Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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and of Peter, in whose writings, though the greater part be obscure, yet
their heavenly majesty attracts universal attention. But this one
circumstance raises their doctrine sufficiently above the world, that
Matthew, who had before been confined to the profit of his table, and Peter
and John, who had been employed in fishing-boats, all plain, unlettered
men, had learned nothing in any human school which they could
communicate to others. And Paul, from not only a professed but a cruel
and sanguinary enemy, being converted to a new man, proves by his
sudden and unhoped-for change, that he was constrained, by a command
from heaven, to vindicate that doctrine which he had before opposed. Let
these deny that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles; or, at least, let
them dispute the credibility of the history: yet the fact itself loudly
proclaims that they were taught by the Spirit, who, though before despised
as some of the meanest of the people, suddenly began to discourse in such
a magnificent manner on the mysteries of heaven ....
13. “Wherefore, the Scripture will then only be effectual to produce the
saving knowledge of God, when the certainty of it shall be founded on the
internal persuasion of the Holy Spirit. Thus those human testimonies,
which contribute to its confirmation, will not be useless, if they follow that
first and principal proof, as secondary aids to our imbecility. But those
persons betray great folly, who wish it to be demonstrated to infidels that
the Scripture is the Word of God, which cannot be known without faith.
Augustin, therefore, justly observes, that piety and peace of mind ought to
precede in order that a man may understand somewhat of such great
subjects.”
MEDITATION ON THE FUTURE LIFE.
(Book III. ch. 9, §§ 1, 3, 6.)
1. “With whatever kind of tribulation we may be afflicted, we should
always keep the end in view; to habituate ourselves to a contempt of the
present life, that we may thereby be excited to meditation on that which is
to come. For the Lord, well knowing our strong natural inclination to a
brutish love of the world, adopts a most excellent method to reclaim us and
rouse us from one insensibility that we may not be too tenaciously attached
to that foolish affection. There is not one of us who is not desirous of
appearing through the whole course of his life, to aspire and strive after
celestial immortality. For we are ashamed of excelling in no respect the