Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-16

and by one OF the order, was published ABOUT
fifteen years after his death. In which Lille, the
author, SO far from ascribing any miracles to
Ignatius, industriously states the reasons why
he was not invested with any such power. The
life was republished fifteen years afterwards,
with the addition of many circumstances, which
were the fruit, the author says, Of further in
quiry, and Of dIigent examination; but still
with total silence about miracles. When 1g
natius had been dead nearly sixty years, the Je-
suits conceiving wish to have the founder of
their order placed in the Roman calendar, be-
gan, as il should seem, for the first time, to at.
tribute to him catalogue of miracles, which
could not then be distinctly disproyed; and
which there was, in those who governed the
church, strong disposition TO admit upon the
slenderest proofs"
Paley refers TO Douglas, who only takes up
refu,ed objection Of Bayle, and thus the Arch
deacon's argument to exclude Popery is with
out any good grounds. Let US examine the
facts Of the assertion "In which life, the au-
thor, so far from ascribing any miracles to lg-
na,ius, industrously states the reasons why he
aoas not INFESTED aciih any such power." Any per-
son reading this passage would naturally sup
pose thar Ribadeneira who is the biographer
referred 10, asserted that lgnaiius did not t0ork
a1y miracle: such is evidently the meaning IN
situated by Paey. Yet no such assertion is
made: the expression is, "Quamobrem illus
sanc,itas minus est testata miraculis." "Where-
fore his sancti,y is less proved by miracles. -
| Producing a smaller quantity, is by no means
emitting TO produce any quantity, and still less
is it asserting that no quantity OF evidence
could be produced. But in, truth the minus does
not appear to refer to the quantity of miracles,
but to place the evidence Of sanctity by infer
ence from miracles, in minor distinction to the
direct evidence Of sanctily exhibited i'll conduct.
This is no denial Of the existence OF miracles,
but the assertion of more plain and higher
species Of direct proof. Ribadeneira in the
| last chapter D. 2o9 Of the first edition, denies
before hand the truth Of the archdeacon's as
sertion in two very effectual ways. "Mihi tan
tum abest ut ad vitam Ignatii illustrandam mi.
racuin deesse videantur, ut n'ulta eaque prSsfa,'
iissima judicem in luce versari." $50 far am
| from believing that there exists any want Of mi
racles 10 illustrate the life Of Ignatius, that /
would Judge that n1nny and those of the best
description are plainly evident" How could
| Baye, or Douglas, or Paley assert that this
| man stated that lgnatius drought no miracleSS
| The second mode of contradicting Paley's as
| sertion is given in that same chapter, where he
recapituates several miraculous facts which he
| had already stated III his narrative. This first
history was published in 1879. The same au-
thor did fifteen years AFTER viz. in 1887, publish
the History of the life of Igna,ius with some
additions; but it is not true as the archdeacon
asserts "still with total silence about miracles "
| Nor is his next insnuation true, that nothing
more uas done until sixty years after his death:
for the same author shortly after this second
edition, published latin abstract of the first
compilation which is styled "Alreram brevio.
rem vitam, sed nlultiS &C novis n1,raculs auctam"
"Another shorter life but augmented by many
and neU miracles" In this he states that he was
cautious before Of relating miracles, which tho
duly testified, had not been as yet duly and fully
examined and approved, and that those which
he did previously relate were selected by the
Judgment Of prudent persons; being but few
of those which were commonly testified ard
believed, of course there is no truth whatever in
the assertion Of Paley that when Ignatius had
been dead nearly sixty years, the Jesuits began
for the first time, 10 attribute TO him catalogue
of miracles which could not then be distinctly
disproved. He died in 1856. All the cotem-
porary historians tell us that the people esteem
| ed him saint even before his death; and that
their opinion was upheld amongst other testi-
mony, by miracles In l572, an intimate COM
panion Of his selects from amongst many, ana
those Of The best description Of miracles, some which
he specifies in his book which is published.
In l5s7 new edition with additions is pub
lished by the same author, afterwards an a
bridgment Of the first with many neD miracles
added is published: the writer states that rea-
son for not having inserted many of those at an
earlier period was caution, until the proofs Of
the fact and the nature Of the works should
have been more closely examined. In 1904,
the same author prints again an account Of the
life of lgnatius amongst his Olives of holy per-
sons" This in Spanish; and he states
"Though when first printed his life in 1879,
knew some miracles Of the holy father did
rot look upon them to be SO verified by pro-
cess (averiguados) as to think ought to pub
lish them, but they were afterwards fully prov
ed by creditable witnesses 10 be true, during
the authentical process taken in order to his
canonzaton; and the Lord who was pleased TO
exat him, and make him glorious on earth, dali
ly works, on his account such miracles as TO o.
blige me here to relate them; taken from the o.
riginal uridical informations which several
bishops have taken and from the dispositions
made on oath Of The persons upon whom they
were wrought, &c.
Thus we have public common testimony du-