28 Mirachs of the 



of the luider surface of the abdomen, 

 and support it by pressing upwards, 

 without at all pressing on it. With 

 this he succeeded so perfectly, thut, 

 after wearing it three days, he was 

 capable of walking three miles with 

 ease and pleasure, a feat which he had 

 found impossible for months before.* 

 This belt is formed of linen, kept 

 extended by thin whalebone, tapering 

 from the middle, to terminate by some 

 small springs on the hips, in broad 

 straps, which return, to fasten with a 

 button in front. Not half the weight 

 of the common belt, it is far more be- 

 neficial and commodious; and is adapt- 

 ed, by its form and texture, to Jbe pe- 

 culiarly serviceable. J. Johnson. 

 Stafford-street, Lisson- green. 



For the Monthly Magazine. 

 On the MIRACLES and saints of the 



ROMAN CHURCH. 



MIRACLES make the saint; at 

 least most of the saints, whose 

 names have been enrolled for sacred 

 honours, have been selected on ac- 

 count of the pious advantages which 

 their charity has diflused on earth, 

 through the effect of their miracles. 

 So they say who are supposed to know 

 most of the matter. At a moment 

 ■when acts of this extraordinary de- 

 scription are currently reported to the 

 amusement of many, and the edifica- 

 tion of a few ; while the agent is re- 

 probated hy one parly for an impure 

 prodigal, shamed from society, and 

 specially noted by the police of the 

 Itingdom in which he resides, and by 

 others esteemed a most exemplary 

 priest and very holy man; without at all 

 undertaking to fix the true character of 

 Prince Hohenloc, and explain the 

 natural course of the reported mira- 

 cles ; without stopping to establish the 

 popisli dignitary a bold impostor, or 

 prove him a mistaken '.nthusiast ; for 

 after all the task would breed bad 

 blood, and we will not come to blows 

 ^vith delusion, while it continues pas- 

 give; — we have looked, for curiosity 

 sake, into the manner of judgment by 

 which the Catholic church approves of 

 niiraelcs and records its saints. The 

 particulars of the enquiry, and we by 

 no means feel it as perlectly particular 

 as it might be, is here submitted for 

 the satisfaction of your readers. 



* The maker, Rlr. Foster, 153^0xford- 

 ttreet. 



Romish Church, [Feb. I, 



In all ages, exclaims the church of 

 Home, in one of her declarations on 

 this subject, there have appeared some 

 men amongst us of most exalted and 

 heroic virtue, who have shone like so 

 many lights in the sanctuary of the 

 Heavens, and exerted themselves for 

 the good service of mankind by ac- 

 tions so extraordinary, that at first 

 sight they have alwaj'S seemed more 

 than natural ; and, upon a calmer ex- 

 amination, been surely recognised of 

 divine interposition. Such acts have 

 always, and universally, been admitted 

 miracles. Therefore, from time to 

 time, have the pontiffs of Rome, afteu 

 the strictest enquiry into the exem- 

 plary holiness of particular lives, .and 

 the strongest attestations and clearest 

 proof of their respective miracles, ad- 

 ded in the most solemn manner to tlie 

 number of saints. Thus is God glo- 

 rified in his servants, the church bright- 

 ened with new lights, and her faithful 

 followers encouraged by a happy ex- 

 ample to perseverance and perfection. 



So much for intentions ; and now for 

 forms. There has long been at Rome 

 an appropriate college to receive de- 

 positions and proofs of miracles, and 

 examine and record the circumstances 

 of each. The business may be insti- 

 tuted and carried on at the instance 

 of any person ; the proceedings upon it 

 are sufficiently lengthy, minute, and 

 tedious ; the scrutiny into facts is se- 

 verer than might be supposed, and the 

 recorded miracles are comparatively 

 few. The canoni-sation of a saint is 

 naturally enough one of the greatest 

 ceremonies of the Roman church ; per- 

 haps it is the greatest. The petition 

 for it in former days was generally 

 preferred by the ambassador from the 

 country in which the proposed saint 

 was born, or most laboured in his vo- 

 cation; and at times, so high stood his 

 consideration, that a special oommis- 

 sion has been sent to the sec of Rome, 

 to solicit the meed of pious fame. 



There are two gradations of enrol- 

 ment : the one, and it is the humblest, 

 beatification ; the other, canonisation. 

 Why the distinction was properly in- 

 troduced, it were probably now diffi- 

 cult to show, unless for a halting- 

 space to prevent the last chance of 

 imposition. Venerable Lede, one of 

 the first and most distinguished saints 

 of tlie English Catholic church, only 

 received beatification; and Sir Thomas 

 More was the last, of this country, 

 thought 



