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To what do these miracles witness, but to this faith which preaches
Christ risen in the flesh, and ascended with the same into heaven?
For the martyrs themselves were martyrs, that is to say, witnesses of
this faith, drawing upon themselves by their testimony the hatred of
the world, and conquering the world not by resisting it, but by
dying. For this faith they died, and can now ask these benefits from
the Lord in whose name they were slain. For this faith their
marvellous constancy was exercised, so that in these miracles great
power was manifested as the result. For if the resurrection of the
flesh to eternal life had not taken place in Christ, and were not to
be accomplished in His people, as predicted by Christ, or by the
prophets who foretold that Christ was to come, why do the martyrs who
were slain for this faith which proclaims the resurrection possess such
power? For whether God Himself wrought these miracles by that
wonderful manner of working by which, though Himself eternal, He
produces effects in time; or whether He wrought them by servants, and
if so, whether He made use of the spirits of martyrs as He uses men
who are still in the body, or effects all these marvels by means of
angels, over whom He exerts an invisible, immutable, incorporeal
sway, so that what is said to be done by the martyrs is done not by
their operation, but only by their prayer and request; or whether,
finally, some things are done in one way, others in another, and so
that man cannot at all comprehend them, nevertheless these miracles
attest this faith which preaches the resurrection of the flesh to
eternal life.
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