The Fourth Dialogue

water, with fire, with starvation, and also persuaded others to do the same? All these things they did through faith, for if they had not believed them to be possible, they would never have done them. Just as people are capable of almost everything they believe to be possible, since their false faith (which is not only not grounded on God’s command, but is entirely contrary to God’s command) nevertheless has such powers, what would it be, then, that the faith which has been commanded, given, and confirmed by God would not be capable of?

Power of true faith.
1 Cor. 4.

Or would the spirit of God have less power in people than the spirit of Satan, or would light have less power than darkness? See what great powers the faith of Paul has: to this time (he says) we hunger, we thirst, and are naked; we are beaten with fists, we wander and labor, we work with our own hands, we are cursed and bless, we are tormented and suffer. When we are slandered, we are comforted. Are they servants of Christ? I am more abundant, in labors more manifold, in prisons often, in

2 Cor. 11.

deaths; of the Jews I have received thirty-nine stripes five times, three times I have suffered shipwreck, night and day being in the deep of the sea. Often I have been on the road in dangers of storms, of murderers, of my own countrymen, of foreigners, in danger in cities, in the wilderness, in the sea, and among false brothers, in labor and hardship, in many watchings, in thirst, in frequent fasts,