Hypocrisy's Miraculous Test
Blaise Pascal
Pensees

The author distinguishes between open opposition to Christ and hypocritical pretense, suggesting that miracles serve as a necessary clarity to expose those who are truly opposed to the truth.

...the occasions for excluding particular miracles from belief. No others need be excluded. Does it therefore follow that they would have the right to exclude all the prophets who came to them? No; they would have sinned in not excluding those who denied God, and would have sinned in excluding those who did not deny God. So soon, then, as we see a miracle, we must either assent to it, or have striking proofs to the contrary. We must see if it denies a God, or Jesus Christ, or the Church. 835
There is a great difference between not being for Jesus Christ and saying so, and not being for Jesus Christ and pretending to be so. The one party can do miracles, not the others. For it is clear of the one party, that they are opposed to the truth, but not of the others; and thus miracles are clearer.
836 That we must love one God only is a thing so evident, that it does not require miracles to prove it. 837 Jesus Christ performed miracles, then the apostles, and the first saints in great number; because the prophecies not being yet accomplished, but in the process of being accomplished by them, the miracles alone bore witness to them. It was foretold that the Messiah should convert the nations. How could this prophecy be fulfilled without the conversion of the nations? And how could t...
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Miracles vs Comfort
Blaise Pascal
Pensees

A critique of those who follow Christ only for worldly comfort, arguing that such followers discredit the true power of miracles by abandoning faith when it no longer serves their personal convenience.

...lf must speak to men. This is what happened in the time of Arius. (Miracles under Diocletian and under Arius.) 832 Miracle.--The people concluded this of themselves; but if the reason of it must be given to you ... It is unfortunate to be in exception to the rule. The same must be strict, and opposed to exception. But yet, as it is certain that there are exceptions to a rule, our judgment must though strict, be just. 833 John vi, 26: Non quia vidisti signum, sed quia saturati estis.
Those who follow Jesus Christ because of His miracles honour His power in all the miracles which it produces. But those who, making profession to follow Him because of His miracles, follow Him in fact only because He comforts them and satisfies them with worldly blessings, discredit His miracles, when they are opposed to their own comforts.
John ix: Non est hic homo a Deo, quia sabbatum non custodit. Alii: Quomodo potest homo peccator hæc signa facere? Which is the most clear? This house is not of God; for they do not there believe that the five propositions are in Jansenius. Others: This house is of God; for in it there are wrought strange miracles. Which is the most clear? Tu quid dicis? Dico quia propheta est. Nisi esset hic a Deo, non poterat facere quidquam.[330] 834 In the Old Testament, when they will turn you f...
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Proof Beyond Doubt
Blaise Pascal
Pensees

The author argues that the miracles of Jesus provided sufficient and undeniable proof of His divinity during His lifetime, rendering those who witnessed them but did not believe morally responsible for their lack of faith.

...ds are true." 1 Kings xviii. Elijah with the prophets of Baal. In the dispute concerning the true God and the truth of religion, there has never happened any miracle on the side of error, and not of truth. 827 Opposition.--Abel, Cain; Moses, the Magicians; Elijah, the false prophets: Jeremiah, Hananiah; Micaiah, the false prophets; Jesus Christ, the Pharisees; St. Paul, Bar-jesus; the Apostles, the Exorcists; Christians, unbelievers; Catholics, heretics; Elijah, Enoch, Antichrist. 828
Jesus Christ says that the Scriptures testify of Him. But He does not point out in what respect. Even the prophecies could not prove Jesus Christ during His life; and so, men would not have been culpable for not believing in Him before His death, had the miracles not sufficed without doctrine. Now those who did not believe in Him, when He was still alive, were sinners, as He said Himself, and without excuse. Therefore they must have had proof beyond doubt, which they resisted.
Now, they had not the prophecies, but only the miracles. Therefore the latter suffice, when the doctrine is not inconsistent with them; and they ought to be believed. John vii, 40. Dispute among the Jews as among the Christians of to-day. Some believed in Jesus Christ; others believed Him not, because of the prophecies which said that He should be born in Bethlehem. They should have considered more carefully whether He was not. For His miracles being convincing, they should have been quite s...
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Miracles Over Scripture
Blaise Pascal
Pensees

A discussion on how Jesus Christ validated his divinity and authority through miracles, which serve as proof of his power to remit sins and fulfill prophecy.

...ural power of the means which are employed for it. Thus, those who heal by invocation of the devil do not work a miracle; for that does not exceed the natural power of the devil. But ... 804 The two fundamentals; one inward, the other outward; grace and miracles; both supernatural. 805 Miracles and truth are necessary, because it is necessary to convince the entire man, in body and soul. 806 In all times, either men have spoken of the true God, or the true God has spoken to men. 807
Jesus Christ has verified that He was the Messiah, never in verifying His doctrine by Scripture and the prophecies, but always by His miracles. He proves by a miracle that He remits sins. Rejoice not in your miracles, said Jesus Christ, but because your names are written in heaven. If they believe not Moses, neither will they believe one risen from the dead.
Nicodemus recognises by His miracles that His teaching is of God. Scimus quia venisti a Deo magister; nemo enim potest hæc signa facere quæ tu facis nisi Deus fuerit cum eo.[320] He does not judge of the miracles by the teaching, but of the teaching by the miracles. The Jews had a doctrine of God as we have one of Jesus Christ, and confirmed by miracles. They were forbidden to believe every worker of miracles; and they were further commanded to have recourse to the chief priests, and to rel...
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Miracles as Proof
Blaise Pascal
Pensees

The author argues that miracles serve as a divine test and a support for religion, acting as a decisive indicator of truth when there is no obvious schism to signal error.

...He speak of the evidence of the prophecies? No; His death had not fulfilled them. But He says, Si non fecissem.[357] Believe the works. Two supernatural foundations of our wholly supernatural religion; one visible, the other invisible; miracles with grace, miracles without grace. The synagogue, which had been treated with love as a type of the Church, and with hatred, because it was only the type, has been restored, being on the point of falling when it was well with God, and thus a type.
Miracles prove the power which God has over hearts, by that which He exercises over bodies. The Church has never approved a miracle among heretics. Miracles a support of religion: they have been the test of Jews; they have been the test of Christians, saints, innocents, and true believers. A miracle among schismatics is not so much to be feared; for schism, which is more obvious than a miracle, visibly indicates their error. But when there is no schism, and error is in question, miracle decides.
Si non fecissem quæ alius non fecit. The wretches who have obliged us to speak of miracles. Abraham and Gideon confirm faith by miracles. Judith. God speaks at last in their greatest oppression. If the cooling of love leaves the Church almost without believers, miracles will rouse them. This is one of the last effects of grace. If one miracle were wrought among the Jesuits! When a miracle disappoints the expectation of those in whose presence it happens, and there is a disproportion bet...
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