Remarks on ecclesiastical history, [v. 2-3]. v. 3. Remarks on ecclesiastical history, v. [4-]5

dustry, that both may descend hand in hand to posterity, and either live together, or die together.

The ecclesiastical miracles, after the days of the apostles, and the authority of the fathers and historians

upon which they depend, have been a subject of contention. This hath produced two opposite parties; and I cannot flatter myself with the hopes, of pleasing either the one or the other. However, since what is offered

upon

this head in the following Remarks, is only an appendage ; and the principal intention of the whole is to defend and recommend Christianity, which is daily assaulted and insulted, the attempt, at least, may claim the approbation of all candid judges, and is not unworthy of your Grace's countenance and protection; happy if it should be instrumental in instructing or amending any who have deviated from the sacred paths of truth and duty!

Permit me, my Lord, to make a transition from my patron to the rest of my readers, and to inform those who may think this Address deficient in the most essential part, in the part where modern writers usually employ all their skill, that it was a custom amongst the antients, not to sacrifice to heroes till after sun-set.

I am, my Lord,

Your Grace's most obedient

and most humble servant,

JOHN JORTIN.

Page
Remarks upon miracles in general

Notions of Van Dale and Le Clerc concerning them 1

The opinion that God alone can work miracles, not

probable

The miracles of our Saviour and of his apostles defended 2

Quadratus, his testimony concerning miracles

3. 95

A passage in Tertullian corrected

The miracles of Christ were of a prophetic nature,
and represented future events

8, &c.

One of St. Paul's miracles of the same kind

Difference between the writers of the N. T. and the

writers of legends

Reasons for which our Saviour cast out evil spirits 8

Remarks on the dæmoniacs

8. 92. 98. 109

St. Paul, an emblem perhaps of the Jewish nation

An answer to the objection made from the miracles

of false Christs

The apostles seem to have wrought miracles only

when they were moved by the Holy Spirit

Recapitulation of the arguments in behalf of Chris-

tianity

17. 20

General remarks on the miracles said to have been

wrought after the apostolical days, in the second

and third centuries

20. 33

These miracles not to be compared, in point of evi-

dence, with the miracles of Christ ard the apostles

The arguments which may be alleged in favour of them 20. 22

Objections which may be made to them

Some of them not improbable

24. 26

Constancy of the martyrs may be ascribed to a divine

assistance

24. 146. 150

The doctrine of a particular Providence maintained

by Woolaston and Le Clerc

26. 28

The miracles after Constantine deserve no credit

Van Dale, Moyle, and Le Clerc; their notions of
the miracles after the days of the apostles

28. 31

Middleton not singular in rejecting these miracles 30

Le Clerc's character of Van Dale and Moyle

The Christian miracles of different ages : how far
credible, or not

32, 33

The improbable story of Abgarus

The conversion of the inhabitants of Edessa

The Æthiopians instructed by the eunuch

Miracles wrought by apostolical men

34. 36

a ?

dustry, that both may descend hand in hand to
posterity, and either live together, or die together.

The ecclesiastical miracles, after the days of the
apostles, and the authority of the fathers and histo-
rians
upon

which they depend, have been a subject
of contention. This hath produced two opposite
parties; and I cannot flatter myself with the hopes
of pleasing either the one or the other.

However, since what is offered upon this head
in the following Remarks, is only an appen-
dage ; and the principal intention of the whole is
to defend and recommend Christianity, which is
daily assaulted and insulted, the attempt, at least,
may claim the approbation of all candid judges,
and is not unworthy of your Grace's countenance
and protection; happy if it should be instrumental
in instructing or amending any who have deviated
from the sacred paths of truth and duty!

Permit me, my Lord, to make a transition from
my patron to the rest of my readers, and to in-
form those who may think this Address deficient
in the most essential part, in the part where mo-
dern writers usually employ all their skill, that it
was a custom amongst the antients, not to sacrifice
to heroes till after sun-set.