But the truth, after all, is, that Augustine does most plainly assert the doctrine of miracles, and allege miracles, as occurring under his own observation; so that no person, who will be at the trouble of ascertaining the fact, can feel the least doubt as to this eminent Father's real sentiments on the subject, or even as to his actual experience.

I appeal, for proof, to a chapter which commences with one of the passages given by Mr. Noel himself. The first one The first one or two sentences of the passage in question, read apart from the context, do certainly appear unfavourable to the doctrine of miracles; but if we take with it the heading of the chapter, which stands immediately above it, we shall find it somewhat qualified. Mr. Noel's citation, as we have already seen, commences thus:

"Why, say they, are not these miracles wrought now, which, you allege, were wrought formerly? I might, indeed, answer, that they were necessary before the world believed, in order that the world might believe."

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But compare, or rather contrast, with this, the heading of the chapter, which stands just above it: Concerning the miracles, which were wrought in order that the world might believe in Christ, and which continue to be wrought, now that the world does believe *."

In the first part of the chapter, accordingly, having spoken of the miracles of the New Testa

pro merito loci, sed pro merito desiderii sui recipit sive malum sive bonum."-Tom. vii. p. 3, col. 4.

*"De miraculis, quæ ut mundus in Christum crederet, facta sunt, et fieri mundo credente non desinunt."

ment, Augustine soon proceeds to speak of the miracles of his own day, in words also cited, in part, by Mr. Noel:

For, even now, miracles are wrought in His name, whether by his sacraments (ordinances), or by prayers, or the tombs of his saints. But they are not proclaimed with the same renown, so as to be equally spread abroad with the former. For the Sacred Volume, which was to be made known on all sides, causes the former to be told every where, and to hold their place in all men's memories: but the latter are known of, scarcely by the whole city or neighbourhood where they may happen to be wrought*."

The chapter then proceeds to give instances: and I have no hesitation in confessing, that, in some of the narratives, there is an evident mixture of superstition. Their style, in fact, is so inferior, and the chapter, also, so much longer than those which precede and follow it, that very possibly it has been subjected to Popish interpolation. Nevertheless there is one narrative so affecting, and so entirely free from all superstitious reference to martyrs or relics, that I feel no doubt of its coming from Augustine himself, of whose style it is altogether worthy; and I shall therefore proceed to give an abridgment of it, being persuaded that no pious reader, whatever

"Nam etiam nunc fiunt miracula in ejus nomine, sive per sacramenta ejus, sive per orationes, vel memorias sanctorum ejus, sed non eadem claritate illustrantur, ut tanta quanta illa gloria diffamentur. Canon quippe sacrarum literarum quem diffamatum esse oportebat, illa facit ubique recitari et memoriæ cunctorum inhærere populorum : hæc autem, ubicunque fiunt, ibi sciuntur vix a tota ipsa civitate vel quocunque commanentium loco."-Tom. v. p. 299, col. 2.

may be his sentiments on the miraculous subject, will feel offended.

The case is that of Innocentius, a devout believer, Ex-advocate of the Vice-prefecture at Carthage. Augustine, and his brother Alippius, not yet in holy orders, were dwelling in his house at the time. This man was afflicted with a painful malady, for which he had frequently submitted to a severe surgical operation. But, after all that skill could do, his malady so far continued, that there was no hope of his recovery, unless he would once more submit to the knife. His sufferings, on former occasions, had been so terrible, that, on hearing this, he became pale and agitated with fear, and dismissed his medical advisers. At length, exhausted with weeping, like a man in extremity, and knowing that there was no way of escape, he called in a celebrated surgeon, by name Alexandrinus, who, after examination, decided that the operation must be performed, as the only way of saving his life; and suggested that the individuals, who had been dismissed, should be recalled, and operate in his presence. This measure was deferred to the next day; and after their departure, says Augustine, the lamentation of the whole household was like the cry raised for the dead. Innocentius was daily visited in his illness by several holy men, Saturninus bishop of Uzala, Gelosus a presbyter, and the deacons of the church of Carthage: among whom, he adds, was Aurelius, now the only surviver, and a bishop; a man ever to be mentioned with the greatest regard and honour, "with whom, in calling to mind the wonderful works of God, I have often

conversed on this occurrence; and I have found that he retains the fullest recollection of what I now relate*." When these persons paid their usual visit in the evening, the sufferer, piteously weeping, besought them that they would kindly be present the next day, at what he called his decease rather than his sufferings. For, from

trust in God.

of Augustine. while we were

the agony which he had endured on former occasions, he felt no doubt that he should die under the surgeons' hands. They did their best to comfort him, exhorting him to submission and The rest I must relate in the words "We then went to prayer; and, kneeling and prostrating ourselves as on other occasions, he also prostrated himself, as if some one had forcibly thrust him down, and began to pray in what manner, with what earnestness, with what emotion, with what a flood of tears, with what agitation of his whole body, I might almost say with what suspension of his respiration, by his groans and sobs, who shall attempt to describe? Whether the rest of the party were so little affected as to be able to pray, I knew not. For my own part I could not. This alone, inwardly and briefly, I said: 'Lord, what prayers of thine own children wilt thou ever grant, if thou grant not these?' For nothing more seemed possible, but that he should die praying. We arose; and, after the benediction from the bishop, left him; but not till he had besought them to be with him in the morning, nor till they had exhorted him to calmness. The

*"Cum quo, recordantes mirabilia opera Dei, de hac re sæpe collocuti sumus, eumque valde meminisse quod commemoramus invenimus."

dreaded day arrived, and the servants of God attended as they had promised. The medical men made their appearance; all things required for such an occasion are got ready; and, amidst the terror and suspense of all present, the dreadful instruments are brought out. In the mean time, while those of the bystanders, whose authority was the greatest, endeavour to support the courage of the patient by words of comfort, he is placed in a convenient posture for the operation, the dressings are opened, the seat of the disease is exposed, the surgeon inspects it, and tries to find the part to be operated upon with his instrument in his hand. He first looks for it, then examines by the touch. In a word, he makes every possible trial, and finds the place perfectly healed! The gladness, the praise, the thanksgivings to a compassionate and all-powerful God, which, with mingled joy and tears, now burst from the lips of all present, cannot be told by me: the scene may more easily be imagined than described *"

"Inde ad orationem ingressi sumus. Ubi nobis ex more genua figentibus atque incumbentibus terræ, ille se ita projecit tanquam fuisset aliquo impellente graviter prostratus, et cœpit orare. Quibus modis, quo affectu, quo motu animi, quo fluvio lachrymarum, quibus gemitibus atque singultibus succutientibus omnia membra ejus, et pene intercludentibus spiritum, quis ullis explicet verbis? Utrum orarent alii, nec in hæc eorum averteretur intentio, nesciebam. Ego tamen prorsus orare nil poteram, hoc tantummodo breviter in corde meo dixi: Domine, quas tuorum preces exaudis, si has non exaudis? Nihil enim videbatur addi jam posse, nisi ut expiraret orando. Surreximus, et, accepta ab Episcopo benedictione, discessimus, rogante illo ut mane adessent, illisque ut æquo animo esset hortantibus. Illuxit dies qui metuebatur, aderant servi Dei sicut se affuturos esse promiserant. Ingressi sunt medici, parantur omnia quæ hora illa poscebat, tremenda ferramenta proferuntur, attonitis suspensisque omnibus. Eis autem quorum erat major authoritas, defectum animi ejus consolando erigentibus, ad manus secturi membra in lectulo componuntur, solvuntur nodi ligamentorum,