cles above any in that Church; and Volume I have often wonder'd why he does XII. not: but it seems he contents himfelf with Infallibility, which is priviledge and power enough for one Man; and indeed if he had it, and could fatisfie others that he hath it, that would ferve his turn without Miracles: but the mischief of it is, there is no other external evidence, and which can reasonably fatisfie others of any Ma's infpiration or infallibility, but Miracles; and therefore the Pope hath done very unadvisedly, in pretending to one without the other, when he hath the fame right and title to both, that is, none at all. Sixthly, Moft of the Doctrines in difference between us and the Church of Rome, which they chiefly pretend to confirm by these Miracles, are not capable of being confirmed by them. There are three forts of Doctrines, two of which are in their own Nature incapable of being confirmed by a Miracle, and a third upon fuppofition of its contrariety to the Chriftian DoЄtrine ctrine, which hath already had an unqueftionable Divine Confirmati on. 1. No Doctrine which is contrary to Sense, is capable of being confirmed by a Miracle, as Tranfubftantiation; which because it neceffarily requires the renouncing of our fenfes, in order to the belief of it, for that very reafon Miracles can give no credit to it. For that which depends on the certainty of Senfe, as Miracles certainly do, can be no competent Argument to prove that which is contrary to Senfe, as Tranfubftantiation evidently is. 2. No Doctrine that does countenance or enjoin Idolatry, is capable of being confirmed by a Miracle. This is evident from Deut. 13. where Mofes fuppofeth that a Prophet might work a Sign or a Wonder; but if it was to feduce them From the Worship of the true God, who is naturally known, to the worhip of Idols, in that cafe they were lot to hearken to him, notwithCc 3 ftand Se mon XIII. standing he wrought a Miracle : Volume but the Church of Rome teacheth XII. Idolatry in their Worfhip of Images, and of the Hoft, and in the invocation of Saints and Angels. 3. No Doctrine contrary to any part of the Chriftian Doctrine, which hath already received an unqueftionable Divine Confirmation, is capable of being confirmed by the Miracles pretended to in the Church of Rome, if they were real. For I hope they have not the face to pretend their Miracles,to be equal to those of our Saviour and his Apoftles, either for the certainty, or greatness of them; and I have already fhewn, that they notorioufly want both the credit and certainty of our Saviour's Miracles, and the marks of their Divinity. Now feveral of the Doctrines of that Church are directly contrary to, or inconfiftent with the Do&trines of Chriftianity. Their endeavour to conceal from people the Doctrine of the Gospel, contained in the the Holy Scriptures, is a notorious contradiction to the defign of the Sermon Gofpel, and to that particular Mi- XIII. racle whereby the knowledge of it was conveyed to the World, the Gift of Tongues; and then the Service of God in an unknown Tongue, which is inconfiftent with true Devotion, contrary to Edification, and to the plain Scope and Defign of a whole Chapter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. And fo likewise is the Communion in one kind, to our Saviour's express Institution: and the repetition of Chrift's Sacrifice, to as exprefs a declaration of the Apoftle to the Hebrews to the contrary, as is poffible for words to make. Seventhly and lastly, which falls heaviest upon them of all, the chief Prophecies of the New Teftament, which are concerning falfe Prophets, and concerning Antichrift, have mark'd him out by this Character, that he fhould be a great worker of Miracles, and magnifie himself upon this pretence. Matth. 24. 24. CC 4 For For there fhall arife falfe Chrifts, and Volume faife prophers, and shall shew great XM. fins and wonders, infomuch that (if it were poflible) they shall deceive the very elect. And 2 Theff. 2. 9, 10. St. Paul foretels there, that in the great degeneracy and falling away of the Chriftian Church, the man of fin fhould come after the working of Satan, with all power, and figns, and wonders of lies, that is, either falfe Miracles, or Miracles wrought to confirm falfe Doctrines, and with all deceivableness of unrighteoufnefs, all the legerdemain and jugling tricks of falfehood and impofture: and certainly nothing was ever more visible than thefe are in the Church of Rome; whether we confider their impudent forgeries of Writings; (which they have not the face now to deny) or the Nature and Character of their Miracles. So that tho' Bellarmine is pleased to make Miracles one of the Marks of the true Church, yet the Miracles of the Church of Rome, if we confider all the Circumstances of them, are one of the plaineft. marks of Antichrift, and the very brand |
