按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
testimony so strong as may not be procured for the greatest
absurdity： And those who will be so silly as to examine the
affair by that medium； and seek particular flaws in the
testimony； are almost sure to be confounded。 It must be a
miserable imposture；indeed； that does not prevail in that
contest。
All who have been in F/RANCE about that time have
heard of the reputation of Mons。 H/ERAUT； the ； whose vigilance； penetration； activity； and
extensive intelligence have been much talked of。 This
magistrate； who by the nature of his office is almost
absolute； was invested with full powers； on purpose to
suppress or discredit these miracles； and he frequently
seized immediately； and examined the witnesses and subjects
of them： But never could reach any thing satisfactory
against them。
In the case of Mademoiselle T/HIBAUT he sent the
famous D/E S/YLVA to examine her； whose evidence is very
curious。 The physician declares； that it was impossible she
could have been so ill as was proved by witnesses； because
it was impossible sh could； in so short a time； have
recovered so perfectly as he found her。 He reasoned； like a
man of sense； from natural causes； but the opposite party
told him； that the whole was a miracle； and that his
evidence was the very best proof of it。
The M/OLINISTS were in a sad dilemma。 They durst not
assert the absolute insufficiency of human evidence； to
prove a miracle。 They were obliged to say； that these
miracles were wrought by witchcraft and the devil。 But they
were told； that this was the resource of the J/EWS of old。
No J/ANSENIST was ever embarrassed to account for the
cessation of the miracles； when the church…yard was shut up
by the king's edict。 It was the touch of the tomb； which
produced these extraordinary effects； and when no one could
approach the tomb； no effects could be expected。 God；
indeed； could have thrown down the walls in a moment； but he
is master of his own graces and works； and it belongs not to
us to account for them。 He did not throw down the walls of
every city like those of J/ERICHO； on the sounding of the
rams horns； nor break up the prison of every apostle； like
that of St。 P/AUL。
No less a man； than the Duc de C/HATILLON； a duke and
peer of F/RANCE； of the highest rank and family； gives
evidence of a miraculous cure； performed upon a servant of
his； who had lived several years in his house with a visible
and palpable infirmity。
I shall conclude with observing； that no clergy are
more celebrated for strictness of life and manners than the
secular clergy of F/RANCE； particularly the rectors or
cures of P/ARIS； who bear testimony to these impostures。
The learning； genius； and probity of the gentlemen； and
the austerity of the nuns of P/ORT…R/OYAL； have been much
celebrated all over E/UROPE。 Yet they all give evidence for
a miracle； wrought on the niece of the famous Pascal； whose
sanctity of life； as well as extraordinary capacity； is well
known。 the famous R/ACINE gives an account of this miracle
in his famous history of P/ORT… R/OYAL； and fortifies it
with all the proofs； which a multitude of nuns； priests；
physicians； and men of the world； all of them of undoubted
credit； could bestow upon it。 Several men of letters；
particularly the bishop of T/OURNAY； thought this miracle
so certain； as to employ it in the refutation of atheists
and freethinkers。 the queen…regent of F/RANCE； who was
extremely prejudiced against the P/ORT… R/OYAL； sent her
own physician to examine the miracle； who returned an
absolute convert。 In short； the supernatural cure was so
uncontestable； that it saved； for a time； that famous
monastery from the ruin with which it was threatened by the
J/ESUITS。 Had it been a cheat； it had certainly been
detected by such sagacious and powerful antagonists； and
must have hastened the ruin of the contrivers。 Our divines；
who can build up a formidable castle from such despicable
materials； what a prodigious fabric could they have reared
from these and many other circumstances； which I have not
mentioned！ How often would the great names of P/ASCAL；
R/ACINE； A/RNAUD； N/ICOLE； have resounded in our ears？
but if they be wise； they had better adopt the miracle； as
being more worth； a thousand times； than all the rest of
their collection。 Besides； it may serve very much to their
purpose。 For that miracle was really performed by the touch
of an authentic holy prickle of the holy thorn； which
composed the holy crown； which； &。
＇31＇L/UCRET。
＇32＇Nov。 Org。 lib。 ii。 aph。 29。
＇33＇L/UCIANI； ＇Greek words＇。
＇34＇Luciani； ＇Greek word＇。
＇35＇Id。 and Dio。
＇36＇I/N general； it may； I think； be established as a
maxim； that where any cause is known only by its particular
effects； it must be impossible to infer any new effects from
that cause； since the qualities； which are requisite to
produce these new effects along with the former； must either
be different； or superior； or of more extensive operation；
than those which simply produced the effect； whence alone
the cause is supposed to be known to us。 We can never；
therefore； have any reason to suppose the existence of these
qualities。 To say； that the new effects proceed only from a
continuation of the same energy； which is already known from
the first effects； will not remove the difficulty。 For even
granting this to be the case （which can seldom be supposed）；
the very continuation and exertion of a like energy （for it
is impossible it can be absolutely the same）； I say； this
exertion of a like energy； in a different period of space
and time； is a very arbitrary supposition； and what there
cannot possibly be any traces of it in the effects； from
which all our knowledge of the cause is originally derived。
Let the cause be exactly proportioned （as it
should be） to the known effect； and it is impossible that it
can possess any qualities； from which new or different
effects can be 。
＇37＇THIS argument is drawn from Dr。 Berkeley； and
indeed most of the writings of that very ingenious author
form the best lessons of scepticism； which are to be found
either among the ancient or modern philosophers； Bayle not
excepted。 He professes； however； in his title…page （and
undoubtedly with great truth） to have composed his book
against the sceptics as well as against the atheists and
free…thinkers。 But that all his arguments； though otherwise
intended； are； in reality； merely sceptical； appears from
this； 。 Their only effect is to cause that momentary
amazement and irresolution and confusion； which is the
result of scepticism。
＇38＇W/HATEVER disputes there may be about the
mathematical points； we must allow that there are physical
points； that is； parts of extension； which cannot be divided
or lessened； either by the eye or imagination。 These images；
then； which are present to the fancy or senses； are
absolutely indivisible； and consequently must be allowed by
mathematicians to be infinitely less than any real part of
extension； and yet nothing appears more certain to reason；
than that an infinite number of them composes an infinite
extension。 How much more an infinite number of those
infinitely small parts of extension； which are still
supposed infinitely divisible。
＇39＇I/T seems to be not impossible to avoid these
absurdities and contradictions； if it be admitted； that
there is no such thing as abstract or general ideas；
properly speaking； but that all general ideas are； in
reality； particular ones； attached to a general term； which
recalls； upon occasion； other particular ones； that
resemble； in certain circumstances； the idea； present to the
mind。 Thus when the term Horse is pronounced； we immediately
figure to ourselves the idea of a black or a white animal；
of a particular size or figure： But as that term is also
usually applied to animals of other colours； figures and
sizes； these ideas； though not actually present to the
imagination； are easily recalled； and our reasoning and
conclusion proceed in the same way； as if they were actually
present。 If this be admitted （as seems reasonable） it
follows that all the ideas of quantity； upon which
mathematicians reason； are nothing but particular； and such
as are suggested by the senses and imagination； and
consequently； cannot be infinitely divisible。 It is
sufficient to have dropped this hint at present； without
prosecuting it any farther。 It certainly concerns all lovers
of science not to expose themselves to the ridicule and
contempt of the ignorant by their conclusions； and this
seems the readiest solution of these difficulties。
＇40＇T/HAT impious maxim of the ancient philosophy； ； ； by which the creation of matter was
excluded； ceases to be a maxim； according to this
philosophy。 Not only the will of the supreme Being may
create matter； but； for aught； we know ； the will
of any other being might create it； or any other cause； that
the most whimsical imagination can assign。
The End