An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

I suppose no one that rightly consider the Circumstances of this Relation will make a scruple about the lawfulness of admitting such Persons to participate in the Holy Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom. All judicious Casuists determine, that those who were either born, or by any accident made Deaf and Dumb, if their Conversation be blameless, and they able by sign; (which are Analogous to verbal expressions) to declare their knowledge and faith; may as freely be received to the Lords Supper, as any that shall orally make the like Profession. Of this judgement was Luther. And Melanchthon (in consil. Part I. Page 268.) Gerhard Loc. Come. Tom. 5. Thes. 226. Alting Loc. Gom. Part I. Page 90. Voetius Disp. […]. Part 2. In appendice de surdis. Balduicus in his Cases of Conscience (Lib.2.C.12.) does confirm this by producing several Instances of Dumb persons admitted to the Communion. Its certain that some such have been made to understand the Mysteries of the Gospel, so as to suffer Martyrdom on that account.

I suppose no one that rightly consider the Circumstances of this Relation will make a scruple about the lawfulness of admitting such Persons to participate in the Holy Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom. All judicious Casuists determine, that those who were either born, or by any accident made Deaf and Dumb, if their Conversation be blameless, and they able by sign; (which are Analogous to verbal expressions) to declare their knowledge and faith; may as freely be received to the Lords Supper, as any that shall orally make the like Profession. Of this judgement was Luther. And Melancthon (in consil. Part I. Page 268.) Gerhard Loc. Com. Tom. 5. Thes. 226. Alting Loc. Gom. Part I. Page 90. Voetius Disp. 〈…〉. Part 2. In appendice de surdis. Balduicus in his Cases of Conscience (Lib.2.C.12.) does confirm this by producing several Instances of Dumb persons admitted to the Communion. Its certain that some such have been made to understand the Mysteries of the Gospel, so as to suffer Martyrdome on that account.

In the Year 1620, one that was Leaf and ⟨p. 295⟩Dumb, being solicited by the Papists to be present at Mass, chose rather to suffer death. It is also a thing known, that Men are able by signs to discourse, and to communicate their sentiments one to another. There are above thirty Mutes kept in the Ottoman Court for the Grand Seignior to sport with: Concerning whom Mr. Ricaut in his History of the present State of the Ottoman Empire (P.62.) reports, that they are able by signs not only to signify their sense in familiar Questions, but to recount Stories, and understand the Fables of the Turkish Religion, the Laws and Precepts of the Alcoran, the Name of Mahomet, and what else may be capable of being expressed by the tongue. This Language of the Mutes is so much in fashion in the Ottoman Court, that almost every one can deliver his sense in it. And that Deaf persons have been sometimes able to write, and to understand what others say to them by the very motion of their Lips is most certain. Camerarius tells us of a young Man and a Maid then living at Nuremberg, who though Deaf and Dumb, could Read and Write, and pher, and by the motion of a mans Lips, knew his meaning. Platerus speaketh of one Deaf and Dumb born, that yet could express his mind in a Table-book, and understood