32. But if they say that we
are not even to believe in Christ, unless undoubted reason shall be
given us, they are not Christians. For this is what certain pagans
say against us, foolishly indeed, yet not contrary to, or
inconsistent with, themselves. But who can endure that these
profess to belong to Christ, who contend that they are to
believe nothing, unless they shall bring forward to fools most open
reason concerning God? But we see that He Himself, so far as that
history, which they themselves believe, teaches, willed nothing
before, or more strongly than, that He should be believed in:
whereas they, with whom He had to do, were not yet qualified to
receive the secret things of God. For, for what other purpose are
so great and so many miracles, He Himself also saying, that they
are done for no other cause, than that He may be believed in? He
used to lead fools by faith, you lead by reason. He used to cry
out, that He should be believed in, ye cry out against it. He used
to praise such as believe in Him, ye blame them. But unless either
He should change water into wine,1750
to omit other (
miracles), if men
would follow Him, doing no such, but (only) teaching; either we
must make no account of that saying, “Believe ye
God, believe
also Me;”
1751
or we must
charge him with rashness, who willed not that He should come into
his
house, believing that the
disease of his
servant would depart
at His mere command.
1752
Therefore He bringing to us a
medicine such as should
heal our utterly
corrupt manners, by
miracles procured to Himself
authority,
1753
by
authority obtained Himself
belief, by belief drew together a multitude, by a multitude
possessed antiquity, by
antiquity strengthened religion: so that
not only the utterly foolish novelty of heretics dealing
deceitfully, but also the inveterate error of the nations opposing
with violence, should be unable on any side to rend it
asunder.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
