From the sons of Israel;

From the Lord's words concerning the rich man and Lazarus;

From the Lord's words in Matt. xxiv 24. The Popish miracles (which are to be enumerated). They only lead astray, and do not teach anything except that they are to be invoked as deities, and this to the end that they may bring gold and silver to the monasteries, or, that they may scrape together the treasures of the whole world. The miracles of many of them; as, for instance, those of Anthony at Padua; those of the three wise men of Cologne; those of the wonder-working images, at which treasures are collected; everywhere in the monasteries, where the walls are covered with pictures of the miracles worked by their saints, and of their idols. The books concerning the miracles of Paris* and others; what else are they for, but that [saints] may be invoked for the purpose of raking in gifts? But who among them has thus far taught the way to heaven, and the truths of the Church out of the Word? For this reason it has pleased the Lord to prepare me from my earliest youth for the perception of the Word, and He has introduced me into the spiritual world, and enlightened me with the light of His Word more nearly. It is hence manifest that this surpasses all miracles. Beelzebub did miracles, more than any other of the gentile gods, as is plain from the Old Testament; also Simon the sorcerer. * Francois de Paris, who is referred to here and in "Invitation to the New Church," no. 29 and 55, and in Swedenborg's letter to Venator, was a Jansenist. The miracles at his tomb in the cemetery of St Medard, Paris, led to petitions for his canonization. See the volume entitled Recueil des Miracles Operes au Tombeau de M. de Paris, . . . Diacre, MDCCXXXII. The petitions were ignored. The first of the two volumes referred to by Swedenborg was published in 1737, and bears the title, La Verite des Miracles Operes par l'Intercession de M. de Paris. Demontree contre M. l'Archeveque de Sens. Ouvrage dedie au Roy par M. de Montgeron Conseiller au Parlement. A Utrecht chez les Librairies de la Compagnie, MDCCXXXVII. The second volume, without the dedication to the King, and referring also to the Convulsionnaires, was published in 1741. A third volume followed in 1747. See article by the Rev. E. J. E. Schreck, in The New-Church Review of Boston, Mass., U.S.A., for October 1906.