De consolatione ethnica et christiana, censura theologica

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Through faith we attain knowledge of ourselves: because through it we understand that we are a new creation of God, that we dwell in the assembly of the elect of the Church, and that we rejoice in the communion of the saints.

However many are the principles of our restoration and restitution to wholeness, just as many are the places of consolation. These, however, are those principles: Foreknowledge, Election, Vocation, Justification, Sanctification; of which we do not treat one by one here, so that the speech does not grow too long.

For it will be sufficient to have this persuaded for our consolation: that in Christ we are foreknown, elected, called, and justified to be sanctified unto eternal glory. All these things rest upon the immutable decree of God; and there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Rom. 8:39. No one can snatch the little sheep from the hands of the Shepherd. John 10.

But as through faith we attain what God does for the sake of procuring our salvation, so also we do not attain the other works of God except through faith. According to that saying: "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of Jehovah." Psalm 107:43.

Through faith we understand that adversities must be borne by us constantly and elegantly, because God humbles us with the highest counsel: so that He may then exalt us; He mortifies so that He may vivify; He wills us to be infamous in this world so that He may crown us with glory and honor.

Through faith, for our consolation, we understand and determine that it is good for us when the Lord humbles and chastises us, so that we may learn His justifications; and that to those who love God, all things together work for good. Rom. 8:28. Psalm 119.

Through faith we understand that we are in more danger in prosperous times, on account of the intemperance of our flesh, than in adverse times, which provide us with material for exercising modesty, diligence in duty, and other virtues; and they teach by what reason we can take fruit from adversities.

Through faith, looking at the examples of other pious people, we learn to say with Elijah: "We are not better than our fathers"; and we determine that we must also endure in harsh things; as Paul shows at length at the end of the 11th chapter to the Hebrews.

Through faith we repeat with a grateful memory the benefits with which we have been affected by God