Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-21

good gentlemen destroyed the foundations OF
revelation by attempting to subvert catholicism.
But cannot rest here, the Doctors priici-
pie is false or the Bible tissue of falsehoods:
and still more, Paley asserts what is no. true,
if ne asserts that the miracles wrought in our
church in the several ages were wrought mere
y in a6irmance Of opinions already formed
Was this the character OF the miracles OF ST.
Francis Xavier? Were noth his miracles wrought,
as were those of the apostles, to effect the con-
version Of unbelievers?-Was this the charac-
teris,ic of those Of ST. Gregory Thaumaturgus?.
Were they not wrought for the conversion of
the inf.el people of Neoc eserea?-Did they
not in each case produce the same efect?-Such
TOO was the case in thousands Of instances Of
the best authenticated miracles which have TAX
en- place in our church IN every age from the
days of the apostles to the present day; in &C
cordance with the promises Of the Saviour given
without any Limitation of,ime, as might be seen
in variety of places, as in the Gospel of
St. Mark XVI, II. 10. "and these signs SHALL
FOLLOW them that believe in my name, they shall
cast out devils: they shall speak 0iM neU tongues:
they shall take up serpents: and i they shall drink
ana deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. then shall
lag their hands upon the siek and they ShaNrecover.
| These were miracles wrought in an infide coun-
| try, they were not in Popish cou ntry, as the
archdeacon is pleased 10 be rude and uncivil in
| his nicknames. Mr.. White ought to have known
that Popish miracles have been frequently
| wrought in the midst Of protestants, as well as
Of infdels, and therefore that Paley's assertion
was untrue. Mr.. Whites American sponsors
have attempted, and most miserable and abor-
tive attempt it was, to get rid of j fact which
believe 10 be-palpably miraculous though l am
not authorized officially to publish it as such,
which took place IN their own city. would
this day, after all their leisure for examination
ask them was Mrs MattingIy Of the city Of
Washington instantaneously healed from all in
durable disorder not three years since!-I as
sert that she was: and call upon the Rev. gen
tlemen TO produce in the whole union, any ply
sician Of a reputable character, who will to
plain statement Of the facts of her cure affix
his certificate that such cure can be account
ed for by any natural process, or could take
place without being miraculous. MIR. Hawley
| knows also that conversions took place in con-
| sequence Of this cure.
| In the commencement Of his first chapter,
! prop. II. part l. Paley says,
| off the reformers in the time of Wickliffe, or
of Luther, or those Of England, in the time Of
| Henry the eighth, or Of queen Mary; or the
| founders Of our religious sects since, such as
were Mr.. Whi,efied and Mr.. Wesley in our
own times; had undergone the life Of toll and
exerton, of danger and OF sufferings, which we
know that many o. them did undergo for mi
raculous story, that is 10 say, if they had found
ed their public ministry upon the allegation OF
miracles wrought within their own knowledge,
and upon narratives which could not be resolv-
ed into delusion or mistake; and if it appear
ed, that their conduct really had its origin in
these accounts, should have believed them"
Now the archdeacon cannot complain Of my
asserting that it is as necessary in many cases
to work miracle to preserve truth formerly
delivered, as TO establish it originally, when l
shew its necessity from the nature of the case,
and the authority of scripture. I shall give
but all outline and fact. Suppose in those
times to which he alludes the whole body of
the professors Of christianity had swerved from
the truth, and that king Henry Martin Lu
Their was commissioned to bring them back TO
pure doctrine and virtuous conduct, would they
not have as Difficult, task in converting Ro-
mish idolatry the first Apostles had in con-
verting the former pagans? Suppose those vir-
tuous reformers TO have been wrong but still
successful in deuding many, would not the mi
racles be as necessary to preserve the faith Of
the Just, and TO confound the apostates, it
was in the days of Elias, when he wrought SO
many to confirm the faithful Jews, and to con-
found those who had apostatised? Why then
would the archdeacon not believe a miracle
wrought in support of the truth of the old re-
ligion, as he would if it could be wrought a.
gainst it? He gives US his reason in subse-
quent passage in the second paragraph OF Sec
tion VII Of the same chapter
"Hath any founder Of new sect among chris
tians pretended to miraculous powers, and sue
ceeded by bis pretensions?" "Were these pow
ers claimed or exercised by the founders OF the
sects of the Waldenses and Alpgenses? Did
Wicklihe in England pretend to ii? Did Huss
or Jerome in Bohemia? Did Luther in Germa
ny, Zwinghus in Switzerland, Calvin in France,
or any of the Reformers advance this plea?-
The French prophets in the beginning OF the
eighteenth century ventured IT, allege miracu-
lous evidence, and Immediately ruined their
cause by their temerity."
SO then because no miracles we're wrought
by the opponents of the church, we are to say
they not wrought in the church. When
Paley quoting from Campbell, asks, "did Cal
vim advance this plea" answer that he did,
and made a mos, deplorable failure. For in
attempting TO revive sleeping tailor he killed
h;,,, re Mr. White \ ad heen even Dartially IN.