The Holy life of Philip Nerius founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. To which is annexed a relation written by S. Augustine of the miracles in his dayes, wrought many of them in or near the city wherein he resided and well-known to him. And a relation of sundry miracles wrought at the monastery of Port-Royall in Paris, A.D. 1656. publikcly [sic] attested by many witnesses. / Translated out of a French copie published at Paris. 1656.

S. Aug. Epist. 137.

The Argument of the whole Epistle is this.

BOniface, a Priest of S. Austins Co-fraternity, complained of another young man, of the same society, one of a suspected fame, that he had sollicited him, to commit uncleaness with him. Who by the Father questioned concerning it, by recrimination charged Boniface with the same. When the matter could on no side be proved, or confuted, by any evident argument; Upon S. Au∣stins motion and request, both of them ingage to re∣pair to the Monument of the Martyr Felix, at Nola in Italy, over against Hippo in Affrik, that by some Miracle there, this matter might come to be decided. The Father was very carefull, that so scandalous a busines should be managed with great secrecy. But it notwithstanding spreading abroad, he writes this exhortatory Epistle to the Clergy and the rest of the people of Hippo; not to judge rashly nor yet for the offences of a few, either to desist from holiness or suspect evill of others: shewing that there never was any society of men so happy, but some wickedness might get into it.

CƲm enim ista me causa diu cruciasset &c.] This cause having long perplexed me, so that I could not

discover, which way one of the two might be con∣victed, although I rather inclined to believe the Presbyter &c.—I made choice of a middle way; that both of them, by joint agreement, should bind themselves, that they would take a journey to a ho∣ly place, where the more dreadfull works of God might more easily discover every one's conscience that was unsound, and either by some feare, or punishment, force them to a confession. Indeed God is every where, and he contained or included in no place who made all things; and he is by true wor∣shipers to be worshiped in spirit and in truth; that so, hearing in secret, he may also in secret justify and crown them. But, as touching those things which are visibly made known to men, who can search out his counsell, why these Miracles are wrought in some places, not wrought in others? For the holiness of the place is very well known to many where the Body of the Blessed Felix of Nola was bu∣ried, wither I willed them to go, for that whate∣ver was miraculously mad•• manifest upon either of them there, might from thence be more readily, and more faithfully transmitted in writing to us. For, at Mil∣lain, I my self knew at the Me∣moriall of the Saints, (where the very devils make strange and ter∣rible confessions) a certain Thief, who came thither purposely to deceive one, by for swearing himself, that was compelled to acknow∣ledge the theft, and restore what he had taken a∣way. And is not Affrica full of the bodies of Holy Martyrs? (a) And yet we know such things done no where hereabouts. For, as the Apostle saith, Non omnes &c. 1. Cor. 12. All Saints have not gifts of

healing, nor have all the discerning of Spirits, so nei∣ther would he, who divides his own to every one, as he will, have these things done at all Memorials of the Saints, Wherefore being unwilling, that this very great grief of my heart should come to your knowledge, lest I should trouble you, by grieving you to much, and to little purpose, God would perhaps therefore not conceal it from you, that you, together with us, might give your selves to prayer; that so, what himself knows in this matter, but we cannot know, he, of his goodness, may be pleased to manifest unto us. &c.

a

Notes

• Nola in Italy being over a∣gainst Hippo in Affrick.
• a

  Here Bishop Andrews, as I said, (Resp. ad Apol. Bel∣larm. c. 12.) would make the matter of this Epistle someway to oppose & evacuate the eighth chapter of the 22^th. Book de Civ. Dei: because the Father here saith, nusquam hîc in Affrica, talia fieri, scire se; that he knew no such miracles done in Affrica. But the Father (without making him to con∣tradict himself) may first either be understood by [talia] not to exclude all miracles in generall, and absolutely, but only those of such a kind; that is, a miraculous deciding of mat∣ters of controversy, & forcing the delinquent to confess his fault; as these expressions of his seem to imply; Ubi terribi∣liora opera Dei non sanam cujusque conscientiam faci∣lius aperirent: i. e. 'where the more terrible works of God 'discovered every one's unsound conscience. And, novimus furem quendam, &c. his story of a thief forced to confess his theft before such a Monument. And that which follows af∣ter [talia] Non omnes Sancti, &c.

  All Saints have not gifts of healings nor all the discerning of Spirits: so neither would he have these things done at all Memorialls, who di∣vides to every one according as he will. These things, that

  is, both these things; both healing, and discerning of Spirits.

  Or Secondly if he speak here of all Miracles; and mean these things, in generall; yet may that which he saith in

  View Page 392

  Civ. Dei. 8. cap. be true nevertheless: those frequent Mi∣racles he knew to be done at the Martyrs Memorialls in Af∣frick (probably) happening after the writing of this E∣pistle. For in that eighth chapter of the 22^th. Book De Civ. Dei (which books were finished not long before his death) he saith; Nondum est autem biennium, &c. 'It is not yet two years since this Memoriall was set up at Hippo-Re∣gius: and of another Memoriall he saith; Quam Possi∣dius illo advexit; Which Possidius (Bishop of Calama, and one of S. Austins Colleagues, as he calls himself, in the story which he writ of his Life) brought thither: therefore that of no long standing. But to put all out of doubt, see what the Father saith, concerning this matter, in his Book De vera Relig. cap. 25.—Sed accepimus ma∣jores nostros, &c.

  But we have heard that our Fore∣fathers followed visible Miracles, for they could not do otherwise, in that degree of Faith, whereby men ascend as high as from things temporall to eternall: by whom it is come to pass, that these now are not necessary to their poste∣rity. For seeing the Catholick Church is founded, and diffused through all the World, those Miracles were not suffered to last to our times, lest the minde should always look after things visible, and mankind, by the frequency of them, should chill, by the Novelty whereof it was at first enflamed. Nor yet are we to doubt, but that they are to be believed, who preaching things whereunto few arrived, could notwithstanding perswade the people to follow them, &c.

  Ʋpon which words (that he might not be misunderstood in them) the Father thus comments in his Retractations S. Aug. Retract. lib. 1 cap. 13. Item quod dixi, &c. A∣gain whereas I said that those Miracles were not permit∣ted to last to our times; it is true indeed; for they that are now adayes baptized do not so receive the Holy Ghost, when hands are laid on them, as to speake in the Languages of all Nations: nor are the impotent at this day cured at

  View Page 393

  the shadow of the preachers of Christ, passing by them; and whatever such like things were then done, which it is ap∣parent, afterward ceased. But what I said is not so to be understood, as that men should believe there were now no miracles wrought in the name of Christ. For at the same time, when I wrote that very Book, I my self knew a blind man in the same City, that recovered his sight at the Bodies of the* Millain-Martyrs, and some others; of which sort so many are, even in these times done, that we can neither know them all, nor yet reckon up those we know. See what the Fa∣ther saith to the same purpose Retract.

  1. lib. 14. cap. Alio loco, cùm miracula commemoras∣sem, &c. In another place [viz, of his Book De utilitate Credendi, 16. cap.]

  When I had recited the Miracles which the Lord Jesus did, when he was here in the flesh, I added, You will say why are not these things done now? and I answered there, because they would not move us, un∣less they were wonders: and wonders they would not be, if they were usuall. But this I said; because not so great, nor all such, miracles are done now a dayes; not because none are done also now a dayes.
• Gervasius and Protasius: see S. Aug Confess. 9. lib. 7. cap.