Six Discourses on the Miracles of our Saviour Part 4

[58] Regni clestis Honor prefiguratur. St. _Hilar. in Loc. Matt._ In Transfiguratione futura Regni Praemeditatio & Gloria demonstrata est.

St. _Hierom. in Loc. Matt._

[59] ?????at?d?? pa??de???? t?? ?as??e?a?, Anast. in Transfig. Dom.

?p?de??a t?? d???? e?e????. St. _Chrysost. in Loc. Matt._

[60] s.e.x millium scilicet Annorum Temporibus evolutis. St. _Hilar. in Loc. Matt._ Sic post s.e.x aetates Dominus a perfectis Famulis conspicietur. _Dionys. Alex. apud Damascen. in Orat. de Transfig._

[61] Et Moses & Elias apparuerunt in Gloria, c.u.m Jesu colloquentes, in quo ostenditur Legem & Prophetas, c.u.m Evangeliis consonare & in eadem Gloria spiritualis intelligentiae refulgere. _Origen. in Epist. ad Rom._ c. 1.

[62] Montem ascendit ut te doceat, ne quaeras eum nisi in Legis & Prophetarum montibus. _Origen in Cantic. Cantic. Hom._ 3.

[63] Per nubem tetram intellige opacitatem Legis. _Damascen. in Orat.

de Transfigur._

[64] Vestimenta candida Jesu sunt Sermones & Scripta Evangeliorum.

_Origen in Loc. Matt._

[65] Si quis Litteram sequitur, & deorsum est totus, hic non potest videre Jesum in veste candida; qui autem sequitur Sermonem Dei & ad montana, id est, excelsa Legis conscendit, isti Jesus commutatur---- Quamdiu Litteram sequimur occidentem, Moses & Elias c.u.m Jesu non loquuntur; sin spiritualiter intelligimus, statim Moses & Elias veniunt, id est Lex & Prophetae & colloquuatur c.u.m Evangelio. _Johan.

Hieros. Hom._ 32.

[66] _John_ ii.

[67] _Matt._ C. xiv. and xv. _&c._

[68] _Mark_ ii. _Luke_ v.

[69] _John_ ix.

[70] _Mark_ v.

[71] _Matt._ xxi. _Mark_ xi.

[72] _Matt._ ii.

[73] Alia quam plurima his similia in Evangeliis inveniet, quicunque attentius legerit. _Origen. de Principiis_, lib. iv.

[74] Quae Enarratio erit Evangelii sensibilis, nisi accommodetur ad intelligible & spirituale? Nulla sane, _Origen. is Praefat. ad Johan.

Evang._

[75] _See Archbishop_ Wake's _Ma.n.u.script Letter to Mr._ Chandler, _which is handed about Town and Country_.

[76] Chandler's _Vindication_, &c. p. 81.

[77] Dominus noster ea quae faciebat corporaliter, etiam spiritualiter volebat intelligi, _&c. August. Serm._ xcviii. _Sect._ 3.

[78] Quos in corporibus morbos sanavit Christus, hi in animabus existunt, & supernam ejus opem requirunt. _Johan. Nepos. Hieros._ Hom.

LXI.

A SECOND DISCOURSE ON THE MIRACLES OF OUR _SAVIOUR_,

In VIEW of the present Controversy between INFIDELS and APOSTATES.

_Audendum est, ut ill.u.s.trata Veritas pateat, multique ab Errore liberentur._ Lactant.

By THOMAS WOOLSTON, sometime Fellow of _Sidney-College_ in _Cambridge_.

_LONDON_:

Printed for the Author, Sold by him in _Bell-Alley_, _Coleman-Street_, and by the Booksellers of _London_ and _Westminster_. 1727.

[Price One s.h.i.+lling.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

TO THE Right Reverend Father in G.o.d _EDWARD_, Lord BISHOP of _Lichfield_.

MY LORD,

Your Fame for that celebrated Book, call'd the _Defence of Christianity_, is the Occasion of this Dedication. I need not tell you, what vast Reputation you have acquired by it: You have been not only often applauded from the Press, but have met with large Compliments and Thanks from your Clergy for it. And tho' Mr. _Scheme_ has very untowardly written against you, yet this is _still_ your Honour, that you are an _Author_, not unworthy of his Regard and Notice.

I am, in Opinion with the Fathers, against an establish'd Hire for the Priesthood, thinking it of disservice to true Religion: But when I consider'd the Usefulness of your Lords.h.i.+p's Episcopal Riches and Honours to this Controversy, I almost chang'd my Mind. Your exalted Station in the Church, has given Credit and Authority to your Work, which, if it had came from the Hands of a poor Priest, had never been so much admir'd; neither would Mr. _Scheme_, I believe, nor my self, have paid so many Respects to it.

For this Reason, I wish some more of your _Order_ would appear in this Controversy, that the World might see what famous Men are our _Bishops_, and of what Use their _Hundreds_ and _Thousands_ a Year are to the Defence of Christianity; which, if such able Hands were not amply hired to its Support, might be in Danger, as certainly as, that Men of low Fortunes must needs be Men of poor Parts, little Learning, and slender Capacities to write in Vindication of it.

Some have conceiv'd Hopes that the great _Bishop_ of _London_, from his last Charge to his _Clergy_, will second you in this Controversy; if so, there's no doubt on't, but his Performance will be commensurate to his State and Revenues. Of his Zeal in the Controversy, he has already given a notable Instance, when he prosecuted the _Moderator_; and I dare say, he'll vouchsafe us a more remarkable Specimen of his Knowledge in it, as soon as he can spare Time for't; and then (Oh my Fears!) he'll pay me off for my Objection against Christ's Resurrection, which he would have persuaded the Civil Magistrate to have done for him.

But whether the _Bishop_ of _London_ seconds you or not, it's Time, _my Lord_, to expect another Volume from you, in Answer to Mr.

_Scheme_, which, for all the Reports that are spread of your intended Silence, I hope soon to see publish'd. What will the People say, if that _Philisthin_ goes off, giving you the last Blow in the Controversy? Nothing less than that he has gotten the better of the Learned _Bishop_ of _Lichfield_, and has refuted Christianity to the Conviction of the Bishop himself, who would renounce it too, but for the temporal Advantages he enjoys by it.

Think, _my Lord_, on the Dishonour of such Reflections, and resume Courage against the Adversary. I look upon you as a more st.u.r.dy Gladiator than for one Cut on the Pate, to quit the Stage of Battle.

Tho' Mr. _Scheme_ has unluckily hit you on a soft Place, and weaken'd your Intellectuals for a while; yet he is a generous Combatant, and gives you Time to recover your wonted Strength of Reason. At him again then, _my Lord_, and fear not, in your Turn, to give him such a Home-Thrust, as will pierce his unbelieving Heart.

And when your _Lords.h.i.+p_ engages him again from the _Press_, I hope you'll be more explicite for Liberty of Debate. Through G.o.dly Zeal for _Church_, you unhappily made a Slip, in your _Dedication_ to the _King_, on the persecuting Side of the Question, which had lik'd to have sully'd the Glory of your whole Work. Such a grand Philosopher, as you are, should trust alone to the Goodness of your Cause, and the Strength of your Reasonings, in Defence of it: Such a potent Champion for Christianity, as you are, should disdain the a.s.sistance of any, but of G.o.d, to fight for you. The Use of the Civil Sword on your Side, is not only a Disparagement to your Parts, but a Disgrace to our Religion.

I know not what your _Lords.h.i.+p_ may think on't, but the Prosecution of the _Moderator_ was, in the Judgment of others, more than of my self, some Reproach to you: Because of a few slender Animadversions, I made on your renown'd Book, some think I suffer'd a Prosecution, which you, in Honour, should have discourag'd. I am willing to acquit you as much as may be; and would, if I could, impute it to your Forgetfulness, rather than your Malice, that you step'd not between me and Danger.

Whether this Discourse will be acceptable to your Lords.h.i.+p, is somewhat uncertain; I am afraid it will be a little disgustful to your nice and delicate Taste in Theology, which relishes nothing better than the plain and ordinary Food of the Letter of _Christ_'s Miracles: But however, you will readily interpret this _Dedication_ to your Honour, and if you should make me a large present of Gold for it, I sincerely a.s.sure your _Lords.h.i.+p_, it will be more than I aim'd at; neither do I desire any other Return for it, than to be endulg'd the Liberty and Pleasure to pay my customary Respects to your Writings; and upon proper Occasions to testify to the World, how much I am,

[Sidenote: London, _October_ 13^{th} 1727.]

MY LORD, The Admirer of Your Wit, Learning and Orthodoxy, _Thomas Woolston_.