§32.
But who is to see Him risen, so as
to believe? Nay, God is ever invisible and known by His works only: and
here the works cry out in proof. If you do not believe, look at those
who do, and perceive the Godhead of Christ. The demons see this, though
men be blind. Summary of the argument so far.
But if, because He is not seen, His having risen
at all is disbelieved, it is high time for those who refuse belief to
deny the very course of Nature. For it is God’s peculiar property
at once to be invisible and yet to be known from His works, as has been
already stated above. 2. If, then, the works are not there, they do
well to disbelieve what does not appear. But if the works cry aloud and
shew it clearly, why do they choose to deny the life so manifestly due
to the Resurrection? For even if they be maimed in their intelligence,
yet even with the external senses men may see the unimpeachable power
and Godhead of Christ. 3. For even a blind man, if he see not the sun,
yet if he but take hold of the warmth the sun gives out, knows that
there is a sun above the earth. Thus let our opponents also, even if
they believe not as yet, being still blind to the truth, yet at least
knowing His power by others who believe, not deny the Godhead of Christ
and the Resurrection accomplished by Him. 4. For it is plain that if
Christ be dead, He could not be expelling demons and spoiling idols;
for a dead man the spirits would not have obeyed. But if they be
manifestly expelled by the naming of His name, it must be evident that
He is not dead; especially as spirits, seeing even what is unseen by
men, could tell if Christ were dead and refuse Him any obedience at
all. 5. But as it is, what irreligious men believe not, the spirits
see—that He is God,—and hence they fly and fall at His
feet, saying just what they uttered when He was in the body:
“We
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know Thee Who Thou art, the Holy One of
God;” and, “Ah, what have we to do with Thee, Thou Son of
God? I pray Thee, torment me not.” 6. As then demons confess Him,
and His works bear Him witness day by day, it must be evident, and let
none brazen it out against the truth, both that the Saviour raised His
own body, and that He is the true Son of God, being from Him, as from
His Father, His own Word, and Wisdom, and Power, Who in ages later took
a body for the salvation of all, and taught the world concerning the
Father, and brought death to nought, and bestowed incorruption upon all
by the promise of the Resurrection, having raised His own body as a
first-fruits of this, and having displayed it by the sign of the Cross
as a monument of victory over death and its corruption.
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Cf.
Luc. iv. 34, and Marc. v. 7.