CHAPTER I. How by means of visible things we arrive at the knowledge
of such as are invisible 5
II. How the Triumph of Christ testifies to the truth of our Faith 7
III. Containing certain fundamental and irrefragable principles 10
IV. Answers to the objections which may be brought against the foregoing propositions 12
V. The mode in which our argument must be conducted 15
VI. The existence of God 17
VII. God is not a body, nor the form of a body, nor is He a complex substance 19
VIII. God is the perfect and supreme Good, and is of Infinite power; He is in every place; and He is immutable and eternal 21
IX. God is One 22
X. God knows all things perfectly, and acts of His own Will, and not from natural necessity 23
XI. The Providence of God extends over all things 25
XII. The end to which man is guided by Divine Providence 27
XIII. Man’s last end cannot be attained in this present life 28
XIV. The soul of man is immortal 33
BOOK II.
Method observed throughout this Book 39
I. Some true Religion exists in the world 41
II. Religion is both interior and exterior 42
III. No better life can be found than the Christian life 43
IV. The end presented to us by the Christian Religion is the best which can possibly be conceived 45
V. A Christian life is the best possible means for attaining to happiness 47
VI. The Christian life is a most sure means of attaining to beatitude 49
VII. The faith of Christ is true, because it causes men to lead a perfect life 51
VIII. The Doctrines taught by Christianity are true and come from God 55
IX. The truth of the faith proved by arguments founded on the prayer and contemplation of Christians 60
X. Proofs of the truth of the Christian Religion founded on its external forms of worship 63
XI. The truth of Christianity evidenced by its effects on the interior life of Christians 67
XII. The truth of Christianity manifested by its visible effects on the lives of Christians 71
XIII. The truth of the faith demonstrated by the wonderful works of Christ, especially those which pertain to His power 74
XIV. The truth of Christianity shown by arguments based on the Wisdom of Christ 81
XV. The truth of Christ’s teaching is proved by His goodness 86
XVI. The truth of Christianity is proved by the power, wisdom, and goodness of Christ, considered collectively 91
BOOK III.
Method observed throughout this Book 95
I. God contains within Himself, and can perform, an infinite number of things surpassing human understanding 97
II. An examination of certain Articles of the Christian Creed which exceed the limits of human understanding 99
III. The mystery of the Trinity is neither unreasonable nor incredible 101
IV. The Christian Doctrine of Creation is neither incredible nor unreasonable 108
V. The Christian teaching concerning the Sanctification, Glory, and Resurrection of rational creatures contains no Article which is either impossible or unreasonable 110
VI. The Doctrine of the Damnation of the wicked is one befitting Christianity 113
VII. The Doctrine of the Incarnation of the Son of God is, in no sense, incredible, unseemly, or unreasonable 114
VIII. The belief in the Virginal birth of Christ is consistent with reason, and His life befitted, in all respects, His dignity 117
IX. The Christian Doctrine of Original Sin is neither unreasonable nor incredible 119
X. Our belief in the Passion of Christ, in the other mysteries of His Humanity, and in all the Articles defined by the Church, is strictly consistent with reason 123
XI. The Christian Religion most prudently establishes the two precepts of charity, as the foundation of our whole moral life 127
XII. The excellence of the moral teaching of the Church 130
XIII. The perfect reasonableness of the Christian constitution and code of judicial law 133
XIV. The Sacraments of the Church have been instituted by Christ, and are admirably adapted to the needs of mankind 137
XV. The number of the Sacraments is reasonable 139
XVI. The rites used in the administration of the Sacraments are both reasonable and seemly 140
XVII. Answers to certain objections brought against the Doctrine of the Blessed Eucharist 148
XVIII. The reasonableness of the Ceremonies of the Church 151
BOOK IV.
Introduction. Method observed throughout this Book 155
I. No Religion except Christianity can be true 157
II. The defective and erroneous Religions taught by Heathen Philosophers 158
III. The futility and superstition of the traditions of astrology 165
IV. Idolatry is of all things the most vain 174
V. A refutation of the Jewish perfidy and superstition 179
VI. The malicious untruthfulness of heretics 190
VII. The utter irrationality of the Mahometan Religion 195
VIII. The Christian Religion will remain true and unwavering unto the end 202
IX. Epilogue 204
Alphabetical Index 211
THE TRUTH OF FAITH MANIFESTED BY THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS.
BOOK I.
THE TRUTH OF OUR FAITH MADE MANIFEST IN THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS.
Written by FRA GIROLAMO SAVONAROLA of Ferrara, of the Order of Preachers.
PROLOGUE.
The glorious triumph of the Cross embraces so many mysteries that, in attempting to unfold them, and thus to silence the profane and foolish babble of worldly-wise philosophers, I am undertaking a task far above my powers, and can trust only to the help of the Lord.
It would seem mere waste of time to discuss and analyse our Faith, based as it is upon the miraculous works of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which are patent to the whole world, and upon the teaching of venerable theologians. Nevertheless, there are nowadays men living in such bondage to vice, that, even in the light of the noonday sun, they grope in darkness, and scorn the marvels of heavenly science. I, therefore, on fire with zeal for the House of God, intend, for the sake of the salvation of these misguided men, and in order to rouse them from the slumber that oppresses them, to recall to their memory the things of Christ, which they have forgotten and thrust from their hearts.
Our Faith cannot be demonstrated by natural principles and causes. Nevertheless, the past and present events of Church history afford arguments in support of our religion so convincing that no logical mind can reject them. At the same time, no one believes that Faith itself depends upon these arguments, seeing that it is “the gift of God; not of works, that no man may glory” (Eph. ii. 8, 9). We make use of these arguments indeed; but we do so in order to confirm the faith of such as waver, to prepare unbelievers for the reception of supernatural light, and to enable the faithful to confute the arguments of irreligious men; and thus, by exposing their folly, to undeceive the simple and unlearned who have been misled by them.
This use of human reasoning does not detract from the value of Faith; for the axiom that _faith proved by argument_ has no merit, refers only to the faith of such as refuse to believe without proof. They who, being enlightened by God, embrace the Faith without proof, and who then, in order to strengthen their own belief and that of others, investigate the grounds of their faith, deserve commendation, and obey the precept of St. Peter: “Sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you” (1 Peter iii. 15). In this book we intend to be guided by reason only. We shall not, then, appeal to any authority, but shall proceed as if we had no belief in any one in the world, no matter how learned he may be. We shall rely solely on reason. Such a mode of procedure must, surely, satisfy every one who is not absolutely foolish.