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is such that its very establishment
suffices to prove its truth. Others trace it even to the apostles. The more
learned go back to the beginning of the world. The angels see it better
still, and from a more distant time.
286. Those who believe without having read the Testaments, do so because
they have an inward disposition entirely holy, and all that they hear of our
religion conforms to it. They feel that a God has made them; they desire
only to love God; they desire to hate themselves only. They feel that they
have no strength in themselves; that they are incapable of coming to God;
and that if God does not come to them, they can have no communion with Him.
And they hear our religion say that men must love God only, and hate self
only; but that, all being corrupt and unworthy of God, God made Himself man
to unite Himself to us. No more is required to persuade men who have this
disposition in their heart, and who have this knowledge of their duty and of
their inefficiency.
287. Those whom we see to be Christians without the knowledge of the
prophets and evidences, nevertheless judge of their religion as well as
those who have that knowledge. They judge of it by the heart, as others
judge of it by the intellect. God himself inclines them to believe, and thus
they are most effectively convinced.
I confess indeed that one of those Christians who believe without proofs
will not, perhaps, be capable of convincing an infidel who will say the same
of himself. But those who know the proofs of religion will prove without
difficulty that such a believer is truly inspired by God, though he cannot
prove it himself.
For God having said in His prophecies (which are undoubtedly prophecies)
that in the reign of Jesus Christ He would spread His spirit abroad amo
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