Page:Blaise Pascal works.djvu/313



LEARNESS, obscurity.—There would be too great darkness, if truth had not visible signs. This is a wonderful one, that it has always been preserved in one Church and one visible assembly [of men]. There would be too great clearness, if there were only one opinion in this Church. But in order to recognise what is true, one has only to look at what has always existed; for it is certain that truth has always existed, and that nothing false has always existed.

The history of the Church ought properly to be called the history of truth.

There is a pleasure in being in a ship beaten about by a storm, when we are sure that it will not founder. The persecutions which harass the Church are of this nature.

In addition to so many other signs of piety, they are also persecuted, which is the best sign of piety.

The Church is an excellent state, when it is sustained by God only.

The Church has always been attacked by opposite errors, but perhaps never at the same time, as now. And if she