656. False miracles, on the other hand, are those which are contrived by evil spirits or devils through artificial means, and indeed, for no other purpose than [to satisfy] some extremely corrupt passion. This type of miracle is also permitted, and it looks the same in its outer aspect, but has no inner one; and it is not distinguishable [from a true miracle] except by those having faith in the Lord.
656. But false miracles, on the other hand, are those which are prepared by evil spirits or devils by artificial means, and this for the sake of no end, but only from a most depraved cupidity. Such a thing is also permitted, and in external form it appears similar, but it has no internal. The one cannot be distinguished from the other except by those who are in faith in the Lord.
656. At vero miracula falsa, sunt quae a spiritibus malis seu diabolis per artificiales modos parantur 1
, et quidem ob nullum finem, nisi ex cupiditate pravissima, tale quodque permittitur, et externa facie simile apparet, sed internam nullam habet, ac non internoscitur nisi ab iis, qui in fide sunt in Dominum.
Footnotes:
1. This is how it appears in J.F.I. Tafel's edition; the Manuscript has paratur