The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.3.2

23.3.2

The Jesuite refused the tryall as vniust, answering that God was not tyed to the Call of men: that it was a sinne to tempt him: that hee wrought Miracles according to his owne Councell; but offered to enter the fier himselfe for proofe of his faith, which the King refused. Heere arose a great dispute, begunne by the Prince, a most stiff Mahometan and hater of all Christians, that it was reasonable to try our religion by this offer, but withall, if the Crucifix did burne, then that the Jesuit should be obliged to render Moore. Hee vrged examples of Miracles professed to bee done for lesse Purposes then the Conuersion of soe mightie a King, and, in case of refusall of that triall, spake scornefully of Christ Jesus. The King vndertooke the Argument, and defended our Sauiour to be a Prophett, by comparrison of his woorkes with those of their absurd Saintes, Instancing the raysing of the dead, which neuer any of theirs did. The Prince replyed: to giue sight to one Naturally borne blind was as great a Miracle. This question beeing pressed hotly on both sides, a theird man, to end the Contrauersie, enterposed that both the father and the sonne had reason for thieir opinions; for that to rayse a dead body to life must needes bee confessd to be the greatest miracle euer done, but that to giue sight to an eye Naturally blynd was the same woorke ; for that a blind eye was dead, sight beeing the life therof ;