263

“A miracle,” says one, “would strengthen my faith.”  He says so when he does not see one.  Reasons, seen from afar, appear to limit our view; but when they are reached, we begin to see beyond.  Nothing stops the nimbleness of our mind.  There is no rule, say we, which has not some exceptions, no truth so general which has not some aspect in which it fails.  It is sufficient that it be not absolutely universal to give us a pretext for applying the exceptions to the present subject, and for saying, “This is not always true; there are therefore cases where it is not so.”  It only remains to show that this is one of them; and that is why we are very awkward or unlucky, if we do not find one some day.

264

We do not weary of eating and sleeping every day, for hunger and sleepiness recur.  Without that we should weary of them.  So, without the hunger for spiritual things, we weary of them.  Hunger after righteousness, the eighth beatitude.[102]

265

Faith indeed tells what the senses do not tell, but not the contrary of what they see.  It is above them and not contrary to them.

266

How many stars have telescopes revealed to us which did not exist for our philosophers of old!  We freely attack Holy Scripture on the great number of stars, saying, “There are only one thousand and twenty-eight,[103] we know it.”  There is grass on the earth, we see it—­from the moon we would not see it—­and on the grass are leaves, and in these leaves are small animals; but after that no more.—­O presumptuous man!—­The compounds are composed of elements, and the elements not.—­O presumptuous man!  Here is a fine reflection.—­We must not say that there is anything which we do not see.—­We must then talk like others, but not think like them.

267

The last proceeding of reason is to recognise that there is an infinity of things which are beyond it.  It is but feeble if it does not see so far as to know this.  But if natural things are beyond it, what will be said of supernatural?

268

Submission.—­We must know where to doubt, where to feel certain, where to submit.  He who does not do so, understands not the force of reason.  There are some who offend against these three rules, either by affirming everything as demonstrative, from want of knowing what demonstration is; or by doubting everything, from want of knowing where to submit; or by submitting in everything, from want of knowing where they must judge.

269

Submission is the use of reason in which consists true Christianity.

270

St. Augustine.[104]—­Reason would never submit, if it did not judge that there are some occasions on which it ought to submit.  It is then right for it to submit, when it judges that it ought to submit.

271

Wisdom sends us to childhood. Nisi efficiamini sicut parvuli.[105]