Chapter 9.—That All the Miracles
Which are Done by Means of the Martyrs in the Name of Christ
Testify to that Faith Which the Martyrs Had in Christ.
To what do these miracles witness,
but to this faith which preaches Christ risen in the flesh, and
ascended with the same into heaven? For the martyrs themselves
were martyrs, that is to say, witnesses of this faith, drawing upon
themselves by their testimony the hatred of the world, and
conquering the world not by resisting it, but by dying. For this
faith they died, and can now ask these benefits from the Lord in
whose name they were slain. For this faith their marvellous
constancy was exercised, so that in these miracles great power was
manifested as the result. For if the resurrection of the flesh to
eternal life had not taken place in Christ, and were not to be
accomplished in His people, as predicted by Christ, or by the
prophets who foretold that Christ was to come, why do the martyrs
who were slain for this faith which proclaims the resurrection
possess such power? For whether God Himself wrought these
miracles by that wonderful manner of working by which, though
Himself eternal, He produces effects in time; or whether He wrought
them by servants, and if so, whether He made use of the spirits of
martyrs as He uses men who are still in the body, or effects all
these marvels by means of angels, over whom He exerts an invisible,
immutable, incorporeal sway, so that what is said to be done by the
martyrs is done not by their operation, but only by their prayer
and request; or whether, finally, some things are done in one way,
others in another, and so that man cannot at all comprehend
them,—nevertheless these miracles attest this faith which
preaches the resurrection of the flesh to eternal life.