Faith before speech about God

I believed, therefore I spoke; but I was humbled exceedingly; but I said in my ecstasy, “Every man is a liar.” Let faith lead the words about God—faith, and not demonstration. Faith is what draws the soul to assent by means that surpass logical methods; faith is what comes about not by geometrical necessities but by the energies of the Spirit. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The deed followed that voice through the Spirit. From the wonder, the acceptance of the divinity of the Only-begotten became necessary for those who saw. Tell me, what is more compelling toward assent: the weaving together of propositions dragging their conclusion along after them, or a wonder so great, seen so clearly, surpassing every human power? But these things are not approved even now, nor do the works of the Spirit give credibility to the word about God. Instead, artful demonstrations hold their hope in the persuasiveness of the world’s wisdom, not in the strong and clear revelation of the Spirit, which he displays for the salvation of the many through those who have trusted God in simplicity of heart without curious inquiry. But would that I too might believe worthily, so that I may now speak five words with my mind to this great Church of God. And let no one mock the word, as though we were leading our hearers to assent about the things we say without examination. For the first principles of every discipline must necessarily be unexamined by those who learn them; otherwise it is impossible for those who dispute about the first things to advance by method and order to the end. You could learn this even from those outside. For if you do not grant the first principles to the geometer, it is impossible for him to complete what follows. And in arithmetic, the one who opposes the first and elementary principles cuts off the road ahead. Likewise, the first principles of medicine are undemonstrated for physicians. And in general, in whatever pursuit of those who advance by method and order to the end, it is impossible to seek demonstrations of the first assumptions. Rather, one must accept the first principles of the rational arts without examination, and then observe what follows from the things assumed in what comes after. So then, the mystery of theology also seeks assent from unexamined faith. For one must believe, it says, that God exists—not investigate, nor dispute what he is (Hebrews 11:6). And in general, if faith is the substance of things hoped for and the proof of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1), do not be contentious about seeing now the things stored far away, and do not make the things hoped for doubtful because you cannot yet grasp them by knowledge. These things, then, are said in general about faith for the sake of those who fight over words and hold their hope in empty phrases. Now the psalm in hand seems to me to have a sequence of thought that follows the thought of the preceding psalm. For there he said, “I will be pleasing to the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 114:9 LXX; Psalm 116:9 Hebrew). Since, then, he speaks about a land not seen, as one who knows it clearly, he gives the reason for his determination about things unseen, saying: “I believed that there is a land of the living; therefore I spoke, that I will be pleasing to the Lord in it” (Psalm 115:1 LXX; Psalm 116:10 Hebrew).