Apodeixis, Antichristianismi

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THE GREAT USE of Sacred History, provided it is read attentively and religiously.

CHAP. I.

A decorative drop cap 'M' featuring floral and scrollwork patterns.THAT profane history is of great utility, both many learned men and the excellent author Cicero have clearly taught, and have demonstrated with firm reasons and manifest arguments, not to mention experience, which confirms this same thing more than enough. Yet, that divine history possesses by far the greatest utility (a name by which history is customarily commended above all) and also delight—which are the two chief benefits of history—this is most especially true if one considers that primary praise which is deservedly placed in truth. This is undoubtedly felt and confessed by all those who bring religious minds to its serious consideration and desire to apply them. Indeed, whoever is endowed with any reason easily understands that it is entirely consistent with reason that these divine histories should be so much more excellent and useful than those profane histories, just as the divine excels the human, the sacred the profane, and the heavenly the earthly, and can and usually do bring more utility. But, omitting those reasonings, let us consider what the sacred writings themselves provide us as arguments regarding this matter. For just as the sun is the most rich and certain, the best and most sufficient witness of its own light, so the divine scriptures do not need the testimony of others.