ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V.
2. A pond.)* 1.1 This is as great a wonder and worke as was in the old Law, yet neuer recorded in the Scripture before: the conditions and circunstances of the same much to be distinctly weighed against the Miscreants of this time for many causes. First, that God without derogation to his honour, yea to the great cōmendation of it, doth giue vertue of miracles and cure to water or other creatures. Secondly,* 1.2 that he giueth such vertues to these creatures specially which be by vse and occupying in sacred functions or otherwise, as it were sanctified: for this pond was it wherein the carcasses of sheepe (therfore called Probatica) & other beasts to be sacrificed,* 1.3 were first washed, to which being alwaies red (as S. Hierom saith) with the bloud of hostes, this force was giuen, for the commendation of the sacrifices of the Law there offered. How much more may we acknowledge such workes of God miraculously done in or about the Sacrifice or Sacrament of the new Testa∣ment, which faithlesse men wholy reiect and condemne for fables, because they know not the Scriptures nor the power of God Thirdly,* 1.4 that this operation was giuen at one time more then an other, & rather on great festiual daies then other vulgar times (for this vvas the feast of Pasche or of Pentecost) as daies more sanctified, and vvhen the people made greater concourse: which shevveth that vve should not vvonder to see great miracles done at the Memories and feastes of Martyrs or other great Festiuities, more then at other places and times. Fourthly,* 1.5 that the Angels or some special Saincts are Presidents or Patrones of such places of miracle, and workers also vnder God of the effects that there extraordinarily be done. Which ought to make Christians lesse doubt, that the force of diuers waters in the world is iustly attributed by our forefathers and good stories to the prayers and presence of Saincts, which profane incredulous men referre onely to nature, vntruely pretending that God is more glorified by the workes of nature, which be of his ordinarie prouidence, then by the graces of Miracle giuen to his Saincts or Angels by his extra∣ordinarie prouidence. Fifthly,* 1.6 that miracles be not wrought on men by their faith onely and as wel by their presence, in spirit as in body, or vpon the parties desire or deuotion onely, according to the Heretikes pretext that God is a like present by his power and grace to euery man and place: and therfore that men neede not to go from their owne houses or countries to seeke holines or health at the places of Christs or his Saincts birth, death, memories: for none could haue benefite of this water but he that could touch it, and be in it corporally, and at that iust time when the water was in motion by the Angel.* 1.7 Yea sixtly, we may consider that in such cases to make the matter more maruelous, rare, and more earnestly to be sought for, and to signifie to vs that God hath al such extraordinary operations in his owne wil and commaundement, without al rules of our reasons and questioning thereon,* 1.8 none could be healed but that person who first could get into the pond after the Angel came and stirred the same.* 1.9 Seuenthly, that these graces of corpo∣ral cures giuen to this water, * prefigure the like force of the Sacrament of Baptisme for the cure of soules, though we neede not seeke correspondence thereof to the figure in euery point.
Lastly, Christ by his power of excellencie and prerogatiue could and did heale this poore man