CHAPTER VII

MIRACLES WERE PERFORMED IN THOSE TIMES BY THE BELIEVERS

THESE accounts are given by Irenæus in those five books of his, to which he gave the title of “Refutation and Overthrow of False Doctrine.” In the second book of the same work, he also shows that even down to his times, instances of divine and miraculous power were remaining in some churches. “Far are they,” says he, “from raising the dead, in the manner the Lord and his apostles did by prayer, yet even among the brethren, frequently in a case of necessity, when a whole church has united in much fasting and prayer, the spirit has returned to the exanimated body, and the man has been granted to the prayers of the saints.” And again, he says, after other observations: “But if they say that our Lord also did these things only in appearance, we shall refer them back to the prophetic declarations, and shall show from them that all those things were strictly foretold, and were done by him, and that he alone is the Son of God. Wherefore, also, those that were truly his disciples, receiving grace from him, in his name performed these things for the benefit of the rest of men, as every one received the free gift from Him. Some, indeed, most certainly and truly east out demons, so that frequently those persons themselves that were cleansed from wicked spirits, believed and were received into the church. Others have the knowledge of things to come, as also visions and prophetic communications; others heal the sick by the imposition of hands, and restore them to health. And, moreover, as we said above, even the dead have been raised and continued with us many years. And why should we say more? It is impossible to tell the number of the gifts which the church throughout the world received from God, and the deeds performed in the name of Jesus Christ, that was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and this too every day for the benefit of the heathen, without deceiving any, or exacting their money. For as she has received freely from God, she also freely ministers.” In another place the same author writes: “As we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in all tongues through the Spirit, and who also bring to light the secret things of men for their benefit, and who expound the mysteries of God.” These gifts of different kinds also continued with those that were worthy until the times mentioned.