1817 Oct r 16

Not Paul

Ch Period after Conversion

Peter’s Exploits

§ Æneas cured

After all the truth is Scarcely, if at all, does this account rise above the class of quasi-miraculous ones. No assertion is there in the text that Peter either was or assumed to be in any way contributory to the cure. Presently when Tabitha is to be represented as resuscitated /brought from death to life/, we shall find him represented /stated/ as praying, before he delivered to the body that address /the restorative address/ by which it is understood now a days that the soul was brought back to it. What /All/ the Apostle here says to him is Æneas Jesus Christ maketh thee whole arise and make thy bed.

As to the palsy it is of the number of those diseases from which even at this time of day men recover daily and without a miracle. (a)

(a) The more extensively known the individual, the better will his case serve the purpose of an example.

In the year 1804 or thereabouts the Reverend Doctor Parr had a stroke of the palsy: an affliction the effects of which were /at that/ but too manifest not only to his family but to his numerous friends. Now at /towards/ the close of the year 1817, though some years turned of /considerably more than/ 70 they have the satisfaction of beholding him in good health and vigour. A few /Two or three/ years ago he married his second wife now living. It has never been said that even in vision he ever received a visit from Saint Peter.

If as upon the face of this account it seems probable that he was, Æneas was of the number of the Saints mentioned in the preceding verse, he would of course receive the comfort of a visit from the Apostle. The Apostle finding him in a recovering or recovered state /convalescent state/, nothing could be more of course than his entertaining and forasmuch as he entertained it thus declaring a supposition as consolatory as that his /the/ convalescence of this Saint had found in the piety of the Saint its efficient cause.

The present is not at any rate an age of miracles.

Yet where is the day in the year in which by the person to the person of all […?] the like speech is not in the like occasion made?