820. If the devil favoured the doctrine which destroys him, he would be
divided against himself, as Jesus Christ said. If God favoured the doctrine
which destroys the Church, He would be divided against Himself. Omne regnum
divisum.[180] For Jesus Christ wrought against the devil, and destroyed his
power over the heart, of which exorcism is the symbolisation, in order to
establish the kingdom of God. And thus He adds, Si in digito Dei... regnum
Dei ad Vos.181
821. There is a great difference between tempting and leading into error.
God tempts, but He does not lead into error. To tempt is to afford
opportunities, which impose no necessity; if men do not love God, they will
do a certain thing. To lead into error is to place a man under the necessity
of inferring and following out what is untrue.
822. Abraham and Gideon are above revelation. The Jews blinded themselves in
judging of miracles by the Scripture. God has never abandoned His true
worshippers.
I prefer to follow Jesus Christ than any other, because He has miracle,
prophecy, doctrine, perpetuity, etc.
The Donatists. No miracle which obliges them to say it is the devil.
The more we particularise God, Jesus Christ, the Church.
823. If there were no false miracles, there would be certainty. If there
were no rule to judge of them, miracles would be useless and there would be
no reason for believing.
Now there is, humanly speaking, no human certainty, but we have reason.
824. Either God has confounded the false miracles, or He has foretold them;
and in both ways He has raised Himself above what is supernatural with
respect to us, and has raised us to it.
825. Miracles serve not to convert, but to condemn. Part I-II (Q. 113, A.
10, Ad. 2.)[182]
826. Reasons why we