the Moone appeared bloody.
But to recount all Prodigies and Miracles which in latter ages have appeared in severall Countries; and to set downe the severall Reasons that are gi∣ven for them,* 1.37 with the events observed to ensue af∣ter every of them, would take up a greater Volume than I intend this whole booke to be; therefore I will here put an end to this discourse.
Two kindes of Miracles.
False Mira∣cles which.
True Mira∣cles.
Difference betwixt true and false Mi∣racles.
Why God permitteth false miracles.
When mira∣cles were most neces∣sary.
The piety of the ancient Romans after any remake∣ble Prodigies.
Christians blamed.
A River ra•• blood.
The institu∣tion of the Nov••ndi••lia sacra.
The heavens burned.
Three Moones▪
A childe of a moneth old spake.
Men seene in the skie.
Two moones at once.
A greene Palme tree tooke fire of it selfe.
Rivers runne blood.
An Oxe spake.
It rained stones.
Ensignes sweat blood.
〈…〉〈…〉
The ••arth rend asunder.
A Statue wept.
The Capi∣toll destroyed by fire from heaven.
Images in Temples sweat blood.
Instruments heard to play where none were.
An Oxe spake.
A Comet like a sword hang over Ierusalem.
An Oxe cal∣••ed.
Formidable Thunders & Earth-quakes
The deboar∣ding of Tyber ominous to Rome.
A blazing starre.
The sea cast out monsters.
It rained blood three dayes.
A huge stone fell from heaven.
A great piece of Ice fell in Rome.
Conclusion▪