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a theologico-political treatise [part iii]-第9章

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 OF FAITH; WHICH IS ONCE FOR ALL SEPARATED FROM PHILOSOPHY。







(1) For a true knowledge of faith it is above all things necessary to



understand that the Bible was adapted to the intelligence; not only of the



prophets; but also of the diverse and fickle Jewish multitude。 (2) This will



be recognized by all who give any thought to the subject; for they will see



that a person who accepted promiscuously everything in Scripture as being



the universal and absolute teaching of God; without accurately defining what



was adapted to the popular intelligence; would find it impossible to escape



confounding the opinions of the masses with the Divine doctrines; praising



the judgments and comments of man as the teaching of God; and



making a wrong use of Scriptural authority。 (3) Who; I say; does not



perceive that this is the chief reason why so many sectaries teach



contradictory opinions as Divine documents; and support their contentions



with numerous Scriptural texts; till it has passed in Belgium into a



proverb; geen ketter sonder letter … no heretic without a text? (4) The



sacred books were not written by one man; nor for the people of a single



period; but by many authors of different temperaments; at times extending



from first to last over nearly two thousand years; and perhaps much longer。



(5) We will not; however; accuse the sectaries of impiety because they have



adapted the words of Scripture to their own opinions; it is thus that these



words were adapted to the understanding of the masses originally; and



everyone is at liberty so to treat them if he sees that he can thus obey God



in matters relating to justice and charity with a more full consent: but



we do accuse those who will not grant this freedom to their fellows;



but who persecute all who differ from them; as God's enemies; however



honourable and virtuous be their lives; while; on the other hand; they



cherish those who agree with them; however foolish they may be; as God's



elect。 (6) Such conduct is as wicked and dangerous to the state as any that



can be conceived。







(7) In order; therefore; to establish the limits to which individual freedom



should extend; and to decide what persons; in spite of the diversity of



their opinions; are to be looked upon as the faithful; we must define faith



and its essentials。 (8) This task I hope to accomplish in the present



chapter; and also to separate faith from philosophy; which is the chief aim



of the whole treatise。







(9) In order to proceed duly to the demonstration let us recapitulate the



chief aim and object of Scripture; this will indicate a standard by which we



may define faith。







(10) We have said in a former chapter that the aim and object of Scripture



is only to teach obedience。 (11) Thus much; I think; no one can question。



(12) Who does not see that both Testaments are nothing else but schools for



this object; and have neither of them any aim beyond inspiring mankind with



a voluntary obedience? (13) For (not to repeat what I said in the last



chapter) I will remark that Moses did not seek to convince the Jews by



reason; but bound them by a covenant; by oaths; and by conferring benefits;



further; he threatened the people with punishment if they should infringe



the law; and promised rewards if they should obey it。



(14) All these are not means for teaching knowledge; but for inspiring



obedience。 (15) The doctrine of the Gospels enjoins nothing but simple



faith; namely; to believe in God and to honour Him; which is the same thing



as to obey him。 (16) There is no occasion for me to throw further light on



a question so plain by citing Scriptural texts commending obedience; such as



may be found in great numbers in both Testaments。 (17) Moreover; the Bible



teaches very clearly in a great many passages what everyone ought to do in



order to obey God; the whole duty is summed up in love to one's neighbour。



(18) It cannot; therefore; be denied that he who by God's command loves his



neighbour as himself is truly obedient and blessed according to the law;



whereas he who hates his neighbour or neglects him is rebellious and



obstinate。







(19) Lastly; it is plain to everyone that the Bible was not written and



disseminated only; for the learned; but for men of every age and race;



wherefore we may; rest assured that we are not bound by Scriptural command



to believe anything beyond what is absolutely necessary; for



fulfilling its main precept。







(20) This precept; then; is the only standard of the whole Catholic faith;



and by it alone all the dogmas needful to be believed should be determined。



(21) So much being abundantly manifest; as is also the fact that all other



doctrines of the faith can be legitimately deduced therefrom by reason



alone; I leave it to every man to decide for himself how it comes to pass



that so many divisions have arisen in the Church: can it be from any other



cause than those suggested at the beginning of Chap。 VIII。? (22) It is these



same causes which compel me to explain the method of determining the dogmas



of the faith from the foundation we have discovered; for if I



neglected to do so; and put the question on a regular basis; I might justly



be said to have promised too lavishly; for that anyone might; by my showing;



introduce any doctrine he liked into religion; under the pretext that it was



a necessary means to obedience: especially would this be the case in



questions respecting the Divine attributes。







(23) In order; therefore; to set forth the whole matter methodically; I will



begin with a definition of faith; which on the principle above given; should



be as follows:…







(24) Faith consists in a knowledge of God; without which obedience to Him



would be impossible; and which the mere fact of obedience to Him implies。



(25) This definition is so clear; and follows so plainly from what we have



already proved; that it needs no explanation。 (26) The consequences involved



therein I will now briefly show。







(27) (I。) Faith is not salutary in itself; but only in respect to the



obedience it implies; or as James puts it in his Epistle; ii:17; 〃Faith



without works is dead〃 (see the whole of the chapter quoted)。







(28) (II。) He who is truly obedient necessarily possesses true and saving



faith; for if obedience be granted; faith must be granted also; as the same



Apostle expressly says in these words (ii:18); 〃Show me thy faith without



thy works; and I will show thee my faith by my works。〃 (29) So also



John; I Ep。 iv:7: 〃Everyone that loveth is born of God; and knoweth



God: he that loveth not; knoweth not God; for God is love。〃 (30) From these



texts; I repeat; it follows that we can only judge a man faithful or



unfaithful by his works。 (31) If his works be good; he is faithful; however



much his doctrines may differ from those 
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