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THIS was one important improvement in the circumstances of the
Church, which happened during the administration of Atticus. Nor
were these times without the attestation of miracles and healings. For
a certain Jew being a paralytic had been confined to his bed for many
years; arid as every sort of medical skill, and the prayers of his
Jewish brethren had been resorted to but had availed nothing, he had
recourse at length to Christian baptism, trusting in it as the only
true remedy to be used. When Atticus the bishop was informed of his
wishes, he instructed him in the first principles of Christian truth,
and having preached to him to hope in Christ, directed that he should
be brought in his bed to the font. The paralytic Jew receiving
baptism with a sincere faith, as soon as he was taken out of the
baptismal font found himself perfectly cured of his disease, and
continued to enjoy sound health afterwards. This miraculous power
Christ vouchsafed to be manifested even in our times; and the fame of
it caused many heathens to believe and be baptized. But the Jews
although zealously 'seeking after signs,' not even the signs which
actually took place induced to embrace the faith. Such blessings were
thus conferred by Christ upon men.
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