Concerning Faith of Things Not Seen

 1. There are those who think that the Christian religion is what we should smile at rather than hold fast, for this reason, that, in it, not what may

 2. But, say they, those things which are in the mind, in that we can by the mind itself discern them, we have no need to know through the eyes of the

 3. But you say, that you therefore believe your friend, whose heart you cannot see, because you have proved him in your trials, and have come to know

 4. If this faith be taken away from human affairs, who but must observe how great disorder in them, and how fearful confusion must follow? For who wil

 5. But you will say, the good will of a friend towards me, although I cannot see it, yet can I trace it out by many proofs but you, what things you w

 

 6. If this Queen ye see not, now rich also with royal progeny. If she see not that fulfilled which she heard to have been promised, she, unto whom it

 7. “Give heed unto me,” the Church says unto you give heed unto me, whom ye see, although to see ye be unwilling. For the faithful, who were in those

 

 8. But as the wills of friends, which are not seen, are believed through tokens which are seen thus the Church, which is now seen, is, of all things

 9. If they suspect this, let them examine carefully the copies of our enemies the Jews. There let them read those things of which we have made mention

 10. Although, even if there went before no testimonies concerning Christ and the Church, whom ought it not to move unto belief, that the Divine bright

 11. But you, beloved, who possess this faith, or who have begun now newly to have it, let it be nourished and increase in you. For as things temporal

 

11. But you, beloved, who possess this faith, or who have begun now newly to have it, let it be nourished and increase in you. For as things temporal have come, so long before foretold, so will things eternal also come, which are promised. Nor let them deceive you, either the vain heathen, or the false Jews, or the deceitful heretics, or also within the Catholic (Church) itself evil Christians, enemies by so much the more hurtful, as they are the more within us. For, lest on this subject also the weak should be troubled, divine prophecy hath not been silent, where in the Song of Songs the Bridegroom speaking unto the Bride, that is, Christ the Lord unto the Church, saith, “As a lily in the midst of thorns, so is my best Beloved36    Proxima in the midst of the daughters.”37    Song of Sol. ii. 2 He said not, in the midst of them that are without; but, “in the midst of daughters. Whoso hath ears to hear, let him hear:”38    Matt. xiii. 9 and whilst the net which is cast into the sea,39    Matt. xiii. 47–50 and gathers together all kinds of fishes, as saith the holy Gospel, is being drawn unto the shore, that is, unto the end of the world, let him separate from the evil fishes, in heart, not in body; by changing evil habits, not by breaking sacred nets; lest they who now seem being approved to be mingled with the reprobate, find, not life, but punishment everlasting,40    Some mss. “that they &c. may find not punishment, but life.” when they shall begin on the shore to be separated.

CAPUT VIII.

11. Ad fidei immobilem observantiam cohortatio. Vos autem, charissimi, qui hanc fidem habetis, vel qui nunc novam habere coepistis, nutriatur et crescat in vobis. Sicut enim venerunt temporalia tanto ante praedicta , venient et sempiterna promissa. Nec vos decipiant vel vani Pagani, vel falsi Judaei, vel fallaces haeretici, nec non in ipsa Catholica mali Christiani, tanto nocentiores, quanto interiores inimici. Quia et hinc ne perturbarentur infirmi, prophetia divina non tacuit, ubi loquens in Cantico canticorum sponsus ad sponsam, id est, Christus Dominus ad Ecclesiam: Sicut lilium, inquit, in medio spinarum, ita proxima mea in medio filiarum (Cant. II, 2). Non dixit, in medio extranearum; sed, in medio filiarum. Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat: et dum sagena quae missa est in mare, et congregat omnia genera piscium, sicut sanctum loquitur Evangelium, trahitur ad littus, id est, ad saeculi finem, secernat se a piscibus malis, corde, non corpore; mores malos mutando, non retia sancta rumpendo: ne qui nunc probati reprobis videntur esse permixti, non vitam, sed poenam reperiant sempiternam, cum coeperint in littore separari (Matth. XIII, 9, 47-50).