Prooemium (Prologus)

Prooemium (Prologus)

I boldly approach the glorious triumph of the Cross against the wise of this world and the talkative sophists, a task that is indeed difficult and beyond human strength, yet necessary and useful in our times, relying on divine aid. For although faith is so firmly established on every side by the countless works of our Lord Jesus Christ and the miracles celebrated throughout the world, as well as by the sacred monuments of theologians, that it seems superfluous and even curious to investigate or debate it further, many mortals today are so entangled in the filth of their sins that they regard the light of truth as a joke and dismiss divine miracles as mere delusions. Therefore, we, who are surely consumed by zeal for the house of God, will attempt to awaken memories of the past, which have almost been forgotten, as if we were stirring the sleepy. Although faith cannot be demonstrated solely from natural causes and principles, we will present the strongest reasons based on evident effects, which no one of sound mind can deny. Not that faith relies solely on these, as the Apostle testifies, since it is a gift of God, not from works, so that no one may boast; but that, with their help, the unbelievers may stand firm on solid foundations, and be prepared to receive the supernatural light of faith, while the faithful, equipped with these arms, may advance against the impious adversaries, and, by exposing their folly, rescue the simple from their jaws and the unwary from their clutches. There's no reason for anyone to think that faith lacks merit simply because it's a common saying that faith has no merit, as human reason provides evidence to the contrary. This only applies to those who are compelled to believe solely by reason. However, those who first embrace faith as a divine gift and strive to confirm others in it through reason are especially to be commended, as the Prince of the Apostles, Peter, exhorts us: "Sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, always ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you."^✦ Since we only argue based on reason, we rely on no one's authority, and thus we will proceed throughout this work as if we must believe only in reason, based on what we see and experience. For all are compelled to agree with natural reason. Since we must engage with the wise of this world, whose bare and simple discourse often bores us, we slightly shift the usual simplicity of our style in this work for their satisfaction. The end of the prologue.