Anti-Haman, or, An answer to Mr. G. Burnet's Mistery of iniquity unvailed wherein is shewed the conformity of the doctrine, worship, & practice of the Roman Catholick Church with those of the purest times : the idolatry of the pagans is truly stated ... / by W.E. ...

CHAPTER XXXI. Revelations, & Miracles.

G. B. pag. 123. The Papist Church pretends to revelations for some of her most doubtfull opinions: which are the visions & extraordinary in∣spirations of some of their Saints, from which they vouch a Divine confirmation to their doctrine.

ANS. If you know of any decree made in matter of faith, uppon a private revelation, shew it. Till you doe so, I will not beleive it. S. Thomas 1. p. q. 1. a. 8. ad 2. absolutely ex∣cludes all private revelations from grounding Faith. Innititur Fides nostra revelationl factae Apo∣stolis & Prophet is; non autem revelationi, si qua fuit aliis Doctoribus factae. Out faith relyes on re∣velations made to the Apostles, & Prophetes; & not on such as are made to other Doctors.

G. B. pag. 124. Saint Paul being put to glory of visions, & revelations, was to run backe 14. yeares for one.

ANS. S. Paul says that he had 14. yeares before that greate revelation; but he never sayd, he had noe others ether before or after. And that Reve∣lations were not soe extraordinary in his days, as you think not only amongst the Apostles; but ever amongst ordinary Christians, you many learne out of S. Paul 1. Cor. 14.30.32. If any thing be revealed to another, that sitteth by, let the first hold his Peace, for you may all Prophecy one by one, that you may all learne, & all be confor∣ted. And the Spirit of the Prophets, are subject to the Prophets. And can you think the Apostle should have no Revelation for soe many yeares, when the meanest Christians had them even in the middle of their publick assemblyes, where they met with soe many distractions? What will you say to excuse your Ignorance, If other Re∣velations made to S. Paul, be recorded in Scrip∣ture? now soe it is: for first Amacedonian(a) 1.1 ap∣peared to him. 2. Our Lord(b) 1.2 spoke to Paul in a vi∣sion. Nay the very place you cite to prove your errour confutes it: for he says:(c) 1.3 least I should be exalted above measure through the aboundance of revelations, there was given. He had then REVELATIONS: nay Aboudance of Revela∣tions. See how carelessely you reade, how ill you understand, & how negligently you write

out of Scriptures! for you are certainly con∣vinced, that when S. Paul spoke of that one, he did it not because he had beene favoured with no other; but because that was a singular favour, & as such esteemed. But I dispute se∣riously against a man, who regards not what he writes.

G. B. pag. 124. Are they not credible storyes, of Christ's appearing to some of their shee Saints, & kissing them, being marryed to them, &c.

ANSWER. I doubt not but you, & your brethren think this folly. S. Paul says as much of such as you, 1. Cor. 2.14. Animalis ho∣mo non percipit ea, quae sunt spiritus Dei; stulti∣tia est enim illi, & non potest intelligere, quiaspi∣ritualiter examinatur. The naturall man received not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foo∣lishnesse unto him, nether can he know them, becau∣se they are spiritually discerned. Of such, as the Inglish Ministers S. Paul speakes, who are by him declared incapable to Judge, yet will be still Judging of the secret workings of the Ho∣ly Ghost in those souls, which he makes his temples in whome he lives, & they in him; which things seeme folly to you, because you have no experience of them, & probably never made an hour of mentall Prayer in all your life nor know how to make it. Hence, You(a) 1.4 speak evill of things you know not. It would be more to your credit to omit those things, then

by speaking of them, discover so shamefull an Ignorance. The best advice I can give you, is that of Job(a) 1.5 to his friends: To be silent, that you may seeme wise.

But Christ kist them, & marryed them. This scandalizes your chast Brethren, who cannot heare of marriage! & Mr. Brevint surmized God knows what uncleane spirits. I cannot appeale to the conscience & experience, of any of the whole ministry, for the reality, of what you deride; for I think there never was granted to any of you such favours. Yet to free you from feare of illusions (in those visits) from bad spi∣rits, know (& I wonder any one, who reades the scripture can be Ignorant of it) that there is a spirituall contract betwixt Christ, & the Church: Item betwixt him & every Pious soul: that this contract is called a marriage: that on this score sins of such souls against their spouse are called Adulterys, & themselves Adulteresses. If you have any Remembrance, these hints will bring to mind a number of Texts of Scripture, which deliver what you scoffe at. The whole Bookes of Canticles (or Salomons song) celebrates that adorable nuptiall solemnity. The very first words of it are:(b) 1.6 Osculetur me osculo oris sui. Let him (or may he) kisse me, with a kisse of his mouth. The Church, & every pious soul, de∣manding as a singular favour of her spouse that Blessing, which when granted to some, scan∣dalizes

you, modest man, soe different are your sentimēts in spirituall things, from those of the Holy Ghost who says(a) 1.7 that the soul should receive that favour, shee at first demanded, & yet not be despised: you despise them all, as forgeryes, dreames, effects of melancoly, or hystericall distem∣pers. What is blasphemy, if this be not? O Lord, forgive you, for you know not what you say.

G.B. p. 124. The inspirations of Holy writers, on whome we found our faith was proved by miracles.

ANS. We build not our Faith on any of their Revelations, you speake of: so this hint is no∣thing to rhe purpose. If we did, Miracles are not here wanting, viz, the change of men's li∣ves ether from good to better, or at least from bad, to Good. Which sufficiently proves the goodnesse of the Spirit appearing, above all your frivolous exceptions. And if other miracles are necessary, those are many times granted too.

G. B. p. 126. Was it not aworthy peice of the Angelicall ministration, for Angels to go trotting over sea, & Land, with a Loade of Timber & Stones of the Virgins House to Loretto.

ANS. Whither they trotted, or ambled, I doubt not, but that peice of ministration was more plea∣sing to those B. Spirits, then to attend the pro∣tection of men who spend their strengh of body & mind in offending God, by impugning know nè

Truth. Sin I know they abhorre: other things are indifferent to them; & all are welcome, when commanded.

G. B. pag. 128. The Miracles of Rome are not heard of till some ages, at least yeares be past.

ANS. This is not tru. They are all very strict∣ly immediatly examined by authority from the ordinary: & then publisht. See that done at Gant uppon D. Mary minshall approved by the Bishop shortly. after it past.

G. B Ibidem. It is the interest of Rome to have them all beleived, without once questioning them.

ANS. Rome has no interest, but that Truth find place, & God by glorifyed. If you consider how strictly those of the Portuguese nun were examined, & how sincerely the cheate was publisht, you will acknowledge, that our church doth not countenance any deceipt in this, nor think it her interest, that all should be beleived.

G. B. Ibidem. How comes it, that in hereti∣call countryes, where there is more neede of those miracles, & where they myght be more irrefragably proved if tru, none of these myghty workes doe shew themselves forth?

ANS. How comes it that when the Scribes, & Pharisyes demanded a signe from Heaven our Saviour refused it?(a) 1.8 An evill, & adulterous ge∣neration seeketh after a signe, & there shall no signe be given to it. It is presumptuous for you, or anyother, to prescribe rules to God Almygh∣ty's

Providence, which is never wanting in what is necessary, & we ought not to expect things unnecessary to pleasure our curiosity ether in nature, or Grace: which he grants when he pleases, but not always. Now miracles are very essicacious meanes, but not the only motives to bring us to faith, & by consequence not absolu∣tely necessary. The Apostle had a Power to work miracles, & had a greate proportion of learning, yet he used nether for conversion of the world, when worldly men demanded it 1. Cor. 1.22. Iudaei signa petunt, Graeci sapientiam quaerunt, Nos autem praedicamus Christū Crucifixum, Iudaeis quidem scandalum, Gentibus autem stultitiā. The Iews require a signe, & the Greekes seeke after wisdome, & did he worke miracles to satisfy the one, or use humane wisdome to worke on the other? No, but we preach Christ crucifyed, ascan∣dall to the Iews, & folly to the Greekes. Both tempted God, as the Scribes did, & you do: & nether obtained, what they demanded. In deed those that will shut their eyes, to all other mo∣tives, would easily baffle the conviction of mi∣racles, ether saying they are naturall workes, or attribute them to Magicke. You see how the cure of the blind man,(a) 1.9 borne soe, was tossed: & how casting out Devils(b) 1.10 was attributed to to their Prince Beelzebub.

G. B. p. 130. My greatest quarrell at these for∣geryes of miracles, is that the People are taught to

beleive them, & the miracles of the Ghospel with an equall certainty.

ANS. If this be only ground of your quarrell we shall quickly agree, for I doe not beleive them with equall certainty. We are bound to beleive with divine faith each miracle related in the Ghospel; but not soe those contained in Ec∣clesiasticall hystory how authenticall soever.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Act. 16.9.
• (b) 1.2

  Act. 18.9.
• (c) 1.3

  1. Cor. 12.7.
• (a) 1.4

  Iude v. 18.
• (a) 1.5

  Iob. 13.5.
• (b) 1.6

  Cant. 1.1.
• (a) 1.7

  Cant. 8.1.
• (a) 1.8

  Mat. 12.39.
• (a) 1.9

  10.9.
• (b) 1.10

  Luc. 11.15.