...Letthematleastlearnwhatisthereligiontheyattack, , andofpossessingitopenandunveiled, , onthecontrary, itsaysthatmenareindarknessandestrangedfromGod, thatHehashiddenHimselffromtheirknowledge, thatthisisinfactthenamewhichHegivesHimselfintheScriptures, Deusabsconditus;[86] andfinally, ifitendeavoursequallytoestablishthesetwothings: thatGodhassetupintheChurchvisiblesignstomakeHimselfknowntothosewhoshouldseekHimsincerely, andthatHehasneverthelesssodisguisedthemthatHewillonlybeperceivedbythosewhoseekHimwithalltheirheart; whatadvantagecantheyobtain, when, inthenegligencewithwhichtheymakeprofessionofbeinginsearchofthetruth, theycryoutthatnothingrevealsittothem; andsincethatdarknessinwhichtheyare, andwithwhichtheyupbraidtheChurch, establishesonlyoneofthethingswhichsheaffirms, withouttouchingtheother, and, veryfarfromdestroying, provesherdoctrine?
Inordertoattackit, theyshouldhaveprotestedthattheyhadmadeeveryefforttoseekHimeverywhere, andeveninthatwhichtheChurchproposesfortheirinstruction, , , , whentheyhavespentafewhoursinreadingsomebookofScripture, , , verily, IwilltellthemwhatIhaveoftensaid, , thatweshouldtreatitinthisfashion; thematterconcernsourselvesandourall.
Theimmortalityofthesoulisamatterwhichisofsogreatconsequencetous, andwhichtouchesussoprofoundly, , accordingasthereareorarenoteternaljoystohopefor, thatitisimpossibletotakeonestepwithsenseandjudgment, unlessweregulateourcoursebyourviewofthispointwhichoughttobeourultimateend.
