A manuel of controversies clearly demonstrating the truth of Catholique religion by texts of Holy Scripture, councils of all ages, Fathers of the first 500 yeers, common sense and reason, and fully answering the principal objections of Protestants and all other sectaries / by H.T.

ARTICLE VI. The true Church demonstrated by her Sanctity and Mira∣cles.

OUr Tenet is, That the Roman Catho∣lique Church is known, and evidently distinguish'd from all false Churches, not on∣ly by the marks and properties by us premi∣sed, but also by her sanctIty and power of do∣ing miracles; and is proved thus.

THE ARGUMENT.

• 1. THat is the true Church, and law∣ful Spouse of Christ, which is e∣minent for Sanctity of Discipline and Doctrine, and for Miracles.
• 2. But the Roman Catholique Church, and no other, is eminent for Sanctity of

• Discipline and Doctrine, and for Mi∣racles.
• 3. Therefore the Roman Catholique Church, and no other, is the true Church, and lawful Spouse of Christ.

The major for Sanctity is proved by that Ar∣ticle of the Apostles Creed, I believe the holy Catholique Church, as also by these texts of holy Scripture; Christ gave himself for his Church, clea••sing her by the laver of water (Baptism) in the Word, that he might present her to himself a glo∣rious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, but that she might be holy and unspotted, Ephes. 26. 27. These things ye were (saith S. Paul) but ye are wash'd, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of our God, 1 Cor. 6. 10. A good tree brings forth good fruit, by their fruit ye shall know them, S. Mat. 7. 17. 20. Strait is the gate, and narrow the way which leads to life, &c. If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all thou hast, and give to the poor, &c. and come and follow me, S. Mat. 19. 21. There be Eu∣nuchs who have gelded themselves for the Kingdom of heaven, he that can take, let him take, S. Mat. 10. 12. Obey your Prelates, and be subject to them, &c. Heb. 13. 17.

Now that the Roman Catholique Church hath abounded with, and brought forth Saints

in all ages (which is a pregnant and convin∣cing proof of our second Proposition) is ma∣nifest by the Chronicles and Martyrologies of the whole Christian world.

S. Augustine, and his fellows, who convert∣ed England, when they were received into Canterbury (saith Hollinshed part 1. p. 100.) began to follow the trade of the Apostles, ex∣ercising themselves in continual prayer, fast∣ing, watching, and preaching, despising all worldly things, and living in all points ac∣cording to the doctrine which they taught.

S. Francis, S. Bennet, and S. Dominick, were all eminent for sanctity of life, as the Magdebur∣gian Centurists confess, Centur. 13. col. 11. 79. but I never yet heard of any Protestant Saints in the world: Add hereunto what the Catho∣lique Church teaches, That the Commande∣ments are possible, nay must be kept; she teaches the necessity of contrition, confession, and satisfaction, with many other penal pra∣ctises of self-denial; she teaches obedience to Priests and spiritual Pastors, in things belong∣ing to the soul, and the Government of the church; she teaches much fasting, prayer, and mortification; she exhorts to good works, voluntary poverty, chastity, and obedience.

The contrary to all which holy doctrines are taught by Protestants, and other Secta∣ries.

Her churches are open, and divine Service said not only on all Sundaies and Holy daies, but every day in the week, and that the great∣est part in the forenoon▪ There is five times more preaching and catechising, and ten times more fasting and praying in the Catholique Church, then in the Protestant; her Sacra∣ments are more and more frequented, and in∣stead of an innumerable multitudes of religi∣ous men and women that are in the Catholike Church, who have freely forsaken all things to follow Christ, and totally relinquish'd the ri∣ches, pleasures, and preferments of this life to serve him the remainder of their daies, in vows and practises of holy poverty, obedi∣ence, and chastity▪ Protestants have an innu∣merable company of Sects and Sectmasters, that daily spring out of their stock, such as are continually broaching new heresies, and alwayes at defiance one with another.

The major, as to the power of miracles, is proved by these promises of Christ, He that believeth in me, the works that I do, he shall do, and greater, S. John 14. 10. Those that believe in me, these signes shall follow, in my Name they shall cast out devils, they shall lay hands upon the sick, and they shall be whole, S. Mark 6. 17.

The minor is proved by these ensuing unde∣niable testimonies; first Protestants, and o∣ther Sectaries pretend, that miracles have cea∣sed

ever since Christ and his Apostles time, be∣cause they and their Sect-masters have never yet been able to do any, a sure conviction that they want this Mark. Secondly, histories (as well of enemies as friends) have recorded ma∣ny famous miracles wrought in all ages by the Catholique Church. The Magdeburgian Cen∣turists, although Protestants (such is evidence & force of truth) have recorded many great mira∣cles done by Catholikes in their 13. c. of every century for 1300. years together after Christ.

S. Francis of Assisinna, fifteen daies before his death, had wounds freshly bleeding in his hands, feet, and side, such as Christ had on the Cross and this by miracle, Ma••. Paris. pag. 319. One Paul Form having stoln two conse∣crated Hosts of the B. Eucharist out of a church, s••ld one of them to the Jews, who out of ma∣lice and contempt stab'd it, saying, If thou be the God of the Christians, manifest thy self, where∣upon bloud miraculously issued out of the Host, for which fact 38. of them were burnt at Knoblock in Brandenburg, and all the rest of the Jews were banished out of that Marqui∣sate. This is recorded by Pontianus in his fifth book of memorable things, and by John Man∣devil a Protestant, in his book de locis communi∣bus▪ pag. 87. as also by Osiander. Epist. 116. p. 28. notwithstanding this confession of ad∣versaries, I will also add some Fathers.

Fathers for this point.

IN the third Age S. Cyprian, A certain woman (saith he) when she would with unworthy hands have opened her coffer, wherein was the holy thing of our Lord (the B. Eucharist) fire sprung up, whereby she was so terrified, that she durst not touch it. Sermon de lapsis.

In the ••ourth age Optatus relates how the Heretiques caus'd the Eucharist to be thrown to dogs, which dogs thereupon all raging tore their Masters in pieces, as guilty of the holy Body. l. 2. contra Donatist.

In the same Age S. Gregory Nyssen recounts how S. Gregory Neocesa••iensis by his faith and prayers removed a mountain to make roome for the foundation of a church, according to that promise of Christ; If you have faith as a Mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, re∣move from hence thither, and it shall be done, and nothing shall be impossible to you. S. Mat. 17. 20. for which miracle he was called Thaumatur∣gus, in l. de vita S. Gregor. Nicephorus hath re∣corded the same miracle, l. 6. c. 7.

In the same Age S. Chrysostome affirms, that not only the reliques of S. Peter anid Paul did mi∣racles, and cured diseases, Acts 5. 12, 15, 19. but also the reliques of many other Saints; and he ex∣emplifies in S. Babilas the Martyr, whose mira∣cles

he records, l. de Babil. Martyre. tom: 5. in∣ferring from thence against Infidels, that Christ is God; who hath wrought such won∣ders by the dust of his servants.

In the same Age S. Ambrose reports, That his Brother Satyrus was miraculously preserved from drowning in a shipwrack by the B. Sacra∣ment of the Eucharist, which he had fastened in a stole about his neck. Funeral Oration on the death of Satyrus. c. 7.

In the fifth Age S. Augustine, having re∣counted many miracles wrought at S. Stephens Monument, which he himself was an eye-wit∣ness of, affirms at length, that if he should record all that he knew to have been done, he must fill books. l. de civitat. Dei 22. c. 8.

Objections solved.

Ob. MIracles have ceased eversince Christ and his Apostles▪

Answ. You contradict the plain promises of Christ made to his church without limitation, as also the Histories and Records of all Chri∣stendome.

Ob. Signs and miracles were given to unbe∣lievers, not to believers, therefore they are now unnecessary.

Answ. No, they are not, for they very much confirm the immediate care and providence of God over his church, they excellently demon∣strate

his omnipotence, and there be many dis∣believers still, the more's the pity.

Ob. Why do not then your Priests do mira∣cles? we would be glad to see some of their doing.

Answ. Because of your incredulity, as o•• Saviour told the Jews, S. Mat. 17. 19. yet they do many in Gods appointed time and place, (as the Records of the church will testifie) though not to satisfie your sinful curiosity. See Francis à S. Clara in his Paralipomena, who recounts many great and evident miracles.