56. Why should one, then, be surprised if the
earth give back those bodies of men which it has received, seeing that
it gives life to, raises, clothes, protects, and defends whatsoever
bodies of seeds it has received? Cease then to doubt that the
trustworthy earth, which restores multiplied as it were by usury the
seeds committed to it, will also restore the entrusted deposit of the
race of man. And why should I speak of the kinds of trees, which
spring up from seed sown, and with revivified fruitfulness bear again
their opening fruits, and repeat the old shape and likeness, and
certain trees being renewed continue through many generations, and in
their endurance overpass the very centuries? We see the grape
rot, and the vine come up again: a graft is inserted and the tree
is born again. Is there this divine foresight for restoring
trees, and no care for men? And He Who has not suffered to perish
that which He gave for man’s use, shall He suffer man to perish,
whom he made after His own image?