Chapter 32

How agreeable to reason it is, to believe the Mysteries of our Faith, although they exceed all humane reason.

ALTHOUGH thou hast heard, that our Faith believeth certain things which by reason alone, cannot be arrived to, yet take heed thou do not think, that to believe them, is a thing, either against reason, or without reason. For as it is very¹ fare from him that believeth, evidently to understand that which he believeth, so is it fare from the belief of a Christian, to be light, or to waver in believing. For we have such reasons to believe, as that we may dare to appear, and give account of our Faith, before any Tribunal how exact soever; as² S. Peter doth advice, that we Christians, should be prepared to do. This thou shalt easily understand, by the similitude which here I put. If thou shouldst hear say, that a man borne blind had suddenly recovered his sight; or that a dead man were restored to life, it is plain that thy reason could not reach to the means of doing this; because it would exceed the bounds of nature; and reason doth not reach, to supernatural things. But yet so³ many, and so well conditioned witnesses, might avow the having seen it; that not only it would be no levity to believe it; but it would be incredulity and hardness of hart, not to believe it. For though reason cannot reach to know, how a blind man may come to see, or a dead man return to live; yet at least it reacheth to this, That it is reason to believe, such, and so many witnesses. And⁴ if they should dye in confirmation of that which they affirmed, there would be more reason to believe it. And if they should work other miracles, as great or greater than the former, in confirmation thereof; the fault of not believing it, would then be great, howsoever the thing which they affirmed to have happened, were very strange and high.

Just so art thou to understand, that there is nothing which reason can less reach unto, than the clear understanding of that which is believed by Faith; nor is there yet, any thing so agreeable to reason, as to believe it; and it is an extreme fault not to believe it. It is certain, that for the true miracles which Moses wrought, the people of Israel believed him, to be the messenger of God; and that he spoke with God; and received the law at his hands, as given by God. And so also the Moves, who are a bestial kind of people, believed, that Mahomet, for a few, (and they false) miracles, which he wrought, was a messenger of God; and as from such an one, they received the bestial law, which he gave them.

Well then, do thou consider the true miracles which have been wrought by Jesus Christ our Lord, and by his Apostles; and by other holy men in confirmation of our faith, from that time to this; and thou shalt find, that as easily thou mayst count the sands of the sea, as the multitudes of them; and that incomparably they do exceed all the others which have been wrought in the world, both in quality, & quantity. Three only dead persons were raised to life, in the whole course of the old law; which continued almost two thousand years. And if thou consider the new law, thou shalt find, that S. Andrew alone, did raise at once, forty dead; that so it might be fulfilled, which our Lord said, He⁵ that believeth in me, shall do greater things than I. And that so, his great power may be seen; since not only, by himself, but in such other of his servants, as he is pleased to work, he can do what he will, though it be nover so wonderful.

I have related to thee, that which one Apostle did at one time; to the end that hereby thou mayest understand, the innumerable miracles which have been wrought, both by that Apostle, and by other, both Apostles, & Saints, of the Christian Church. And, although in the beginning of the Church, there were so many, and so great miracles wrought for the confirmation of our faith, that the proof thereof is superabundant; yet⁶ so great is the desire which our Lord hath of the salvation of us all; and that we all may come to the knowledge of his truth; and that they who do already know it, may be comforted and confirmed therein; that his providence hath care, to renew, or refresh⁷ this kind of proof; and to give testimony to the truth, by new miracles. And so, is there hardly to be found an age, wherein some Christian or other, is not canonised for a Saint; which⁸ is never done without sufficient proof of a perfect life that he hath led, and of many miracles that he hath wrought. Whereof if any man were curious, & would make search, he should find no difficulty, even in our times, to meet with miracles, amongst us; and, in the Indies, both Oriental, and Occidental, in more abundance.

Footnotes

1. For if he could, it would not be faith, but knowledge. ↩

2. 1. Pet ● 5.
   ↩

3. Note this well for it iustifyeth Catholic & giveth Protestant's reason to be both more pious, and more prudent. ↩

4. Observe well these gradations, for they are most reasonable, and they are all in favour of Catholics. ↩

5. joan 〈◊〉 14. ↩

6. That true miracles are wrought to this day; and the causes, why it pleaseth God to work them. ↩

7. Of miracles, which confirm the faith of Christ. ↩

8. I would to God, that any reasonable Protestant, would but inform himself well of the exact and rigorous care, which the Catholic Church doth we, when there is question of Canonising any Saint. ↩