of time,624 they are proved to be like, not Jesus our Lord, but Simon the magician. It is cer- tain,625 too, from the fact that the Lord rose from the dead on the third day, and manifested Himself to His disciples, and was in their sight received up into heaven, that, inasmuch as these men die, and do not rise again, nor manifest themselves to any, they are proved as possessing souls in no respect similar to that of Jesus. 4. If, however, they maintain that the Lord, too, performed such works simply in appear- ance, we shall refer them to the prophetical writings, and prove from these both that all things were thus626 predicted regarding Him, and did take place undoubtedly, and that He is the only Son of God. Wherefore, also, those who are in truth His disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform [miracles], so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe [in Christ], and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained627 among us for many years. And what shall I more say? It is not possible to name the number of the gifts which the Church, [scattered] throughout the whole world, has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which she exerts day by day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practising deception upon any, nor taking any reward628 from them [on account of such miraculous interpositions]. For as she has received freely629 from God, freely also does she minister [to others]. 5. Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations,630 or by incantations, or by any other wicked curious art; but, directing her prayers to the Lord, who made all 624 The text has “stillicidio temporis,” literally “ a drop of time” (σταγμῇ χρόνου); but the original text was perhaps στιγμῇ χρόνου, “a moment of time.” With either reading the meaning is the same. 625 Some have deemed the words “firmum esse” an interpolation. 626 That is, as being done in reality, and not in appearance. 627 Harvey here notes: “The reader will not fail to remark this highly interesting testimony, that the divine χαρίσματα bestowed upon the infant Church were not wholly extinct in the days of Irenæus. Possibly the venerable Father is speaking from his own personal recollection of some who had been raised from the dead, and had continued for a time living witnesses of the efficacy of Christian faith.” [See cap. xxxi., supra.] 628 Comp. Acts viii. 9, 18. 629 Matt. x. 8. 630 Grabe contends that these words imply that no invocations of angels, good or bad, were practised in the primitive Church. Massuet, on the other hand, maintains that the words of Irenæus are plainly to be restricted to evil spirits, and have no bearing on the general question of angelic invocation. 1046 Chapter XXXII.—Further exposure of the wicked and blasphemous doctrines…