UT if
some one, beholding the present course of the world, by which
intervals of time are marked, going on in a certain order, should say
that it is not possible that the predicted stoppage of these moving
things should take place, such a man clearly also does not believe
that in the beginning the heaven and the earth were made by God; for
he who admits a beginning, of motion surely does not doubt as to its
also having an end; and he who does not allow its end, does not admit
its beginning either; but as it is by believing that "we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God," as the apostle says,
"so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear
," we must use the same faith as to the word of God when He foretells
the necessary stoppage of existing things.
The question of the "how" must, however, be put beyond the reach of
our meddling; for even in the case mentioned it was "by faith" that we
admitted that the thing seen was framed from things not yet apparent,
omitting the search into things beyond our reach. And yet our reason
suggests difficulties on many points, offering no small occasions for
doubt as to the things which we believe.