85. Divine action has no need of human
assistance. God commanded that the heavens should come into existence,
and it was done; He determined that the earth should be created, and it
was created. Gen. i. 6 ff. Who
carried together the stones on his shoulders? who
supplied the expenses? who furnished
assistance to God as He toiled? These things were made in a
moment. Would you know how quickly? “He spake and
they were made.” Ps. xxxiii.
[xxxii.] 9. If the
elements spring up at a word, why should the dead not rise at a
word? For though they be dead, yet they once lived, once had the
breath of life for feeling, and strength for acting; and there is a
very great difference between not having been capable of life, and
having remained lifeless. The devil said: “Command
this stone that it become bread.” S. Luke iv. 3. He confesses that at the command of
God nature can be transformed, dost thou not believe that at the
command of God nature can be remade?