21. Nay more, the whole constitution of nature would bear us out against the impiety of doubting the works and powers of God. And yet our disbelief tilts even against obvious truth; we strive in our fury to pluck even God from His throne. If we could, we would climb by bodily strength to heaven, would fling into confusion the ordered courses of sun and stars, would disarrange the ebb and flow of tides, check rivers at their source or make their waters flow backward, would shake the foundations of the world, in the utter irreverence of our rage against the paternal work of God. It is well that our bodily limitations confine us within more modest bounds. Assuredly, there is no concealment of the mischief we would do if we could. In one respect we are free; and so with blasphemous insolence we distort the truth and turn our weapons against the words of God.

21. Si possent, Dei opera omnia turbarent.---Et omnia quidem insuper mundi opera adesse nobis in testimonium possent, ne ambigere de Dei rebus arque virtutibus fas crederemus. Sed in ipsam veritatem infidelitas 0089B nostra procurrit, et violenti in excidium Dei potestatis irrumpimus. Si liceret, corpora et manus ad coelum elevaremus, solem astraque caetera annuis cursus sui limitibus proturbaremus, permisceremus decessus Oceani et accessus, fluenta etiam fontium 0090A inhiberemus, et naturas fluminum referremus, concuteremus fundamenta terrae, et toto in haec opera Dei parricidio desaeviremus. Sed bene, quod nos intra hanc modestiae necessitatem natura corporum detinet. Certe non fallimus, quid, si liceret, essemus facturi. Namque quia possumus, profanae voluntatis audacia naturam veritatis convellimus, et bellum dictis Dei comparamus.