57. But it appears incredible to you that
the dead rise again? “Thou foolish one, that which thou
thyself sowest, does it not first die that it may be
quickened?” 1 Cor. xv. 36. Sow any
dry seed you please, it is raised up. But, you answer, it has the
life-juice in itself. And our body has its blood, has its own
moisture. This is the life-juice of our body. So that I
think that the objection is exploded which some allege that a dry twig
does not revive, and then endeavour to argue from this to the prejudice
of the flesh. For the flesh is not dry, since all flesh is of
clay, clay comes from moisture—moisture from the earth.
Then, again, many growing plants, though always fresh, spring from dry
and sandy soil, since the earth itself supplies sufficient moisture for
itself. Does the earth then, which continually restores all
things, fail with regard to man? From what has been said it is
clear that we must not doubt that it is rather in accordance with than
contrary to nature; for it is natural that all
things living should rise again, but contrary
to nature that they should perish.