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does not judge of the miracles by the
teaching, but of the teaching by the miracles.
The Jews had a doctrine of God as we have one of Jesus Christ, and confirmed
by miracles. They were forbidden to believe every worker of miracles; and
they were further commanded to have recourse to the chief priests and to
rely on them.
And thus, in regard to their prophets, they had all those reasons which we
have for refusing to believe the workers of miracles.
And yet they were very sinful in rejecting the prophets and Jesus Christ
because of their miracles; and they would not have been culpable, if they
had not seen the miracles. Nisi fecissem... peccatum non haberent.[179]
Therefore all belief rests upon miracles.
Prophecy is not called miracle; as Saint John speaks of the first miracle in
Cana and then of what Jesus Christ says to the woman of Samaria, when He
reveals to her all her hidden life. Then He heals the centurion's son; and
Saint John calls this "the second miracle."
809. The combinations of miracles.
810. The second miracle can suppose the first, but the first cannot suppose
the second.
811. Had it not been for the miracles, there would have been no sin in not
believing in Jesus Christ.
812. "I should not be a Christian, but for the miracles," said Saint
Augustine.
813. Miracles.--How I hate those who make men doubt of miracles! Montaigne
speaks of them as he should in two places. In one, we see
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