The eloquence, indeed, which lent persuasion to their message, consisted of wonderful works, not words.For they who had not seen Christ risen in the flesh, nor ascending into heaven with His risen body, believed those who related how they had seen these things, and who testified not only with words but wonderful signs.
For men whom they knew to be acquainted with only one, or at most two languages, they marvelled to hear speaking in the tongues of all nations.They saw a man, lame from his mother's womb, after forty years stand up sound at their word in the name of Christ; that handkerchiefs taken from their bodies had virtue to heal the sick; that countless persons, sick of various diseases, were laid in a row in the road where they were to pass, that their shadow might fall on them as they walked, and that they forthwith received health; that many other stupendous miracles were wrought by them in the name of Christ; and, finally, that they even raised the dead.If it be admitted that these things occurred as they are related, then we have a multitude of incredible things to add to those three incredibles.That the one incredibility of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ may be believed, we accumulate the testimonies of countless incredible miracles, but even so we do not bend the frightful obstinacy of these sceptics.But if they do not believe that these miracles were wrought by Christ's apostles to gain credence to their preaching of His resurrection and ascension, this one grand miracle suffices for us, that the whole world has believed without any miracles.
CHAP.6.--THAT ROME MADE ITS FOUNDER ROMULUS A GOD BECAUSE IT LOVEDHIM; BUT THE
CHURCH LOVED CHRIST BECAUSE IT BELIEVED HIM TO BE GOD.
