An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

and applying a Powder to the wound, within a few days the sick party recovered. The powder was some of the ashes of a certain Woman who had been burnt to death for a Witch. This was not altogether so horrid as that which is by Authors worthy of credit reported to come to pass, in the days of Pope Adrian VI. when the Plague raging in Rome, a Magician (whose Name was Demetrius Spartan) caused it to be stayed by sacrificing a B•ll to the Devil. See P. Jovius Histor, Lib.21. Such power hath the righteous God given unto Satan over the sinful Children of Men; yea such a Ruler hath he set over them as a just punishment for all their wickedness. His chief design is to improve that power which by reason of sin he hath obtained to seduce into more sin. And the Holy God to punish the World for iniquity, often suffers the Enemy to obtain his desires this way. What strange things have been done, and how have Diseases been healed by the sign of the Cross many times? By ⟨p. 272⟩which means Satan's design in advancing staurolatry to the destruction of thousands of Souls, has too successfully taken place. And this iniquity did he early and gradually advance amongst Christians. I have not been able without astonishment to read the passages related by Austin de civitate Dei Lib.22. Cap. 8. He there speaks of one Innocentis, whom he calls a most Religious Woman, who having a Cancer in her Breast; the most skilful Physicians doubted of the cure. But in her sleep she was admonished to repair unto the Font where she had been Baptized, and there to sign that place with the sign of the Cross, which she did, and was immediately healed of her Cancer. In the same Chapter, he reports that a Friend of Hesperius did from Jerusalem send him some Earth that was taken out of the place where our Lord Christ had been buried; & that Hesperius had no sooner received it but his House which before had been molested with Evil Spirits was rid of those troublesome guests. He giveth an account also, of strange Cures wrought by the Relics of the Martyrs. It was not (he saith) known where the bodies of Protasius and Gervas (holy Martyrs) were buried; but Ambrose had it revealed to him in his sleep; and a blind Man approaching ⟨p. 273⟩near unto the Bodies instantly received his sight. Another was cured of Blindness by the Relics of the Martyr Stephen.