What cannot be demonstrated can still be a sure rule of faith
Next the argument assumes that what cannot be demonstrated by necessary and evident proofs cannot be certain for faith, or a sure rule and foundation of faith among believers. That is utterly false.
Whatever first rule of faith you set must be something that cannot be proved by evident — and, speaking logically, strictly necessary — arguments.
Such proofs would have to come from its own testimony, from other principles of faith, or from human reason. It cannot prove itself from its own witness. It cannot be proved from other faith-principles, because as first rule it is already supposed the best-known principle — so weaker ones would be useless except perhaps ad hominem. And it cannot be proved from human reason: a rule of faith is properly inevident, and so can only be urged by moral arguments, not demonstrated by necessary ones.
Latin
XXI. Deinde supponitur in isto argumento id quod demonstrari non potest, & necessariis ac evidentibus argumentis probari, non posse esse fidei certum & exploratum, certamque apud fideles fidei regulam atque fundamentum. At hoc est falsissimum. Etenim prima fidei regula, quaecunque tandem statuatur, necesse omnino est ut sit aliquid, quod evidentibus, &, si logice loquamur, prorsus necessariis argumentis probari non potest. Siquidem argumenta illa, vel ex proprio ipsius testimonio peterentur, vel ex aliis fidei principiis, vel ex humana ratione. Jam vero peti non possunt ex ipsius testimonio, quoniam hoc modo nihil probat seipsum: non etiam ex aliis fidei principiis, quia quod ponitur esse prima fidei regula hoc ipso supponitur esse principium fidei notissimum, ad quod proinde probandum, alia minus nota frustra adhiberentur; nisi forte ad hominem: denique non ex humana ratione; quia, cum regula fidei sit aliquid proprie loquendo inevidens, non potest rationibus necessariis demonstrari, sed solum argumentis moralibus suaderi.
About this text
Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu - Sedan Theological Theses, newly rendered from the 1675 London Latin. Covers De Theologia through Angelorum & Hominum Sanctorum Cultu Romana I-LXXVII and Pars Secunda (Reformata) I-XL. Not the collected folio.
English follows locked Pitt Latin through Imaginum CLOSED + Sanctorum Cultu Romana CLOSED + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL. 1675 PDF ~384-390 (book ~370-376); Vision OCR + pdftotext + tess. No modern English. This slice densifies Sanctorum Pars Secunda I-XL. Next: Pars Secunda XLI–fin (~CI). Claim stays claimed (book densify not done).
Catalogue & scope
ESTC R17887; Wing L802. IA bub_gb_eOkHAW4G0-wC (+ EEBO 1675 for gap leaves). Densify through Sanctorum Cultu Romana I-LXXVII + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL (Pars Secunda not closed; not whole folio).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Theologia I-XLIII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Checked print Internet Archive PDF of the 1675 Pitt folio (Latin)
- Checked print pdftotext of De Theologia pages (Latin)
- Checked print Internet Archive DjVu OCR of the 1675 Pitt folio (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Fide I-XXII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Authoritate Scripturae Pars I I-XLVII + Pars II I-XXXV + Pars III I-VIII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Scripturae plenitudine densify (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.