16. But it will be said, the
truth is with some few; therefore you already know what it is, if
you know with whom it is. Said I not a little above, that we were
in search of it as unlearned men? But if from the very force of
truth you conjecture that few possess it, but know not who they
are; what if it is thus, that there are so few who know the truth,
as that they hold the multitude by their authority, whence the
small number may set itself free, and, as it were, strain itself1729
forth into
those
secrets? Do we not see how few attain the highest eloquence,
whereas through the whole
world the
schools of rhetoricians are
resounding with troops of young men? What, do they, as many as
desire to turn out good
orators, alarmed at the multitude of the
unlearned, think that they are to bestow their
labor on the
orations of Cæcilius, or Erucius, rather than those of Tullius?
All aim at these, which are confirmed by
authority of our
forefathers.
Crowds of
unlearned persons essay to
learn the same,
which by the few
learned are received as to be
learned: yet very
few attain, yet fewer practise, the very fewest possible become
famous. What, if true
religion be some such thing? What if a
multitude of
unlearned persons attend the
Churches, and yet that be
no
proof, that therefore no one is made
perfect by these
mysteries?
And yet, if they who studied eloquence were as few as the few who
are eloquent, our
parents would never believe that we ought to be
committed to such masters. Whereas, then, we have been called to
these studies by a multitude, which is numerous in that portion of
it which is made up of the
unlearned, so as to become enamored of
that which few can attain unto; why are we
unwilling to be in
the same case in
religion, which perhaps we
despise with great
danger to our
soul? For if the truest and purest
worship of
God,
although it be found with a few, be yet found with those, with whom
a multitude albeit wrapped up in
lusts, and removed
far from
purity
of understanding, agrees; (and who can doubt that this may happen?)
I ask, if one were to charge us with rashness and
folly, that we
seek not diligently with them who
teach it, that, which we are
greatly anxious to
discover, what can we answer? [Shall we say,] I
was deterred by numbers? Why from the pursuit of liberal arts,
which hardly bring any
profit to this present
life; why from search
after
money? Why from attaining unto
honor; why, in fine, from
gaining and keeping good health; lastly, why from the very aim at a
happy life; whereas all are engaged in these, few excel; were you
deterred by no numbers?
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