' 2 49L/p ■ vsity AN EXACT

RELATION O F T H E

Wonderful CURE O F

MART M A ILL ARD, (Now Wife of the Revd Mr. Henry Briel)

Who was Lame for the firft Thirteen Years of her Life :

And the Manner in which fhe was inftantly Healed, without the Ufe of any Humane

* Application, after a Cure was efteemed impoilible by the Belt Judges.

With feveral Affidavitts before the Rf Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Exhibitions on Oath in the Confiflorj Court of the Right Reverend the Lord Bifhop of London, as well as fundry Certificates.

Together with the Testimonies of feveral Living Witnejfes refpe&ing the fame. *

Alfo a Letter from Dr. Wettwood to the Lady Mayorefs on this Subjedh

With fome Reflections on the whole.

LONDON: Printed for J. Noon, at the White Hart in Cheapfide,

near Metcers-ChappeU M. DCC. XXX.

(

C 3 )

AN EXACT

RELATION Of the Wonderful CURE

O F

Mary MaillardSec. H E following Relation contains ail Account of the Wonderful Cure of Mary Maillard, Daughter of Mn John Maillard and Mrs. Charlotte du cDoznon. She was born at Coignac in Xaintoigne, the 25 th of

September, 16S0. Her Parents were drove from their native Country by the heat of the Perfecu^ tion in France, a few years after her Birth j and they fled to Laufanne in Switzerland, and from thence palled through Germany, and, by way of Holland\ came to England in the year 1689, and brought this Child, being Lame, along with them. They took a Houle near one Mrs. Lau- lan, a French Gentlewoman, who alfo had fled upon account of her Religion, and the Child go¬ ing frequently to fee her, this Lady took fuch a

A 2 fancy

( 4 ) fancy to the Girl, as to take her home to wait on her ; and living in an English Family, this Girl quickly learn'd the Language, and became Mrs, Laulan s Interpreter, and lived with her at the time of this Cure. And about feven Years after, was married to the Revd Mr. Henry Briel> a French Minifter, now living in Rofe-Alley in BF fhopfgate-Jlreet.

Mrs. Briel5; own Relation is as follows.

Few Days after I was born, my Mother dif- jTIl cover’d a Diforder in my Left Hip 5 upon which fhe applied to a Surgeon, and he thought it to be a Tumour, which in time would abate, and as I grew up, wear away. But inftead of aba¬ ting, the Diforder increafed, and when I came to be let on my Legs, my Thigh-bone proved to be out of joint 5 which, becaufe of my pain, was fuppofed to be occafioned by fome Accident in my Birth. And as I grew up, my Thigh-bone was fo much out of its place, as that every ftep I took, it came upwards feveral Inches toward my fhort Ribs, and a large Hollow was forc’d to be cut in my Stays to give the Bone room to play. The Left Leg was feveral Inches fhorter than the other, and by the Thigh-bone’s going outward, the Knee turned inwards, and the Ancle-bone fup- ply’d the Place of the Sole of the Foot 5 and my Shoe for that Foot, was made accordingly much thicker in the Sole, and higher in the Heel, than the other. Notwuhftanding this Help, I went down fo much on one fide, that feveral Perfons,

who

(5) who faw me, were afraid I fhould tip quite down on that fide.

This Lamenefs continued, and was attended with a great deal of Pain, more efpecially againft Change of Weather, until I was upwards of Thir¬ teen Years of Age, notwithstanding my Parents had apply’d to Two Eminent Surgeons in London, without any hopes of Relief: One of which, Mr. De Batty in Leicefter-Fields y told them a Cure was impoffible -y but upon my Mother s preffing him to know if nothing could be done to help me, he order’d fomething to bathe the Part with, but it did me no Service.

On the 26th of Nov ember, 1693, being Sun¬ day y I went to the French Church in Leicefter- Fields, and in the Street, as I came home in the Afternoon, the Boys called me opprobrious Names, reflecting upon my Lamenefs, and proceeded fo far as to throw Dirt upon me 5 which very much affected me, and pierced my very Heart with grief. I went crying home to Mrs. Laulany with whom I then lived, and told her I was very unhappy, in that God had not only laid the Affli&ion of Lame¬ nefs upon me, but alfo in that I underwent the continual Uneafinefs and Fatigue of being thus infulted by the Boys. My Miftrefs told me it was too much for me thus to afflict my felf, and I fhould not begin to afflict my felf now; for I might live a great while, though I was fo Lame, and in all likelihood I muft continue fo the remaining part of my Life. After fhe had thus en¬ deavour’d to quiet me, we went to Supper, and after Supper! took up the New Teftament, which I read in courfe, and was come to the fecond

Chapter

( 6) Chapter of St. Mark, where is related the Cure of the Man fick of the Palfy, and his Friends re¬ markable Faith evidenced in their breaking up the Roof to let him down into the Houfe where our Lord Jefus Chrift was. Whereupon, our Lord tells him, his Sins were forgiven him; at which the Jews murmured, and faid, Chrift Blafphemed, in taking upon him to forgive Sins; and fo I read on to the twelfth Verfe, being very much affe&ed with the Jews Infidelity and Contradi&ion. While I was reading, I thought I would fpeak to my Miftrefs, but was willing to come to the End firft. As foon as I had made an end of the Hiftory of this Miracle, I laid the Book down, and looked upon the Gentlewoman, my Miftrefs, who being indifpofed with the Head-ach, fat by the Fire over- againft me, leaning her Flead againft the Chimney- piece, and faid, Madam, thefe unbelieving Jews were very naught to Blafpheme againft Chrift, and not to believe, when they faw fuch things evi¬ dently before their Eyes ; for my part *, If our Lord were here on Earth now, I would not do like them: I would run immediately to him, and I would firmly believe. Upon which my Thigh-bone gave one fnap, juft as the Words were out of my Mouth, and I faid, Madam, I am Cured. Says my Miftrefs, you are Mad, Child, you have loft your Senfes. No, fays I, I have not, I am not Mad, I am Cured 5 did not you hear a fnap ? Yes, fays my Miftrefs, I heard fomething, it may be in the Fire. No, fays I, it is nothing in the Fire, it is my Thigh 5 I am Cured, I feel no

* Si notre Seigneur etoit fur la terre, je ne ferois pas comme eux:- je courrois bien vite, Sc je croirois bien.

more:

( 7 )

more Pain; mcthinks I hear fomething telling me I am Cured.

I could read no more that Night, but ran a- bout the Room in the greatcll Surprize, leaping and jumping about, looking and wondring at my Shadow, which before was that of a deformed, but now of a perfed upright Body. My Miftrefs was very much furprized to fee me run about in this manner, but fhe could not believe me, that I was Cured, for I ftill Hobbled *. At laft I took a run to her, and laying hold of her two Knees, as fhe fat, prefled them hard together, and faid, I will not let you go until you have felt my Hips; for they are both alike, they are even. My Miftrefs bid me get up, and fhe would; and when upon Examination, fhe found it to be really fo, fhe was as much furprized as I.

While I was thus tranfported with Joy, jump¬ ing about the Room, the Maid of the Houfe, where my Miftrefs lodged, came up to know the Reafon of my making fuch a noife; which was the greater, becaufe of the thick heavy Shoe I had on the Foot that was Lame. The Maid firft knocked at the Door, and I went and opened it; fhe looked in and faid. Alack, Madam, what is the Matter? I call'd out to her, Bridget, God Al¬ mighty has Cured me juft now; and fo I took two or three rounds about the Room, the Maid ftanding in the greateft Surprize to fee me: fhe ran down and told it in the Houfe, and it was noifed about the Neighbourhood that Evening. I went to Bed with my Miftrefs that Night as u- fual, but my Joy and Surprize was fo great, that

* With my old Shoe.

I

( 8 )

I could get no flecp the whole Night, but was frequently fhoving my Miftrefs, faying, Madam, I feel no Pain, I am Eafy, I am Well. Well, laid fhe, thank God for it, and go to flecp 5 but flill my Thoughts were too much taken up with my Cure to be fo diverted 5 and in this Surprize of Joy I fpcnt the Night. The next Morning there was great enquiry made about me before I could get out, and even before I was up. The Lady Margaret Hayes, a Scotch Lady, in Germain- Street, fent her Chamber-Maid to enquire after me, having heard of the Cure 5 but though fhe did not fee me, (he carried her Lady the Report fhe heard in the Houfe.

Mrs. Lanlan went with me that Morning home to my Father's Houfe, who then lived at the Corner of Newport-Alley, near Leicefter-Fields, being a Sword-Cutler. As foon as fhe came into the Shop, where my Mother was, fhe faid, I bring you your Daughter here, and fhe is Cured. My Mother fmiled, and faid, of what > fuppofing I had fomc flight hurt which fhe had known no¬ thing of, and which I was cured of. My Miftrefs replied, nay, it is no Laughing Matter, look on her, fee how fhe goes. My Mother in a great Surprize made fome buftle, which brought in a few Neighbours. And my Brother, about feven years Old, ran for my Father, who was at a Ta¬ vern, at the Corner of Gerrards-Street, with fome Gentlemen about Bufinefs, and told him two Gentlewomen wanted to fpeak with him, thinking he would not come if he knew it was only my Miftrefs and 15 and coming home, and feeing People about the Door, and in the Shop,

he

( 9 )

he was furprized, and thought fomething cxtfaor- dinary was the matter 5 but when he came up to¬ ward the Door, one and another among the Neigh¬ bours, who were got about, met him, and wilh’d him joy of his Daughter’s miraculous Cure. And upon his coming into the Shop, and feeing me go upright, he was fo overcome with Surprize, as to burft out into an excellive Weeping, which was fo loud, as to be heard out into the Street* This (till increafed the number of People about the Houle. Mrs. Laulan carried me home again with her that Day, and kept me a Fortnight 5 but Crouds came fo thick to fee me, that flic was de- lirous I fhould be at my Father’s Houfe, where Multitudes of all Ages, and both Sexes, came to fee me 5 and the Houfe was fo crouded, that I had hardly time to eat.

A few Weeks before I was cured, as I was crof- fing St. James s Square, I was overtaken by a Butcher’s Girl carrying a Joint of Meat in a 1 ray, who walked juft before me, and mocked me, by endeavouring to go lame as I did 5 which very much affefted and grieved me, and though I crol¬ led the Way to avoid her, flic eroded again, and went before me, mocking me, on purpofe that 1 might fee her, which very much {hock’d me 5 ar laid I call’d out, Ton Girl, come hither, and laid to her, If it pleafes God, he can make me Whole, and make you as lam. This gave her a little Check, and fhe feemed dafh’d at it, and went away. Among the Crouds that came to fee me, were feveral Butchers Wives, and this Girl along with them, who, as fhe came up the Stairs to go into the Chamber where I was, law me before I faw

B her.

( 1° ) her, and cried out, before fhe came into the Room, That’s fhe I met in St. James s Square. Upon that I look’d to fee who fpoke, and immediately I laid, That’s fhe that derided me a-while ago in St. James’s Square ; upon which the Girl was ftruck with the greateft Surprize at the remem¬ brance other Folly. And feveral Boys, who came with their Parents to fee me, acknowledged they had followed me with their Reproaches during my Lam en efs.

Dr. Burnet, Bifhop pf Salisbury, and the Bifhop of JVorcefter, Both faw me, and examined me in one Day. Among many other Perfons of Diftinc- tion that faw me, was the Bifhop of London j who order’d me, and feveral of my Friends, to attend him at Doblors Commons ; and there ( after his asking me if 1 knew the nature of an Oath, be¬ ing fo young 5 to which I reply’d, I apprehended that fwcaring falfly was calling God Almighty to witnefs to a Lye, and was a damnable Sin ) ex¬ amined me, before many Witneffes, upon my Oath, as well as feveral other Perfons, who knew me du¬ ring my Lamcnefs, and laid up our original Te- ftimonies refpceding the fame.

A few Days after my Cure, the Lady Sunder¬ land was fpeaking of me, not thinking any of the Family knew me; and feveral of them faid I was frequently at the Houfc, upon Occafion of a French Gentlewoman, who was there. Upon which the Lady fent for me, and when I came, fhe deftred the Relation of my Cure j after which, the Chaplain being called in, we went to Pray¬ er, and then the Lady difeourfed a little more with me, and made me walk feveral times about

the

( 11 ) the Room, and perceiving I had a little Limp in my Gait, fhe thought that Side was a little weak, and offer'd me a Plaifter, and told me it was fuch asfheufed in her own Family to {Lengthen weak Parts: but being Young, and afhamed, I durft not refufe her offer s fhe bid me go home and fhe would fend her Woman with a Plaifter, who fhould put it on for me. As foon as the Plaifter was applied, and my Lady's Woman gone, I pulled it off again, for it was a great uneafmefs to me, whereas before I was perfedly free and cafy. That fame Morning theBifhop of Lincoln came to fee the Lady Sunderland, and fhe asked. What News, my Lord ? Great News, Madam, laid he, for God is ftill among us. Has not your Ladyfhip heard of the little French Girl, that was cured in reading the Scriptures? She laid, yesj the Girl was here juft now, my Lord, and I have fent my Woman to apply a {Lengthening Plaifter to the Part. The Bifhop was furprized, and faid. What Madam, will you help God? For which he reproved her. And after his talking with her, fhe fent her Woman back to take the Plaifter off attain, but fhe found I had pulled it off before fhe came.

I was fent for by Sir JVilliam Aftnirft, who was then Lord Mayor, and examined by him upon Oath. And fcveral Perfons, who knew me, gave their Affidavits, both of my Lamencfs, before November i6thy and of my Cure's being compleat and per fed.

Queen Mary fent four of her Dodors to exa¬ mine me, who having put every body, but my Father and Mother out of the Room, placed me in fcveral Poftures to obferve the Motion of my

B 2 Joint,

(-12 ) joints, and faw nothing but what was perfectly in its proper and right Place. The laid Pofture, was fetting me on the ground, and then they meafured my Legs, and perceived one Leg to be about the Thicknefs of a Crown-piece fhorter than the other, which was the O.ccafion of the Limp¬ ing mentioned before 5 and being asked the Rea- fon of it, They Paid, it might be neceftary to remind me of my former Condition, and of the great Goodnefs of God in my Miraculous Cure; which was fo perfect, as that I was able to walk fcvcral Miles in a Day, without any Pain or Weak- nefs. Particularly, having a Child at Nurfe at Highgate, four or five Miles from London 5 I walked thither, play’d about with the Child fome Hours there, and returned home on Foot the fame Day, and that more than once, without the leaft Pain or Difordcr in that Hip which was cured. ,

This Relation was taken from Mrs. Briel’s own Mouth, January 2d, 17ji- and afterwards care¬ fully reviled by her feIf.

Witnefs, Dennys de Berdt, Blackwcll-hallFador. Jofeph Gabell, Mercer, at the Half-

Moon, in Cheapfide.

Every one that reads this Relation, will readily own it anfwers the Title, and that this really is •a wonderful Cure. But every reafonabie Perfon may fay, What Proof have you of the Truth of this Relation ? By what follows, it will appear to carry with it the fulleft Evidence fuch a thing can be expeded to have,, or dciired to be accompanied with, or attefted by. An

\

( 13 ) An Account of this Cure was publifhed pre¬

sently after it was wrought. That Account not being publifhed with the Knowledge of the Childs Parents, but in a clandcftine Manner, is not fo cor re ft as might be wifhed. However, there be* ing Several Affidavits and Certificates contained in it of Several Perfons, who are not now living; and as Some of thefe were given in upon Oath before Sir Willi am Afhur/l, then Lord Mayor of the City of London7 I Shall here infert them.

The Joint Affidavits of the Father and Mother of the Child.

WE John Maillard, and Charlotte

duDognon, of the Town of Cognac, in Xaintoigne, now living at the Corner of New¬ port-Court, in JVeftminJler, do certify, that Mary Maillard our Daughter was born at Cognac, the 25/A Day of September, 1680, and that about twelve or thirteen Months after fhe was born, we obferved that fhe was very Lame, having a Hollow- nefs in fhe Place where one ufually finds a knit¬ ting of the Thigh-bone in the Hip. The Chirur- geon to whom we fhew’d her at that time, found there was no Pvemcdy for her; fo our Daughter always continued in that condition, and became more and more Lame; infomuch that Since we have lived in this City, that is to fay, Since within thefe four Years and a half, or thereabouts, the Bone of her Thigh was not only higher than it ufed to be 5 but her Knee alfo was turned inward, and the Ancle-bone of her left Foot turned like- t 1 wife

( 1+ ) wife in fuch a manner, that it touched the Ground, and that Leg was fhorter than the other by four Inches, or thereabouts, and which made her go very deformedly, feeling great Pain. About two Years fince we fhewed her to Monfieur cDeBatt> Chirurgcon to the French Refugees, who, having examined her, judged her Difeafe incurable, the Bone having been fo long put out of its Place 5 and therefore he advifed us to chafe it with cer¬ tain Oils, to try if we could alleviate her Pains: which we did, but without any Succefs. About that time, a Gentlewoman, whofe name was Laulan, defired us to let her have her to be an Interpreter to her in English, which we did, and fhe has lived with her ever fince, till now, con¬ tinuing always Lame, and fo deformed, that the little Children were ufed to follow her in the Streets, and to give her many Nick-names, fuch as (truck at her Deformity. She went to the French Church behind Leicejler-Ftelds, on Sun¬ day the 26th of November laft, and coming from thence home, fhe was again followed by the Children, who threw Dirt upon her, and follow¬ ed her with injurious Reproaches, even to St. James's-Alley, near St. James s-Church in Ger- main-Street, where then Lodged Mademoifelle de Laulan, at an English Apothecary's Houfe. Tiiis Evil Treatment put our Girl into fuch a Confter- nation, that fhe went weeping into her Miftrefs s Chamber, who, after Hie had underftood the caule of her Crying, advifed her to read the Holy Scriptures to comfort her, which file did; and in reading the fecond Chapter of the Gofpel of St. Mark, which gave an account of the healing

of

( 15 ) of one fick of the Palfey, and the Incredulity of the Jews; this Girl fhewed a furprize at their Obftinacy, and declared to her Miftrefs, as we have heard from her own Mouth, that if fhe had lived at that time, fhe fhould have had Faith enough to have been healed: And at the fame Inftant Hie felt a great Pain, and heard a Noife that the Bone of her Thigh made, and thought fhe heard a Voice which laid to her, Ihou art Cured. The Crack the Bone made, was heard by her Miftrefs, but not the Voice, as fhe hath told us. However the Matter was, fhe was at the fame Inftant, that is to fay, between feven and eight of the Clock in the Evening, on the fix and twentieth Day of November laft, actually Cured, and continues to be in fo good a Con¬ dition, that fhe now walks ftrait upright, her Legs being of the fame Length 5 her Knee, her Foot, her Hip and Thigh being in their natural Scituation as they ought. This is all that we can fay about the Cure of our Daughter, which we cannot look upon but as miraculous 3 and for which we give our moft humble Thanks to God. In Witnefs whereof, we have iigncd this Certificate in London, this Eighteenth Day of ^Dec ember 1693. Jurant 19 dieDecemh. John Maillard,

1693. coram me, CharlotteduDognon,

The

William Afhurft, Mayor,

The Affidavit of the Child her felf

IM ary Maillard, Daughter of John Mai Hard, and Charlotte da cDognon his Wife;:

do teftify and declare, that ever fince I can re¬ member, from my Infancy, I have been very Lame, and in a great deal of Pain 5 my Hip-bone flick¬ ing very much out, and under the Bone was a great Hollowncfs, which made me go very un- eafy. I have been in England aim oft five Years, and have lived about Sohoe and Ficadilly all the time; and above a thoufand People have fecn me in that miferable Lame Condition. And when¬ ever I ufed to walk abroad, a company of Boys and Girls were wont to flock about me, and follow me; calling me by divers ill and reproach¬ ful Names. My Left Knee and Foot were quite turned inward, and the Sole of my Foot was up¬ wards, fo that I was forced to walk upon my Ancle; which made that fide much (hotter than the other, and that diftorted my Body on both fides as I walked. It pleafed God, that on Sun¬ day, the Six and Twentieth of November laft, 1693, as I came from the French Church behind Leicefter-Fields, in the Afternoon; fevcral rude Boys and Girls that faw me go in that limping and pitiful Pofture, followed, abufuig me in their Language, and throwing dirt at me; which troubled me extrcamly, that I was even ready to cry at their Unchriftian and Barbarous Ufage of me. When I came home to my Miftrefs, Made-

moifelle de Laulan, in St. Jamess-Alley, near St. James's-Church, in Germain-Street s I told

her

. (.*7 )

her how rudely I had been treated by thofe Children: to which fhe anfwered, that I fhould iiot complain of it, but take it patiently, as an Affliftion laid upon me by God, for his own wife Ends, and the carrying on of his Providence in the World. After Supper, about Eight of the Clock in the Evening, I took the New Teftament in French, and read to her the fecond Chapter of the Gofpel of St. Mark, about Chrifts curing the Sick of the Pally 5 and complaining to her of the Incredulity of the Scribes, I Paid to her, ftretch- ing out my Lame Leg, as I was wont 5 MademoF felle, thofe Folk were very naught, that they Would not believe this great Miracle; if there were fuch things done now, faid I, I would run and believe too. And immediately after thofe Words, my Hip-bone fnapt aloud, fo that fhe heard it, but thought it had been fomewhat in the Fire that made that noife. But I replied* Mademoifelle, I am Cured: and with that I role up, and as I thought, heard a Voice fay. Thou art Cured. But fhe told me I was running Mad 5 but I replied, indeed Madam I am Cured : and there¬ upon went up and down the Room as ftrait as I do now, without any Pain at all. Upon which my Miftrefs bid me return hearty Thanks to God, and thereupon we went to Prayers. And I blefs God I continue fo to this Hour. Signed this 18th Day of 'December-, in the Year of our Lord,

1693.

Jurat 19 die^Decemb. The Mark of 1693. coram me, Mary M. A, MaillardJ

William Afhurft, Mayor, C The

( I? )

The Affidavit of Mrs. Laulan, the Miftrefs of the Girl.

IRene'e de Laulan, do certify, that Mary Mat liar dj (commonly called Mariane) Daugh¬

ter of John Maillard and Charlotte du TJog- non, hath lived with me Two Years, or therea¬ bouts, being always very Lame, fo that fhe walked with great Difficulty, and felt extreme Pains. Her Left Leg was confiderably ffiorter than her Right* her Foot was alfo turned inwards, and her Thigh¬ bone was, as far as I could judge, out of its Place. She all along continued in that Condition, till Sunday, the 26th of November lafl 5 when co¬ ming from the French Church behind Leicejler- Fields, befmeared with Dirt almoft all over, and crying, fhe told me that fhe had been very ill ufed by the little Children, who had called her many naughty Names, fuch as chiefly reproached her Deformity. Whereupon I told her, that fhe ought to take it patiently, and comfort her felf in God. At length, after Supper fhe took the New Tcftament 5 and opening the Book, fell upon the Place that fpeaks of the wonderful Cure of St. ‘Peter’s Mother-iiTLaw; and I at the fame time being very ill of an Ague, laid, I had great need of fuch a Phyfician. She continued to read on, and then reading the fecond Chapter of St. Mark j

which fpeaks of the Cure of the Man Pick ot the Pally, ffie feemed to wonder very much at the J (d fly J Incredulity, who would not be convinced upon the fight of fuch a Miracle. It fuch a thing fhouid happen now, laid fhe to me, 1 would run

very

C 19 ) very quickly and believe too. I perceived her then ftretching out her Leg towards me, and look¬ ing upon it as too uncivil a Pofture, bid her draw it in again, and told her that it was not decent. She replied, to excufe her felf, that fhe was in a great deal of Pain 5 but, however, fhe endeavour¬ ed to pull it in. And fuft at that Moment fhe heard the fnap that her Thigh-bone gave, which I heard alio$ but attributed it to fomething in the Fire. She faid to me in a Tranfport of Joy, Mademoifelle, I am healed, my Bone is flipt into its Place again. I anfwered, Mariane, thou art a Fool. Said fhe again, Mademoifelle, I am healed 5 and came to embrace my Knees, telling me that fhe thought fhe heard a Voice, faying unto her, Thou art Healed. She thereupon went to walk in the Chamber, and prayed me to look upon her Legs, which appeared to me then to be of an equal Lengthy and fhe added, that fhe felt no more Pain. This happened on the faid 26th Day of November, 1693. And this is all I can fay of the Flealing of this Girl: I fhaii add only this Proteftation, That neither I my felf, nor any other Perfon as 1 know of, had any fhare, or contri¬ buted in any wife dire&ly or indire&ly towards it; and that the Day following fhe went out of the Lodging, and walked as well as fhe doth now. This is the Teftimony I think my felf obliged to give to the Truth.

London, December the 23 d, 1693.

Jurat 2 8 Decemb. coram me, Ja. Vernon.

Rene'e de Laulan.

C 2 - The

( 20 )

The Affidavit of Monfieur De Batt, Chirurgeon*

I James De Batt, Matter Chirurgeon, a French Refugee, ferving the Poor of the Committee,

do declare, That about two Years ago I was called by Charlotte du Dognon, Mother of Mariane Madlard\ to vifit the faid Mariane ; whom ha- ving examined, I found on her Left Side, firft a Tumour or Swelling, which feenVd to me to be very confiderable, about and a little above the Ca¬ vity of the Ifchium, into which the Head of the Thigh-bone ought to fall. I obferved, fecondly, that the Left Leg was conttderably fhorter than the Right. Thirdly, I took notice that her Leg was turned inwards. Having been fince called, with¬ in thefe ten Days, to vifit her, 1 went thither with Mr. Metayer, a French Minifter, and Mr. cDu- lac, a Gentleman s 1 found the faid Mariane in the following Condition. Firft, the Tumour which I had obferved, appeared to me very in- confiderable, both in feeling and feeing. Second¬ ly, the Left Leg as long as the Right, within very near the thicknels of a Crown Piece. In the third

. * . ' 4

Place, the Left Leg and Foot in the right and na¬ tural pofture and fituation. This is the Tcftimony I render unto Truth, Given at London the 19th of Decembery 1693.

* • . . t. '

Jurat 20 dieDecemb. ' 1693. coram me, James DeBatt.

William Afhurft, Mayor.

The -r?

( 21 )

The Affidavit of Monjieur Lafargue,

ToElor of Thyfick.

I John Lafargue, Doftor of Phyfick, do de¬ clare, that I have known for near thefe two

Years Mariane Maillard, whom I have feen, and with whom I have often fpoken. I have always obferved, when I faw her handing, that her Body bent backwards, and that when fhe walked, fhe threw her felf firft on the one fide, then on the other, as if fhe would have broke her Back. I have not entered into the fame examination con¬ cerning the ftate of her Leg, as Monfieur Tie Batt at that time ; but having feen and vifited her with him to-day, in the prefent Condition wherein fhe now is, I can atteft, that all which he hath faid of her is very true. Given at London the 19th of \December, 1693.

Jurat. 20 die Decemb. ' 1693. coram me,

T. Lafargue. William Afhurft, Mayor.

The Certificate of Monjieur He la Menardiere.

I Do hereby certify that Mrs. Laulan was known in France by many Perfons of worth and

honour, to be a very virtuous, honefl: Woman; and that fince her coming here, upon the account of her Religion, fhe has led a very exemplary, pious Life 5 and is refpe&ed asfuch by all thofe that

know

( 22 ) know her. As to what relates to the Girl fhc has taken into her Service within thefe three Years, who was Lame, and halted to a very confidera- ble degree, having endured violent pains in one of her Hips, from her Infancy ; it is mod certain that fhc was confiderably eas'd on Sunday being the 26th of November. I faw her the very next day my felf, in a condition which has rais'd great admiration in all thofe that had feen her walk the preceding days i her Hip being reftored to its natural condition of it felf, which is look'd upon by every body as an extraordinary Delive¬ rance by the immediate Hand of God, and almod without example. In witnefs whereof, I have lign'd this prefent Certificate. London, December the 25 th, 1 <59 5 •

De la Menardiere*

The Certificate of Daniel Taureau,

I Daniel Taureau, Shoe-maker, living near the Sign of the City of "Paris, in Sohoe, do

cert 1 y, that I have made Shoes for thefe two years lad pad for Mary Maillard, Daughter of Mr. “John Maillard, Sword-Cutler, living at the cor¬ ner of Newport-Comt; andfhe being extremely Lame, and her Foot turning in fuch a manner as that her Ankle touched the Ground, and fo fhe walked upon the inward Quarter of her Shoe ; I was forced to make her one Shoe for her Left Foot higher than the other about four Inches. Se¬ condly , to drengthen the inward part of that Heel,

by 1

( 23 ) by putting there a piece of Leather confiderably thicker than on the outfide. Thirdly, to double the inward Quarter of that Shoe, by putting to it an¬ other ftrong Leather to keep the Ankle of her Loot from touching the Ground, and from hurt¬ ing her as fhe walked. I declare alfo, that I took notice, that when I made her a pair of new Shoes, I found the old ones, in the inward Quarter of the Left Shoe, extremely worn, and the Sole but very little, notwithftanding all the care I had taken. In witnefs whereof I have figned this Cer¬ tificate at MTefimirfier, this 26th day of Decem¬ ber, 1693.

The ordinary Mark of Daniel 2). T. Taureau.

The Certificate of Monfieur James Gorgo, a Swifs,

I Underwritten, ]amesGorgo? born in Switzer¬ land, Gun-fmith, living at prefent in Grafton-

ftreet> Sohoe, in JVefiminfter, at the Sign of the Lance, do hereby Certify, That while I lived in the City of Xaintes, the Metropolis of Xaintonge, I lodg'd in the Houfe of one Joguet, Sword-Cut¬ ler, where I have often feen Mary Maillard his Niece, Daughter to John Maillard and Charlotte duDognon, who was about a Twelve-month old, and excecdine: lame. I alfo declare that I have

CD

feen her within thefe four years and a half in this City, at my own Houfe, in which her Father and Mother lodg'd for fome time, ftill very lame* and

in

( 24 ) * * / #

in fo deplorable a condition, that being thereby mov'd to compaflion, I refolved to make her a kind of an artificial Leg, to fupport her; but yet 1 did not do it, by reafon of her Father and Mo¬ ther'^ wgiigence. This is all I have to fay about t lis Girl, excepting that fhe is now no longer Lame 5 and that her Father and Mother, whom I have all along known to be very honeft People, have allur'd me that fhe was Miraculoudy Cur'd on Sundaybeing the 26th of November laft paft, without the leaf! humane Affiftance. Londont^De- cember the 18 th, 1693.

] Ames Gorgo.

The Certificate of Mr. Daniel Demier.

I Daniel Demier, of the City of Xaintes, li¬ ving at prefent in Quaker fir eet, in Spittle-

fields, at Mr. TDu Vivier s, Gawze-maker, do here¬ by Certify, that I have known Mary Maillard ever fince fhe was three years of Age, or thereabouts ; having feen her, at that time, at her Father’s Houfe, John Maillard, Sword-Cutler, at Coignac in Xaintonge, exceeding Lame. I have feen her fince in the fame condition in this City. And do further declare, that 1 have feen her upright, and perfe&Jy cured within thefc three Weeks; and that her Father and Mother, who have always been reputed very honeft People, have afllir’d me, that after having been lame for the fpace of thirteen Years, or thereabouts, fhe was miraculoufly curd on Sunday, being the 26th of November laft paft,

without

( 25 ) without the lead humane A Alliance. In witneft whereof I have hereunto fet my Hand. London, December the 18 th, 1693.

Daniel Demier.

The Certificates of Mr. Thomas Strutt,

and Eleanor Harding.

WE Thomas Strutt, Matter of the Stan¬ dard Tavern in Leicefler-Fields, and

Eleanor Harding, Servant in the faid Houfe 3 do teftify and declare, That we have feveral times taken notice of a French Girl, as fhe paft by the Door, who walked in a very lamentable lame manner, which moved in us a great concern and pity for her : we have underftood fince, that her Name * is Mary Maillard, the Daughter of a Sword-Cutler. On Monday the 18th of Decem¬ ber, 1693, fhe was brought to our Houfe, and we both faw her there go very upright and ftraight j and upon enquiry, fhe allured us that fhe was cu¬ red on the 26th of November laft, upon reading the fecond Chapter of the Gofpel of St, Mark, by the immediate Hand of Providence, without any humane Art or Means.

Signed the 26th of Thomas Strutt,

Decemb. 1693. Eleanor Harding.

When this Affair was frefh in every one’s mind, it was thought a thing fo remarkable and wor¬ thy of Notice, that the Lord Bifhop of London,

D (as

( 26 ) (as is related in the Narrative) fent for the Girl and her Friends to Dohlors-Commons, and there took their Affidavits, a Copy of which follows. The Originals of them are to be found in Mr. Skeltons Office, which is the Regiftry of the Con-

Jiftory Court of the Lord Bifhop of London, where any Curious Perfon may fee them.

Recovery

Mary Maillard.

The 7th of February, 1693-4.

CHarlotte du Dognon, Wife of John Mail¬ lard, now of the Parifh of St. Anne, in the

County of Middlefex, Sword-Cutler, the natural and lawful Mother of Mary Maillard\ now aged about Thirteen Years and Four Months, Depofeth, by virtue of her Oath, That her laid Daughter, Ma¬ ry Maillard, ever fince fhe began to go, which was about the Age of Twelve or Thirteen Months, fhe perceived to be Lame j and that ever fince, the older flic grew, the lamer fhe was : which con¬ tinued upon her until her laid Age of Thirteen Years and Four Months, asabovefaid.

Charlotte du Dognon.

Rodem Die.

JAmes De Batt, of the Parifh of St. Martins in the Fields, in the County of Middlefexy

Chirurgcon, depofeth, by virtue of his Oath, That he

C 27 ) he was defined by Charlotte du T>ognon, Wife of John Maillard, of the Parifh of St. Anne, in the County of Middlefex, Sword-Cutler, to vifit Mary Maillard, her Daughter, about her Lame- nefs 5 and that he found the faid Mary Maillard very much indifpofed, by reafon of a great pain in her Hip : and that upon viewing and exami¬ ning of her upon her Bed, naked, in the firft place he found a Tumour upon her Hip-bone* near the Place where the Bone ufually doth lie. Secondly, that he found the lame Leg was about two op three Fingers {hotter than the other. Third¬ ly, that he found the Foot of the lame Leg turn¬ ing inward, and that after his View and Exami¬ nation of the Indifpofition of the faid Mary Maillard, he told her Mother, the faid Charlotte du T^ognon, that he looked upon her Daughter to be incurable, only he advifed her to order fome Fomentations to be applied to her faid Daugh¬ ter's Hip, to appeafe the Pain, and that fhe fhould from time to time purge her. And he further depofeth, that within thefe five or fix Weeks, he hath again vifited the faid Mary Maillard, and that he then found the Tumour of the lame Leg confiderably abated, and the lame Leg fo long as the other within the thicknefs of about a Crown* piece, and the Foot ftreight.

James De Batt*

V

( 28 )

Die prx ditto.

JGhn Lafargue, of the Parifh of St. Giles in the Fields, in the County of Middle [ex>

Phyfician, depofeth, by virtue of his Oath, That he hath known the abovemention d Mary Mail- lard for about two Years laft paft, fhe being then very much indifpofed with a Lamenefs and Sway¬ ing from one fide to the other as fhe walked ; and that about fix Weeks fince, he vifited her with the aforefaid Mr. De Batt, and that he then found the Tumour of her lame Leg confiderably abated, and the former lame Leg very near as long as the other, or at lead within the thick- 11 efs of about a Crown-picce, and her Foot ftreight.

John Lafargue.

JOhn ]or tin, of the Parifh of St. Anne, in the County of Middlefex, Doclor in Phyiick,

depofeth, by virtue of his Oath, That having vi¬ fited Mary Maillard, Daughter of the aforelaid John Maillard\ who had been very Lame here¬ tofore from her Infancy, as this Deponent hath heard, he found her Flip-bone returned to its right Place, and the Tumour very much abated, and her former lame Leg as long as the other, within the thicknefs of about a Crown-piece, and her Foot much ftreightcr than he had leen it be¬ fore.

John ]ortin.

‘Die

( 29 ) T)ie prrediAo. MAry Maillard, Daughter of John Mail-

lard, and of Charlotte du \Dognon, now- living in the Parifh of St. Anne, in the County of Middlefex, aged Thirteen Years and about Pour Months, depofeth, by virtue oi her Oath, That ever fince fhe can remember, fhe was very Lame j and during moft of the Time of fuch her Lamenefs, fhe had a great Pain in her Hip : but more particularly fhe, this Deponent, faith, that fuch her Pain was worfe in the Winter, except fome few Days of intermiftion 5 and that on or about the 26th Day of November laft pall, being then at the Houfe of her Miftrefs, Mrs. Laulan, and reading the fecond Chapter of St. Mark, com cerning the Cure of the Paralytick, fhe, this De» ponent, told her faid Miftrefs, that if ilie had lived in Jefus Chriffs Time, fhe would have run and believed too $ and being then fitting in a little low Chair, her lame Leg being ftretched out or extended, and drawing her faid lame Leg in, her Hip-bone on a fudden did fnap and come into its right Place or Situation : whereupon fhe arofe, and walked much more ftreight than fhe ufed to do before, and ever fince found her felf to grow ftronger and ftronger, without any Pain at the Bone's returning to its right Place, or fince *.

The Mark of Mary Maillard.

* She had a Plainer Pent from the Countefs of Sunderland, which fhe apply’d to the Part, but was of no Ufe; fo that in a few Days fhe pull’d it off again. This Paragraph was interlined by another Hand af¬ ter the Affidavit was made, which is the Reafon it was not inferted a~ hove as part of the Affidavit„

Rene'e

( 30 )

REne'e De Laulan, of the Parifh of St. Anne, in the County of Middlefex, Widow, by

virtue of her Oath, depofeth, That about three Years fince, fhe took Mary Maillard into her Ser¬ vice, at which Time fhe was very Lame, her Hip¬ bone being out, in which Condition fhe conti¬ nued till the Twenty-fixth Day of November laft, this Deponent living then in the Parifh of St. James s JVeftminfler. Upon which Day, read¬ ing in the New Teftament after Supper, to this Deponent, when fhe came to that Pafiage in the fecond Chapter of St. Mark, which relates to the Story of the Man fick of the Palfy, whom our Saviour Cured, and of the Unbelief of the Scribes and Pharifees, the faid Mary Maillard faid to this Deponent, her Miftrefs, that thofe were very wicked People that would not believe what they faw ; and if fhe had fuch an Opportunity, fhe would make hafte to get to him, and be Pure to believe. Upon which Words, this Deponent having reproved her for fitting with her Leg ftretched out, as fhe was drawing it up, it gave a great Crack, which this Deponent heard, from which Moment all her Pain ceafed. She asked this Deponent if fhe did not hear a Crack 5 which, fhe faid, fhe did, and thought it was fomething in the Fire : to which the faid Mary Maillard re* ply’d, No, it is my lame Leg, the Bone of which is come into its Place. Which this Depo¬ nent would not believe for fome time, till fhe had feen her walk, and felt the Place, where the great Hollow was when the Bone was out, filled

up,

( n ) up, and the Part where it ftuck out before fallen, flat.

Rene'e De Laulan.

February the 7th, 1693-4.

WHich Day appeared perfonally John Mail- lardy of the Parifh of St. Anne’s Weft:-

minftery in the County of Middle [ex y Sword- Cutler, the natural and lawful Father of Mary Maillardy who depofed, by virtue of his Oath, That his faid Daughter was Lame of the Left Side or Hip, ever ftnee the faid Mary was about Twelve Months old 5 but by what Accident the faid Mary became fo Lame, this Deponent cannot de- pofe s otherwife than that his Wife hath told him, that he might have done it fome time by tolling her up in his Arms $ but that fhe ftill continued worfe and worfe, as fhe grew up in Age 5 and that Charlotte du'Dognon, this Deponent's Wife, got her viewed by one Mr. T)e Batty a Chirur- geon, who declared to this Deponent's Wife, that he could do her no good. And he further faith, that three or four Days before the Recovery of her Lamenefs, he met her in the Street, and fee¬ ing her go very Lame, he ask'd her whether fhe could not go otherwife than fwaying up and down 5 to which fhe replied, that Ihe could not do it. But that after the Expiration of the faid three or four Days, the faid Mary Maillard’s Mi- ftrefs brought her to this Deponent's Houfc, be¬ ing on the 27th Day of November laft pad, which was the Day after her Recovery i at which time

( 32 ) file Teemed to him to be pretty well recovered of her faidLamenefs, except a little Weaknefs which remained. Which is all he can depofe *.

Jean Maillard.

In order to obtain the fulled Satisfaction pot jfible, relating to this Affair 5 at the Defire of Tome valuable Perfons, who have lately Teen Mrs. Brief, inquiry has been made of feveral Per- fons now living; concerning this wonderful Cure. The Subdance of what they fay is as follows.

James Got go knew Mary Maillard perfectly well from her Cradle, and remembers The was exceeding Lame for the firft Thirteen Years of her Life, and fince has feen her well.

And upon {hewing him the Certificate before- mentioned, he acknowledged he had given fuch a Certificate, and the Contents were very true.

Mr. James Gorgo is a Hojler in Chappel- ftreet, uehind St. James’s Church.

James Gamaury and his Wife, Both knew her perfectly well, and can tedify the Truth of her being exceeding Lame in her young Days, and that flic has been very well for a great many Years pad 5 and he offer’d, if his Tedimony was not credited, to go with me to feveral Perfons, who would certify the Truth of it.

* The Clerk in Court, who drew up thefe Affidavits, has put the Word Hip for Thigh in feveral Places ; which, as well as any other lk InconeCtnels of Expreffion, mult be accounted for by his not being fully Mailer of the Cafe.

Mr,

( 3 3 j

Mr. James Gamaury lodges at a T lumber's, at the Sign of the Crown and Horfe-fhoe in Arl- ftreet, near the Seven Dials.

John La Coar knew Mary Maillard before her Cure, and fays fhe was exceeding Lame.

, Mr. John La Cour is a Hatter in Rider’s Court, near Leiceftcr-Fields.

Elizabeth Mariouneau knew the French Girl that lived at the Corner of Me\Z'port~ylHey, and her knowledge of her was after this manner. She often having occafion to go that way, took no¬ tice of this poor Child, as a Perfon in a deplo¬ rable Condition, and pitied her mightily; and hearing the News of a Miraculous Cure, went, as other People did, to fee the Perfon; whom fhe found, to her great Surprize, to be the very fame, that before fhe had obferved and pitied.

Mrs. Mariouneau is the Wife of Mr. Ma¬ riouneau, a Shoe-maker in Rider’s Court.

Sufanna Feret has lived Forty Years in tile fame Houfe where fhe now lives, which being over again!! Mr. Maillards, fhe faw his Daughter al- mofl every Day, both before and after the Cure was wrought ; and fays, fhe went fo exceeding Lame, as frequently to be follow’d by Boys, re¬ proaching her, and throwing Dirt upon her; and fhe faw her often go flrait after her Cure, and very well remembers the Crouds of People that were continually flocking to fee her. The Thing was not doubtful or uncertain, but publickly known to be true. She alfo told me, I might

E have

( 34 ) have the fame Satisfaction by inquiring over the Way, of Mr. John F)e Seret and his Wife.

Mrs. Sufanna Peret keeps a Fan-Shop at the Corner of Newport Alley, near Leicefter-Fields.

John cDe Seret knew the Girl perfcftly well before her Cure, and fays, fhe went down fo much on one Side, that he often ufed to fear, and fay, That poor Child will tip quite down on that fide. He alfo fays, he and his Wife had made Affidavit of their knowledge of her Lamenefs, but could not teli where it was lodged.

Mr. John Dc Seret is a Silver-Smith in New¬ port Alley.

Margaret Megee} who at the time of this Cure, and fome Years before, lived next Door to the Standard Tavern in Leicejler-Fields, knew this Girl perfectly well, during her Lamenefs, whofe Name fhe afterwards underftood to be Mary Mail-

lardy and fays, flic was exceeding Lame, and went down fo much on one Side, that fhe often thought fhe was ready to tip down 5 and that it was a very common thing for the Boys to infult her, and throw Dirt upon her 5 and that many a time file has taken her into her Shop, to fheltcr her, and reproved the Boys, and fent them away.

She believes fhe faw her a few Days before her Cure, and not many Days after, and then fhe went Strait and Upright, and had Shoes of equal Height and Thicknefs, and that ffie went with one Friend and another near Twenty times to fee her 5 and one Day a Doftor was there, who ob- ferving her to limp a little, put a Crown piece under the Foot that had been Lame, and that let

her

C 3 5 )

her perfectly upright. And fhe remembers the time of the Cure to be in November, 1693 5 and at that time the Fact was fo publickly known, that, whereas before this Cure, fhe was derided for her Deformity, it was afterwards the com¬ mon Cry, There goes the Girl that was Cured; infomuch that it was troublefome for her to pals through the Neighbourhood.

Mrs. Margaret Megee lives near the White Lion Inn in Iflington, not far from the Turn¬ pike.

Martha Jenkins fays, fhe has lived Forty Years in the fame Houfe where fhe now lives, and, that at the time of this Girl’s Cure, as well as fome time before, Mrs. Megee had the one half of her Shop ; and that fhe, as well as Mrs. Megee, knew this French Girl very well, and fhe has feen her go by the Door wonderful Lame. And fomc- times fhe came into her Shop to fet down to reft her 5 at other times to be fhelter’d from the Boys. Mrs. Jenkins faw her not many Days after her Cure, and went with a great many Friends to her Father’s Houfe; and the Girl, for their Satif- fa&ion, got up and walked upright before them round the Room.

Mrs. Martha Jenkins is a Linen-Hraper next TDoor to the Standard Tavern in Leicefter-Fields.

The Reverend Mr. Henry Briel teftifies, That he has been Married to Mrs. Mary Maillard near Thirty Years, and never knew any Diforder or Weaknefs in the Thigh which was Lame; not- withftanding many fore Trials, great Difficulties,

E 2 and

(30 and uncommon Fatigues, which they have un¬ dergone during that time.

And what is (till very remarkable, is, that fhe has been often affli&ed with the Rheumatifm, and now is quite Lame therewith on the Right Side ; but the Left Side, which was thus won¬ derfully Cured, is not affe&ed therewith, but {till remains Sound, Ufeful, and free from Pain.

There was alfo in the Account at firft Printed, a Letter from Dr. IVellwooct to the Lady A fur ft, which very cxa&ly fhews the Nature of the Girls Diforder, and has many Thoughts in it deferving to be re-publifh’d, and is as follows.

To the Right Honourable the Lady Ashurst,

Lady Mayorefs of London.

Madam, IN defiring me to give my Opinion about the fo much talk'd of Cure of Mary Maillard\

your Ladyfhip puts upon me a harder Task, than perhaps you imagine it can be. My Stars never defign’d me for a Bigot on the one hand, nor an Atheift on the other. Let any body judge then, if I be in a fair way to become a Favourite of the Age we live in : It is hard to fay which of thcfe two forts of Men, who degenerate into Brutes, deferves moft the fcorn and hatred of the wifer part of Mankind. I fhall not take upon me to decide their Pretenfions 5 only, Madam, give me leave to lay, the Atheift, (though the greater Rebel to his Maker) is yet the cafielt of the

two >

( 37 ) two towards his Fellow-Creatures, whom he does not hurt, unlefs it be when his Appetites, Paf* fions, or Immoralities fet him on forbidden Game : And then indeed it is a Sport to him to do all the Mifchief that is in his way, being un¬ der no inward reftraint; yet his impious Opini¬ ons are but lazy Speculations, which do lefs Mif¬ chief to others. Whereas the Bigot is never at cafe, till the Flames of his blind Zeal have fet all the World on fire about him : While the other hugs himfelf in his own Folly, without de¬ claring War againft his Neighbours for not being fo mad as himfelf. Both the one and the other are out of all hazard of falling under the weight of that Axiom, He that increafes in Knowledge, increafes in Sorrow. Ignorance firft mifleads them, and then it fhuts up all Avenues to reclaim them. In fhort, Madam, of all Trades I know, it re¬ quires the leaft Stock of true Wit to fet up for an Atheift or Bigot 5 but the greateft Stock of falfe Shews of it to fupport either : For the plain Senfe of Mankind lies ftrongly both againft the one and the other.

There are two Extremes of Opinion that relate to thefe oppofite Ranks of Men. Some are in¬ clinable to believe every Matter of Fad thats told them, which feems to ferve their particular Opinions or Notions of Religion. They do as eafily believe the Fad in queftion, as they are for¬ ward prefently to afcribe it to a fuper-natural Caufe 5 and conclude a Man to be an impious Per- fon, that fhall dare to queftion either the one or the other i that fhall either doubt of the Fad, or fhall go about to fhew from what natural Caufes

( 3* ) it might have arifen. Others again take up a form’d Refolution to disbelieve every thing they cannot account for or explain. And let it bear never fo many Signatures of Truth, and of its being effeded by a fuper-natural Power, they are refolv’d either to cry it down as an Impofturej or otherwife, if there be no place for denying it, to afcribe it to fome natural Caufe, to the Force of Imagination, Accident, and I know not what. It is not eafy to determine which of thefe two Extremes ought the moft to be fhunn’d, or dif- covers the worft Temper. The firftarifes out of a weaknefs of Mind, or a partiality to Opinions : For the very fame Perfon who does eafily believe an extraordinary thing when it feems to favour his own Scd, is as politively determin’d againfl believing it, if it had happen’d out of that Com¬ munion to which he belongs. The other difeo- vers a prophane Arrogance of Temper, and an im¬ pious Averfion to every thing which may ftreng- then Men’s Perfuafions about Religion, which he hates on all fides, reckoning that the Priefts of all Religions are the fame.

The Mean betwixt thefe two, is to refolve on believing nothing that is extraordinary, but upon very great and full Evidence. In fhort. Men are apt even to lye, or amplify (which is a lying in fome degree) and therefore we have a right to fuf- pend our Belief, and to examine well the Fad when any ftrange thing is told us 5 and this is what every wife Man ought to do. But when the Averment of the Fad is full, then every Enquirer into Nature, ought to confider how far the Pow¬ ers of Nature may have co-operated to the Effed

in

( 39 )

in queftion. As for inftance, Imagination has certainly great force in giving a ftrong motion to the Blood and Animal Spirits, which may clear Obftrudions, alter the Mafs of Blood, and allay its Fermentations. There are alfo great Secrets in Nature, and many wonderful Vertues in Plants and Minerals, as well as in Animals ; which Ob- fervation, as well as lucky Accidents, bring every Day to our knowledge. So that we cannot cer¬ tainly define the extent of Nature, or the com- pafs of Second Caufes $ yet from Theory and Ob¬ servation we may come to frame a general Scheme of what lies in the road and courfe of Nature, and what is fo much out of it, that we have rea- fon to afcribe it to a fuperior and fuper-natural Power. To be flow in believing, and fevere in inquiring after unufual things, carries with it the Charaders of a truly Inquifitive and Philofophi- cal Mind. Yet after all, to reject a thing when the Truth of it is apparent, and to impute it to Second Caufes, when we do not fee the leaf!: Shadow of any one, gives a ftrong prefumption of a fecret hatred of all Religion and Vertue$ that I had much rather fall under the Cenfures, and even the Scorn of that Tribe, than be cor¬ rupted by fo peftilential and fpreading a Conta¬ gion.

To come to the Cafe of the French Girl: Your Ladyfhip has fecn her, as fhe is now, and has heard it fworn by feveral Perfons, whom you have no caufe to disbelieve, how fhe was before. It's certain fhe was monftroufiy Lame from her Childhood, till the 26th of November laft, and Tis as certain, fmee that time till now, fhe goes

ftrait.

( 40 ) ftrait. How fhe came to be curd in an inftanfy is the Queftion 5 and fuch a one, as I am not able to determine. But to give your Ladyfhip all the Satisfadion I can in fo difficult a Matter, and that you may be better enabled to judge of fo furpri- zing an E fifed, I fhall, in as few Words as pot ftble, fet down the Manner, Caufes, and Confe- quents of her Lamenefs, fo far as they occur to me from any thing I know in Anatomy ; and in the next place, fhall inquire how far the Cure of it, as it’s fworn to, can be afcrib’d to a natural Influence.

For the firfl: *> It appears by the Affidavits you fent me. That when fhe came to be about Thir¬ teen Months old, fhe was then firfl obfervd to be Lame > and forne time thereafter, there ap- feard a Hollownefs in the Flace where one ufu- ally finds the knitting of the Thigh-bone to the Hipy as alfo a confderable Swelling a little above that Flace, to give it in their own Words. In procefs of time fhe grew worfe and worfe9 and not oyily the Thigh-bone became both higher up and fhorter than it usd to bey but her Knee> and the Ankle-bone of that Leg turnd inwards, fo that fhe went upon the Ankle, the Sole of her Foot turning upwards; and all this attended with a great deal of Fain. Here, Madam, you have the Hiftory of the Difeafe; and all thefe Symptoms are the natural and fome of themy the neceffary Ejfeff of a difiocation of the Thigh¬ bone.

To render this the more intelligible, give me leave. Madam, to lay down a fhort Hint of the natural Strudure of the Parts here alfeded. The

... Thigh-

< 4i ) Thigh-bone has at the upper end a round Held $ this is receiv’d by a large Cavity of the Hip-bone* and is detain’d and fix’d therein by two ftrong Ligaments> one that encompaffes the brim of the Cavity, and another that fprings out of the bottom of it, and is inferted into the tip of the round Head of the Thigh-bone, in order to the movement of the Thigh, and confequently of the whole Body. Nature has wifely accompany’d thefe Bones with Cartilages, Mufcles, Tendons, and Ligaments, which are all of them to varioufly plac’d and iituated, as to anfwer every beck of the fenfitive Soul, in moving either backwards or forwards, to the injide, to the outfide, or ob~ liquefy.

This being the natural ftru&ute of the. Parts'* a diflocation of the Thigh happens, when the round Head of the Thigh-bone is by fame vio¬ lence difplac d out of the large Cavity of the Hip¬ bone. This cannot happen but by fome violent force, becaufeof the ftrengthof the Mufcles that help to keep the Bone in its proper Place, of the depth of the Cavity where it is lodg’d, and the ftrength and fhortnefs of the Ligaments I have nam’d. The longer fuch a diflocation lafts, the lefs it is curable, feeing by it the Ligaments and Mufcles muft be greatly relax’d $ and fo much the more, if the Patient walk about, as this Girl did ; For the more flrefs fhe puts on that Leg, the more muft thefe Parts be relax’d 5 they bearing, in fuch a cafe, moft, if not all, the weight of that fide of the Body, which the Thigh-bone fihould have done, if it had been in its proper place.

F It 9

3

( 42 ) . . It’s to me beyond all quedion, that in the Cafe

of this poor Refugee, there was a luxation or dis¬ location of the Thigh-bone, fuch as I have ex¬ plain’d : And of the Four Kinds of it, reckon’d up by Anatomids, it mud nccedarily have been that they call A Ttifiocation outwards, A hoi- lownefs on the Tlace of the Joint, a confidera- ble Tumour a little above it, the Thigh-bone of that fide being both higher and fhorter than the other, a conflant Tam attending, with a turn¬ ing inwards of the Knee and Ankle, and a turn¬ ing upwards of the Sole of the Foot, are all of them agreed by Anatomids and Surgeons to be undoubted Signs, as well as neceffary Confequents of this kind of didocation. The Place of the joint mud needs have appear’d hollow, partly for want of the Cavity’s being fill'd up with the round Head of the Thigh-bone, and partly from the rifing Tumour above it. The Tumour it felf has been nothing clfc but the round Head turn’d out¬ ward with the Mufclcs and fiefhy Parts around it. The Pain was owing to the drctching of the Ligaments and nervous Parts, and to their fup- plying the Office of the Thigh-bone, in fudain- ing that fide of the Body : The Bone mud needs appear fhorter from the thruding of its Head higher than the Cavity for which it was naturally de- fign’d. The Didorfion of the Knee proceeds partly from the relaxation of thefe Mufclcs and Ten¬ dons that ferve to move the Thigh outwards, and partly to the relaxation more on one fide than the other of that Ligament I mention’d, which incompafics the brim of the Cavity of the Hip¬ bone. The like Contorfion of the Ankle is owing

to i

C 43 )

to the former, and to the ftrefs the poor Girl was oblig’d to lay upon the diflocated Thigh, by walk¬ ing, occafion’d through the narrownefs of her Cir- cumftances.

Thus much, Madam, for the Manner, Caufes, and Confequents of the Girl’s Diftemper. Nei¬ ther has it any weight to objed againft its being a Didocation, that her Parents remember not the precife Time nor Manner how fhe came by it 5 for we fee every Day Examples of Children dif¬ located in the fame maimer, without their Pa¬ rents being able to tell when and how they be¬ came fo 5 the Bones of young Children being much more eafily put out, than thofe come to Age, and they being more obnoxious to Acci¬ dents through Errors of People about them.

To trouble your Ladyfhip with the ordinary manner and method of Cure in this cafe, would feem altogether needlefs,iince every body of com¬ mon Senfe will tell you, it’s done by putting the Thigh-bone in its proper 'Place $ that is, by bring¬ ing back the Plead of it into the Cavity of the Hip-bone, and keeping it there. This is done with no fmail difficulty, even when the difloca- tion is recent 5 where, many times, both the Sur¬ geon and his Affiftant are forc’d to imploy their utmofl: ftrength, and the belt of their dexterity and skill.

But when the Diflocation is of a long Banding, as it was with this Maid, mod Surgeons and Ana¬ tomies look upon the Cafe as deplorable, if not defperate. Among a great many others, thefe fol¬ lowing Reafons may be given for it. 1. The Ca- •vity of the Hip-bone, for want of the Head of

F 2 the

( 44 )

the other Bone to play in it, muft needs, in pro- ccfs of time, be fill’d up with that Mucilaginous Matter, which the Gland, fituated in the bottom of it, does conftantly furnifh for the Lubrication of the joint. Being once thus fill’d up, either in whole, or in a conliderable part, it becomes un¬ fit to re-admit the Head of the Bone diflocated, for want of room. And this the rather, that of all the Mucilaginous Glands, fituated upon the joints of Humane Bodies, this Gland, by the wife Providence of Nature, is the larged, and difeharges the molt Matter. If it were not for this con¬ ftant Supply, the greateft Torture that could be inflided on a Criminal, were but to oblige him to walk. 2. The conftant afflux of Humours, even in the ordinary courfe of Nutriment, upon the Head of the Bone diflocated, mult render it in a little time too big to re-enter its proper Cavity $ the conftant attrition of the Parts having prevent¬ ed that Inconvenience, while it flay’d in its na¬ tural fituation. 3. Nature having once accuftom’d it feIf to a Pofture out of its ordinary Road, it makes the beft it can of Necefiity, and feldom or never of it fclf, changes a tolerable Evil for a hazardous Good. Laftly, tho’ the Bone fhould be got fet again, even when recent, it’s yet eafily put out again by the leaft Motion or Accident j becaufe, by the Diflocation, the Mufcles and Li¬ gaments are either render’d feeble, or relax'd, or broken, and confequently very unable to fix the Thigh'bone in its place lo firm as it ought to be.

Now, Madam, upon the whole matter, I do not lee it good Manners to queftion the Fact, fince the prefect State of the Peribn is yifible to all the

; ~ ' 1 ' ' Worlds

( 45 )

World a and her former Condition was fo well known to.fuch Numbers that do atteft it. And tho* the extraordinary Suddcnnefs of the Change cannot be maintain'd by fo many Witneffes, there being but one other Perfon prefent -y yet, as other Witneftes law it in a very little time afterwards, fo there are very many that know how fhe was the Day before, and the Day afterwards, which do reafonably enough fupport the want of variety of proof, for the inftantaneous Change that was made. Therefore I cannot fee what is pollible to be faid as to the Fad.

1 would not pretend to be Philofopher, Phy- fician, or Anatomift enough to fay what Nature can do 5 but there having been no Applications us'd either outward or inward, and no Operation of Surgery, even of the flighted kind, interpos'd ; I confefts, I cannot imagine what probable or poi- iible colour there is for aferibing this to any Na¬ tural or Second Caufe, that yet occurs to me. And therefore am not afhamed to own, that there is fomething in it which I cannot well compre¬ hend, and fhall not be angry with any body that fhall aferibe it to fomething above, or out of the Road of Nature.

The only Ob/edion againft this, is, that a lit¬ tle Lamenefs, a fmall and fcarce difcernable Halt¬ ing ft ill remains. From which fome may think it reafonable to infer, ftnee God does not work Miracles by halves, this is not to be afcribed to him. It's true, the one Leg is a little fhorter than the other, which may arile from a fhrinking of the Nerves, or want of Nutriment, that do na¬ turally flow from fo long and great a Diflocation.

If

( 4« )

If the halting did proceed from a loofencfs of feeblenefs of what’s now put in joint, the Ob- jedion would indeed be ftronger s for the thing this poor Creature wanted, was the firmnefs of the union between the upper and lower parts of her Body. This depriv’d her of the ufe of her Limbs, and put her to perpetual pains 5 all which is now entirely chang’d, fo that the Work is com¬ plete. And tho’ it may be fuitable to the infinite Goodnefs of the fupreme Mind to give Inch a Perfon the entire ufe of her Body, yet an exalt flraitnefs being only a part of the Ornament of the Body, there is not that reafon to exped a fecond Miracle, (tho’ the firfl had been one) for the firetching out the Leg to an exad equality with the other 5 fince, probably enough, that may come in time of it felf, the halting being now fcarce difcernible, and, as you know, very incon- fiderable.

If it were worth your while, Madam, I could give your Ladyfhip an account of very furprizing Effeds produc’d in fome People by a rapid turn of the animal Spirits. And if I fhould tell you, that it were no derogation from the Miracles our Saviour wrought upon Earth, that a flame of Ima¬ gination fetting the animal Spirits in a fwiflt motion, and thereby raiflng a new Fermentation in the Mafls of Bloody might co-operate to the wonderful Changes that were made upon the Per- fons he heal’d 5 tho’ I fhould fay all this, I fhould not perhaps contradid the Principles of Philofo- phy, nor the Occonomy of Faith. For we find in holy Writ, that there was requifite towards their Cure, a belief of the Power of the Opera¬

tor >

( 47 )

tor 5 which, tho’ it was properly an Ad of the Mind, yet it muft certainly have prolluc’d a mighty flame of Imagination, and a rapid motion of the animal Spirits. But this is a Thought I dare fcarce warrant my felf in, and therefore I wifli it almoft unfaid.

But whatever Effeds this rapidity of Motion in the Spirits and Blood, rais’d by a ftrong impref- fion on the Imagination may produce, in laying or railing Fermentations in the Body, or altering the Crafes of the Fluids ; it’s hardly poffible, at leaft highly improbable, that any fuch imprefllon of Fancy could reftore a Bone long diflocated, in¬ to its proper Place 5 where both the recipient, and the thing to be receiv’d, were,- by a necefiary confequence from Anatomy, and the ftrudure of the Parts, render’d utterly unfit for fuch a re- jundion.

If it is faid, Why fhould God work fuch a Mi¬ racle, if it be any? (as I fhall never determine) I muft own to your Ladyfhip, that if I do not know all the Secrets of Nature, I do much lefs know the Secrets of the Author of Nature : Yet after all, if he fhould think fit to do fuch an ex¬ traordinary thing in the Age in which we live, we muft all confefs there is occafion enough for it s fmee the very Exiftence of a Supreme Being, and his Power and Authority, is fo much que- ftion’d. Nor need we fearch long to find a Rea- fon why the Subjed on which this is wrought, fhould be one of thofe who have forfaken and facrific’d all for their perfuafion about the Truth of Religion, and who are under fo fevere a Per- fecutioa for it 5 finee this both carries a Charac¬

ter

( ) . ter of God’s tendernefs to them, and may be a1 mean to awaken our regard and charity for them, which are now run too low. And this is one Ufe‘ I am fure your Ladyfhip will make of the whole Matter : You, and your noble and generous Huf- band, not being fatished with all the Good you do your felves, but as you can, engage others to follow lo worthy a Pattern as you both give them jr which, among many other Reafons, engages me • to be, with all poffible Refped,

Madam,

Tour Ladyships mofi humble, and, obedient Servant,

J• W.

Having given fo ample Teftimonics of feveral Witncfles, it may not be improper to collect the Evidence together, and juft fee what is proved, and the feveral Witneffes that prove the diftind Parts of the Fad : Which, as they plainly lie be¬ fore us, are thefe.

$

That fhe was fo exceeding Lame, as the Nar¬ rative relates.

That fhe was fo from her Birth, or a fhort time after.

That this Lamenefs was from a Dhlocation of the Thigh-bone.

That fhe was Cured, and remains well on that Side to this very Day.

That-

I

( 49 ) That a Cure was accounted impolfible ; with

the Reafons of thofe, who were proper Judges of fiich a Cafe, why it was thought to be fo.

Then confider the Manner in which fhe was Cured.

I would firft Examine into the Lamenefs it felf, and there are no lefs than Sixteen Perfons, who atteft this. I fhall juft give a ftiort sketch of what they atteft in their refpe&ive Affidavits and Certificates.

Mrs. Laulan fays, Mary Maittard lived with her Two Years, and all the time was very Lamej, and felt extreme Pain.

Mr. Lafargue fays, he knew her for Two Years laft paft : She was very much indifpofed with a Lamenefs, and fwayed from one fide to the other as (he walked.

Mr. Taureau made her Shoes for Two Years, and fays fhe was extremely Lame.

Mr. Gorgo fays, he faw her at his own Houfe Four Years ago, exceeding Lame, and in a deplo¬ rable Condition.

Mr. Strutt and Eleanor Harding certify, they have feveral times feen her pafs by the Door in a very lamentable lame manner.

Her own Father met her Three or Four Days before her Cure, and her Lamenefs was fo bad, as to make him take particular notice of it.

There are Perfons now living who alfo confirm this 5 that fhe was exceeding Lame, they had very often feen her, and feveral of them but very few Days before her Cure, as may be feen in the par-

G ticular

( 50 ) ticular Account of Mr. Gamaury and his Wife, Mr. La Cour7 Mrs. Mariouneau, Mr. De Seret and his Wife, and Mrs. £Peret. Particularly, Mrs. Megee and Mrs. Jenkins mention feveral remark¬ able Paffages relating thereto. In fhort, her Lame- nefs was univerfally known and obferved through¬ out the Neighbourhood.

This Girl's Lamenefs was not of a fhort Con¬ tinuance, but had been from her Birth, or a fhort time after,* as fully appears from her own Rela¬ tion,* and is attefted by her Father and Mother, who found it as foon as fhe came to Go.

Mr. Gorgo faw her at her Uncle's, at Xaintesy about a Twelve-month old, and fhe was then very Lame.

Mr. ^Dernier knew her ever ftnee fhe was Three Years old ; he faw her then at her Fathers Houfe in Coignac, exceeding Lame, as well as fmee in this City.

It may not be improper to take a view of the foregoing Accounts, in order to fee what this Lamenefs was.

The Childs Father and Mother fay, There was a Hollow in that Place where, the Thigh-bone knits to the Hip 5 her Thigh-bone came up higher than its proper Place 5 her Knee turned inwards, and her Ankle-Bone touched the Ground, and fhe grew worfe and worfe.

Her own Account is very Exprefs, which fays, her Thigh-bone ftuck very much out, and under the Bone was a Hollownefs; her Knee turned in, &c.

. ,. . Mrs.

( 51 )

Mrs. Laulan fays, as far as flic could judge, the Thigh-bone was out, for fhe felt a Hollow before her Cure, the Knee and Foot turning as above.

Mr. Taureau fays, her Foot turned in fuch a manner, that her Ankle touched the Ground, fo fhe walked upon the inward Quarter of her Shoe. .

Mr. Tie Baft, the Surgeon, depofeth, He found a conliderable Tumour about and above the Ca¬ vity, into which the Head of the Thigh-bone ought to fall 5 her Left Leg was fhorter than her Right, and her Foot turned, as is before re¬ lated.

I would now appeal to Dr. JVeifcoUOod’s Account of her Diforder, in his Letter to the Lady Afhtirji } where he fays, All thefe Symptoms are the na¬ tural, and fome of them the neceflary Effects of a Diflocation of the Thigh-bone : and he, who certainly was a good Judge of the Cafe, fays. It was to him, beyond all Queftion, a Diflocation of the Thigh-bone. And he gives his Reafons for his Opinion, viz. A Hollownefs on the Joint, a confiderable Tumour a little above it, the Thigh¬ bone on that Side being both higher, and the Leg fhorter than the other j a conftant Pain attending, with a turning inwards of the Knee and Ankle, and a turning upwards of the Sole of the Foot, are all of them agreed by Anatomifts and Sur¬ geons to be undoubted Signs, as well as necefl lary Confequences of a Diflocation. You may fee a more particular Account in the Letter it felf, Bage 42.

G 4k7 I now

( 52 )

I now proceed to examine the Proof of the main Point, and that is. That fhe was Cured s of which Truth we have abundant Evidence.

Her Father and Mother depofe, fhe now walks {trait and upright, her Legs being of the fame length; her Knee, her Foot, her Hip, her Thigh being in their natural fituation.

Mrs. Laulan could not believe fhe was Cured for fome time, until fhe had feen her walk, and felt the Place, where the great Hollow had been when the Bone was out, filled up, and the Place

’ where it ftuck out before, fallen flat. And fhe fays, the following Day the Girl went abroad, and walk’d as well as fhe does now.

Mr. Gorgo fays, {he is now no longer Lame. Mr .'Dernier fays, I have feen her upright, and

perfectly Cured within this Three Weeks. Mr. Strutt and Eleanor Harding fay. She was

at our Houfe 'December the 18th, 1693. and we both faw her there go very upright and ftrait,

Mr. De Batt fays, The Tumour was very in- confiderable, the Left Leg as long as the Right, within the thicknefs of a Crown-piece ; and the Leg and Foot in their natural Pofture and Si¬ tuation.

Mr. Lafargue and Mr. '(ortin depofc the fame. Mr. Garnaury and his Wife declare Ihe has been

well for a great many Years. Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. Megee, Mrs. Mariouneau,

and Mrs. Beret, all faw her well not many Days after her Cure, and fcveral times ftnee.

The Reverend Mr. Briel> her Husband, gives a very full Teftimony of her Cure’s being perfed. And her walking to Highgate and back again in

a

( 53 ) a Day, is a plain Proof of it. Nay, as Mrs. Me- gee witneffes, it was the common Cry, There goes the Girl that was Cured. And Dr. WeU- wood fays. Her prefent Condition appears to all the World. . '

That a Cure in the Cafe before us was looked upon as impoffible, is not only related by the Child’s Father and Mother, but depofed by Mr. T)e Batt as his Judgment. But the Rcafons why it was thought to be fo, will be belt taken from Dr. TVellwood's Letter i which Reafons duly con- fidered, will appear to be very ftrong and con- clufive:

And Firft, look back to his Defcription of the Structure of the Part, ‘Page 41.

He deferibes a Diflocation, by its being the Head of the Thigh-bone difplaced out of the large Ca¬ vity of the Hip-bone. And then he adds, The longer fuch a Diflocation lafts, the lefs it is Cu¬ rable, feeing by it the Ligaments and Mufcles mult be greatly relaxed; and fo much the more, if the Patient walk about, as this Girl did.

A bringing back the Bone to its Place is done with no fmall Difficulty, even when the Difloca¬ tion is recent; but when it is of a long Band¬ ing, moll Surgeons and Anatomifts look upon the Cafe as deplorable, if not delperate: For thele Reafons,

1. The Cavity of the Hip-bone, for want of the Head of the other Bone to play in it, mud needs, in procefs of time, be filled up with that Mucilaginous Matter, which the Gland, fituated in the bottom of it, does conftantly furnilh for the Lubrication of the Joint. Being once thus

filled

( 54 ) filled up, either in whole or in part, it becomes unfit to re-admit the Head of the diflocated Bone, for want of room.

2. The conftant Afflux of Humours upon the Head of the diflocated Bone, muft render it in a a little time too big to re-enter its proper Ca¬ vity.

3. Nature makes the beft it can of Neceflity, and never of it felf changes a Tolerable Evil for a Hazardous Good.

4. Tho' the Bone fhould be got fet again, even when recent, it's yet eafily put out again by the leaft Motion or Accident.

TheDodor therefore concludes, there is no Rea- fon to be angry with any that fhall aferibe the Cure to fomething above, or out of the Road of Jslature. Page 45.

I fhall fum up the whole in this fhort View. This Child was exceeding Lame, even from the

time of her firft fetting her Feet to the Ground. This Lamcnefs appears to be aDiflocation of the Thigh-bone. This Bone being out of its place Thirteen Years, or thereabout, and, by the Girl's continual walking, growing worle and worfe, a re-union of the dilunited Parts was not to be ef¬ fected by the utmoft Skill of the Sons of Art, there being an utter inaptitude both in the Cavity to receive, and in the Thigh-bone to be received 5 the one being filled up with a Mucilaginous Mat¬ ter, and the other grown to an uncommon Big- ncls : The round Head of the Thigh-bone, by the conftant Afflux of Humours on the Part, be¬ ing too big to re-enter its proper Cavity. And could an Union be poffibly effeded, the great Re¬

laxation

( 55 ) Fixation of the Mufdtes, which for Thirteen Years had born the Weight of that Side of her Body, would incapacitate them to keep the Bone in its proper ftation.

We have therefore juft Reafon to conclude a Cure was impoftible, according to the common Courfe of Things. - j

To pretend this Cure could be effected by any rapid Motion of the Animal Spirits, or any fuch Effort of Nature, is much like attributing the Creation of this beautiful Fabrick of the World, which carries in it the evident Marks of an Infi¬ nitely Wife and Defigning Mind, to a fortuitous Concourfe of Atoms, (or I know-' not what mo¬ tion of pre-exiftent Matter) difpofing themfelves into fuch a beautiful Variety of Creatures, and all anfvvering the End of their Creation, and the whole fubfervient to the Good of Man : Or aferi- bing the like Ads of a Wife and Regular Go¬ vernment of the World to a Blind Chance, and Heathenifh Fatality.

This Queftion then will arife, How was the Cure effeded ? The Fad really is thus: It was done in an Inftant, and that without the ufe of any Means whatever.

This appears from the Narrative it felf, the Child's Affidavit before the Lord Mayor, and at Doctors Commons; as well as both the Affidavits of Mrs. Laulan.

Now if here is fuch a Cure wrought in an in¬ ftant, as could no ways be effeded by Nature or Art, or Both together, then certainly it muft be effeded by fome Superior Powerwhich is able

ro

to work above, beyond, and even contrary to Na¬ ture.

If here is a plain Appearance of fuch a Power in the Cafe before us, then this neceftarily fup- 4

pofes the Exiftence of a Being pofTeffed of fuch a ; Power j and here is a plain Inftance of this Pow- ers being exercis'd over Man.

What is this Being but the Great God > And what is this Inftance of his Power, but a Provi¬ dence exercifed over his Creatures ?

V.

Let this Proof of his Power, and the Exercife t

of it, make thole Tremble who deny the Being and Attributes of this Glorious God 5 let them reft allured, they will certainly find, that God, who is poflefs'd of Infinite Power, and does fometimes, as in the Inftance before us, exert it on the Behalf of thofe that put their Truft in him, will terri¬ bly exert it to the Punifhment of thofe who bold¬ ly deny his Being, and entertain mean and un¬ worthy Apprehenfions of his Glorious Perfec¬ tions.

If there is a Supreme Being, who is Infinite in his Power, and doth exert it in a way of Mercy toward them that Truft in him; and if he will exert his Power to the Terror of thofe that de- fpife him, how fliould this ftartle them, who al¬ though they do not deny the Being and Provi¬ dence of God, yet live without God in the World ; the continued Series of whofe Actions declare God is not in all their Thoughts. Their own un¬ ruly Palfions, and corrupt Affedions, arc the Stan¬ dard of their Adions 5 and Things being Good or Evil in themielves, is of little weight to in¬ duce them to choofe and follow the one, and

rejed

( 57 ) rejed and avoid the other. Neither do they pay any Regard to the Commands of God, which en¬ join the Good ; nor to his Thrcatnings, which fhould deter them from the Commiflion of Evil. Let fuch remember the God, whole Commands they rejed, and whofe Thrcatnings they flight, is poffeffed of Infinite Power, and therefore ought to be both Obeyed and Feared.

And let fuch as do believe thefe grand Truths of the Being and Providence of God, and dcfiix to ad agreeable to fuch a Belief, be, by fuch an Inftance as this, ingaged to Adore his Power, and Repofe their Trull, in every Exigency, on his Al¬ mighty Arm.

That God fhould reveal his Mind and Will in his Word, is an Inftance of his Goodnefs j that this Word fhould be attefted by, and attended with fuch a Cloud of Witneftes, and Number of Miracles, as the Hiftorical Part of the New-Te- ftament affords, fhews his great Condefcenfion $ and that after all this, he fhould fometimes ftep out of the common Road of his Providence, and, even in thefe Days, work Wonders, and do it upon the Reading of his Word, and ading Faith on his Son 5 this ought certainly to be par¬ ticularly Improved by us, being fuch an extra¬ ordinary Difpenfation of Providence.

Now if any, defirous to make a fpccial Im¬ provement of fo wonderful an Appearance of Providence, are further inquifitive, with refped to the Manner in which this Cure was wrought, 1 would anfwer, in the Words of St. 'Peter., in A£ts iii. 16. It is his Name, through Faith in the Name of Jefus has made this Child Strong,

H and

I

( 58 ) and given her this perfect Soundness. Look in¬ to the Relation, T age 6, and you will fee more particularly the Manner in which fhe was Cured. There was no outward Application : We can only confider her Employ, and the Adings of her Mind, which were thefe. She was employ¬ ed in reading the Word of God, and that Part of it, which contains an Account of our Savi¬ our’s miraculous Cure of the Paralytick. She was grieved at the jews Infidelity, and cenfured them for it. She profefled her own Determi¬ nation not to do like them. And declared fhe would run to Chrift, and firmly Believe.

If here was an extraordinary Interpofition of the Power of God, as by the foregoing Account plainly appears, lure this nuift be looked upon as an Approbation oi the Employ, and an Own¬ ing of thefe Actings of Mind of the Subjed of this extraordinary Providence. Had not the Jews Incredulity been Blame-worthy, and her declared Rcfolution to ad Eaith in Chrift been pleafing to the Divine Mind, can we fuppofe her Cen- furing the one, and her Rcfolving to be found in the Pradicc oi the other, had Ihe fuch an Op- pertumty, would have been owned by io extra¬ ordinary an Appearance for her ? Had this Bible Hie was reading been Falle and Spurious, and the Chrift fine was reading and lpeaking of, and plead¬ ing for, been an Impoftor ? Had this Miracle of his been a I id ion, and no Reality, can any rea- fonablc Man think that God would have appeared in iuch an extraordinary manner upon this Oc- cafion?

Now

( 59 ) Now was here fuch an uncommon Appearance

of Divine Power, owning the reading of the Bi¬ ble : Certainly this muft reprove all that defpife, flight, or negled this Holy Book. Let fuch who come to the Knowledge of this Interpofition of Providence, be hereby ingaged both to value and ufe more this great Treafure.

Was the 'Jews Incredulity really Blame-wor¬ thy, then how juftly are they to be blamed, who now are Guilty of the fame Evil ? None, I think, have any more Reafon to fuppofe that this Mi¬ racle of our Saviour's, which the Girl was read¬ ing, and which was owned by an immediate Ap¬ pearance of the Power of God : I fay, none have any more Reafon to conclude That was not a real Miracle, than they have to deny the Fad here before us.

Was this Girl’s Faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift owned in fuch an extraordinary Mannerj then this may encourage us to come to him, and be¬ lieve in him, for all thofe great Ends and valu¬ able Purpofes for which the Word of God war¬ rants and directs our Faith to reft on Him.

It was through Believing in the Lord Jefus Chrift, that this Child met with fuch a Wonder** ful Appearance of the Power of God on her be¬ half. This may teach us, that it is by Believing in Chrift, and through him, that we can exped any Exercife of Divine Power, in a way of Mer¬ cy, toward finful Creatures.

The Power of God, confider’d in it’s felf, is as much theObjedof our Fear, as of our Truft; it is more fo, if we confider our felves as finful Creatures, and God as a Holy and Juft Being :

It’s

{ 6o )

It’s only the Confideration of this Power's be- * ing ingaged on our Behalf, can adminifter Support and Comfort ; and this Power is only thus in- gaged through Chrift. This fhould encourage us in a firm Dependence upon this Jefus, and in a way of Believing in Him, to expeft the Exercife of all that Power, Mercy, and Grace, without which we can never be fitted for, or walk wor¬ thy of, and be brought to Eternal Life.

FINIS.

r '

Erratum.

P. 4p. I.12. For Two Years, read Two or Three Years.