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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 2025
We have said that the Resurrection of the Body, being a revealed mystery is not provable by reason, but is acceptable only on authority. As a preface to ‘the Witness of Reason,’ we set down the principle of St. Thomas :
Whoever tries to prove ‘(a mystery of faith)’ by natural reason derogates from faith in two ways :
‘First, as regards the dignity of faith itself, which consists in its being concerned with invisible things that exceed human reason : wherefore the Apostle says that faith is of things that appear not (Heb. xi, i).
’ Secondly, as regards the utility of drawing others to the faith. For when anyone in the endeavour to prove the faith brings forward reasons which are not cogent, he falls under the ridicule of unbelievers; since they suppose that we stand upon such reasons, and that we believe on such grounds.
‘Therefore we must not attempt to prove what is of faith except by authority alone, to those who receive the authority ; while as regards others it suffices to prove that what faith teaches is not impossible’ (ja Qu. 32, Art. 1, Eng. tr.).
‘. . . Since faith rests upon infallible truth, and since the contrary of faith can never be demonstrated, it is clear that the arguments against faith cannot be demonstrations but are difficulties that can be answered’ (ia Qu. 1, Art. 8, Eng. tr.).
With these words of wisdom, which should not be forgotten, we now pass from the Witness of Scripture to the Witness of Reason to the Resurrection of the Body.