Wesley Corpus

I have seen many examples of this sort.’” (Page 14.) In another place he says, “Signs of the Holy Ghost were shown at the beginning of the teaching of Jesus;” (not, as you translate it, “Miracles began with the preaching of Jesus;” that is quite a different thing;) “more were shown after his ascension, but afterwards fewer. However, even now there are still some remains of them with a few, whose souls are cleansed by the word, and a life conformable to it.” (Page 15.) Again : “Some,” says he, “heal the sick. I myself have seen many so healed, of loss of senses, madness, and innumerable other evils which neither men nor devils can cure.” (Ibid.) “And this is done, not by magical arts, but by prayer, and certain plain adjurations, such as any common Christian may use; for generally common men do things of this kind.” (Page 16.) 14. “Cyprian, who wrote about the middle of the third century, says, “Beside the visions of the night, even in the day-time, innocent children among us are filled with the Holy Spirit; and in ecstasies see, and hear, and speak those things by which God is pleased to admonish and instruct us.’” (Ibid.) Elsewhere he particularly mentions the casting out of devils: “Which,” says he, “either depart immediately, or by degrees, according to the faith of the patient, or the grace of him that works the cure.” (Page 17.) “Arnobius, who is supposed to have wrote in the year of Christ 303, tells us, ‘Christ appears even now to men unpol luted, and eminently holy, who love him;--whose very name puts evil spirits to flight, strikes their prophets dumb, deprives the soothsayers of the power of answering, and frustrates the acts of arrogant magicians.’” (Page 18.) “Lactantius, who wrote about the same time, speaking of evil spirits, says, “Being adjured by Christians, they retire out of the bodies of men, confess themselves to be demons, and tell their names, even the same which are adored in the temples.’” (Ibid.) 15. “These,” you say, “are the principal testimonies which assert miraculous gifts through the three first centuries; which might be supported by many more of the same kind, from the same as well as different writers. But none will scruple to risk the fate of the cause upon these.” (Page 19.) Thus far I do not scruple it.