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| How he confuted the philosophers by healing certain vexed with demons.
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80. ‘And these signs are sufficient
to prove that the faith of Christ alone is the true religion. But see!
you still do not believe and are seeking for arguments. We however make
our proof “not in the persuasive words of Greek wisdom1128
” as our teacher has it, but we
persuade by the faith which manifestly precedes argumentative proof.
Behold there are here some vexed with demons;’—now there
were certain who had come to him very disquieted by demons, and
bringing them into the midst he said,—‘Do you cleanse them
either by arguments and by whatever art or magic you choose, calling
upon your idols, or if you are unable, put away your strife with us and
you shall see the power of the Cross of Christ.’ And having said
this he called upon Christ, and signed the sufferers two or three times
with the sign of the Cross. And immediately the men stood up whole, and
in their right mind, and forthwith gave thanks unto the Lord. And the
philosophers, as they are called, wondered, and were astonished
exceedingly at the understanding of the man and at the sign which had
been wrought. But Antony said, ‘Why marvel ye at this? We are not
the doers of these things, but it is Christ who worketh them by means
of those who believe on Him. Believe, therefore, also yourselves, and
you shall see that with us there is no trick of words, but faith
through love which is wrought in us towards Christ; which if you
yourselves should obtain you will no longer seek demonstrative
arguments, but will consider faith in Christ sufficient.’ These
are the words of Antony. And they marvelling at this also, saluted him
and departed, confessing the benefit they had received from him1129
| 1129 The
above argument with the philosophers runs upon the general lines of
that of Athanasius c. Gent. The point which we miss here is the
Euhemerism upon which Athanasius so strongly insists. This latter view
would be naturally less congenial to Antony’s mind than the view
that the gods were merely demons. | .E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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