Scripture is first principle with Christians; Walaeus's three argument kinds against the atheist

What then, Miletus? If we made this principle simply first against every adversary, your charge would have some color. But ours set Sacred Scripture only as the first principle of theological discourse with one who professes himself a Christian and admits both Testaments. Against an utter atheist — still empty of Christ's Spirit (John 14:17) — the process is Aph. XIII's.

Walaeus wisely reduces convincing such a one to three kinds: (1) historical notes and criteria (Arrian; Josephus against Apion) — far more evident in sacred history than in human writings; (2) the religion's perfection and divinity in the Testaments, by three infallible notes — true God alone worshipped, true way of reconciliation, true duties to God and neighbor; (3) certain divinity-signs — miracles; matter (creation, Trinity, Christ God-man, resurrection, judgment, Decalogue, prayer, prophecies, promises); form (simplicity with majesty); effects (cessation of oracles, conversion of nations); adjuncts of antiquity and duration against Satan's hatreds. From these the books' divinity becomes known to anyone who seriously reads them with a sincere mind eager for salvation.