The Divine Lamp

Chapter 9 OF THE ORDER AND MODE OF PROCEDURE IN THIS WORK.

Accordingly, from what we have been saying it is evident that the intention of the wise man must be  directed to the twofold truth of divine things and to refutation of contrary errors: and that the research of reason is ale to reach to one of these, while the other surpasses every effort of reason.  And I speak of a twofold truth of divine things, not on the part of God Himself Who is Truth one and simple, but on the part of our knowledge, the relation of which to the knowledge of divine things varies.

Wherefore in order to deduce the first kind of truth we must proceed be demonstrative arguments whereby we can convince our adversaries.  But since such arguments not available in support of the second kind of truth, our intention must be not to convince our opponent by our arguments, but to solve the arguments which he brings against the truth because, as shown above (chapt 7), natural reason cannot be opposed to the truth of faith.  In a special way my the opponent of this kind be convinced by the authority of Scripture confirmed by God with miracles: since we believe not what is above human reason save because God has revealed it.  In support, however, of this kind of truth, certain probable arguments must be adduced for the practice and help of the faithful, but not for the conviction of our opponents, because the very insufficiency of these arguments would rather confirm them in their error, if they thought that we assented to the truth of faith on account of such weak reasonings.

With the intention then of proceeding in the manner laid down, we shall first of all endeavor to declare the truth which is the object of faith’s confession and of reason’s researches, by adducing arguments both demonstrative and probable, some of which we have gathered from the writings of the philosophers and holy men, so as thereby to confirm the truth and convince our opponents (this is the burden of the first 3 volumes).  After thins, so as to proceed from the more to the less manifest, we shall with God’s help proceed to declare that truth which surpasses reason, by refuting the arguments of our opponents, and by setting forth the truth of faith by means of probable arguments and authority (in book 4).

Seeing then that we intend by the way of reason to pursue those things about God which human reason is able to investigate, the first object that offers itself to our consideration consists in those things which pertain to God in Himself (in book 1); the second (in book 2) will be the procession of creatures from Him; and the third (in book 3) the relation of creatures to Him as their end.  Of those things which we need to consider about God in Himself, we must give the first place (this being the necessary foundation of the whole of this work), to the question of demonstrating that there is a God: for unless this be established, all questions about divine things are out of court.