swift progress His Spirit has made in His
operations on the hearts of many. It is wonderful that persons should be
so suddenly and yet so greatly changed. Many have been taken from a
loose and careless way of living, and seized with strong convictions of
their guilt and misery, and in a very little time old things have passed
away, and all things have become new with them.
God’s work has also appeared very extraordinary in the degrees of His
influences; in the degrees both of awakening and conviction, and also of
saving light, love, and joy, that many have experienced. It has also
been very extraordinary in the extent of it, and its being so swiftly
propagated from town to town. In former times of the pouring out of the
Spirit of God on this town, though in some of them it was very
remarkable, it reached no further then; the neighboring towns all around
continued unmoved.
This work seemed to be at its greatest height in this town in the former
part of the spring, in March and April. At that time God’s work in the
conversion of souls was carried on amongst us in so wonderful a manner,
that, so far as I can judge, it appears to have been at the rate at
least of four persons in a day; or near thirty in a week, take one with
another, for five or six weeks together. When God in so remarkable a
manner took the work into His own hands, there was as much done in a day
or two, as at ordinary times, with all endeavors that men can use, and
with such a blessing as we commonly have, is done in a year.
I am very sensible, how apt many would be, if they should see the
account I have here given, presently to think with themselves that I am
very fond of making a great many converts, and of magnifying the matter;
and to think that for want of judgment, I take every religious pang, and
enthusiastic conceit, for saving conversion. I do not much wonder if
they sh
of the miracle, it ought–then to induce them to change. But
with you it is otherwise. There would be as much reason in saying that, if
the Eucharist raised a dead man, it would be necessary for one to turn a
Calvinist rather than remain a Catholic. But when it crowns the expectation,
and those, who hoped that God would bless the remedies, see themselves
healed without remedies.
The ungodly.–No sign has ever happened on the part of the devil without a
stronger sign on the part of God, or even without it having been foretold
that such would happen.
852. Unjust persecutors of those whom God visibly protects. If they reproach
you with your excesses, "they speak as the heretics." If they say that the
grace of Jesus Christ distinguishes us, "they are heretics." If they do
miracles, "it is the mark of their heresy."
Ezekiel. They say: These are the people of God who speak thus.
It is said, "Believe in the Church"; but it is not said, "Believe in
miracles"; because the last is natural, and not the first. The one had need
of a precept, not the other. Hezekiah.
The synagogue was only a type, and thus it did not perish; and it was only a
type, and so it is decayed. It was a type which contained the truth, and
thus it has lasted until it no longer contained the truth.
My reverend father, all this happened in types. Other religions perish; this
one perishes not.
Miracles are more important than you think. They have served for the
f
of the world, over whom the prince of
this world has no power, which works miracles by the peculiar power of the
blood shed for us. Now God Himself chooses this house in order to display
conspicuously therein His power.
These are not men who do miracles by an unknown and doubtful virtue, which
makes a decision difficult for us. It is God Himself. It is the instrument
of the Passion of His only Son, who, being in many places, chooses this, and
makes men come from all quarters there to receive these miraculous
alleviations in their weaknesses.
840. The Church has three kinds of enemies: the Jews, who have never been of
her body; the heretics, who have withdrawn from it; and the evil Christians,
who rend her from within.
These three kinds of different adversaries usually attack her in different
ways. But here they attack her in one and the same way. As they are all
without miracles, and as the Church has always had miracles against them,
they have all had the same interest in evading them; and they all make use
of this excuse, that doctrine must not be judged by miracles, but miracles
by doctrine. There were two parties among those who heard Jesus Christ:
those who followed His teaching on account of His miracles; others who said.
There were two parties in the time of Calvin… There are now the Jesuits,
etc.
841. Miracles furnish the test in matters of doubt, between Jews and
heathens, Jews and Christians, Catholics and heretics, the slandered and
slanderers, between the two crosses.
But miracles would be useless to heretics; for the Church, authorised by
miracles which have already obtained belief, tells us that they have not the
true faith. There is no doubt that they are not in it, since the fir