Everything stood against reception; rude messengers and fierce enemies prove the growth came from God's power alone

For if the matter is considered in itself, everything ought to have stood in the way of men receiving that doctrine, and Scripture which is its foundation. First, the genius of the doctrine itself. For it sets before us to be believed very many mysteries which human sense judges folly; and it commands and exacts things that most of all repugn human affections — namely that we bear Christ's cross, deny ourselves, and for Christ crucified be ready to leave wealth and pleasures and pour out our life (Matthew 16:24).

Next, those who announced that doctrine to men did not use art and eloquence, by which men's minds are usually bent. Nor did they prevail among men by authority, or by fame of wisdom and learning. Nor were they powerful men who could terrify by threats and arms and compel people to embrace their doctrine; but most of them were rude and unlettered men, earning their living by mechanical arts, from the nation of the Jews, despised and hated by all others, and held for barbarians and ignorant by those who were then thought wise and learned. Add that they were preaching to men nursed in another religion, and occupied by many and great prejudices. For the superstition from which they were being turned away they had received from their ancestors, and they saw it established by the consent of peoples, the vote of the wise, and great authority then.

Finally, it can scarcely be said how many and how sharp and powerful enemies the doctrine contained in our scriptures had. For the teachers of the Jews and the philosophers of the nations assailed it with great effort. The former opposed their own authority; the latter exercised against it all the sharpness of their ingenium and unfolded their eloquence. And besides, the magistrates and princes of the age most atrociously persecuted those who had embraced it, and raged against them with every kind of punishment. Since therefore nothing aided it humanly, and on the contrary it had all things adverse, it is necessary that its increase and propagation be ascribed to the power of the one God. For if any other sect and religion has crept widely and found many followers, that was done by human means. Muhammadanism spread briefly from Arabia through many provinces; but that was done by arms and open force. Next, that doctrine in many things flatters the flesh.