Question XXV: Whether one can know with certainty that he has faith

HAnc treats of this 1. 2. tract. 5. disp. 2. question 8., where I reviewed the opinions.

I assert with D. Bonaventure that someone can know with theological and moral certainty that he has the habit of faith.

It is PROVED from D. Bonaventure dub. 1. Whoever knows his acts by experience knows also the habit from which they come. A man can know his supernatural acts of faith: Therefore. The major is evident: for habits are known with certainty through acts, as Scotus teaches, cited p. 1. tract. 9. disp. 2. question 3. The minor is evident; for acts are known through objects, from Scotus loc. cit. Mastrius admits it in 3. dist. 6. question 14. num. 368. with Scotus 3. dist. 23. question unica, where they admit the major also. They confirm it with D. Bonaventure from the force of experience. For just as by experience I know that I believe a man narrating something; so (they say) we evidently experience that we believe the mysteries of faith, which have been revealed by God. Mastrius confirms it; for we clearly experience that we are not moved to that assent by the evidence of the object, since it is obscure to us, nor from anywhere else than from authority. And in this sense he says D. Augustine said with Scotus lib. 13. de Trin. cap. 1. Nothing is more certain to man than his faith. Yet these things conflict with what he adds from Scotus num. 369. that it cannot be evidently known whether we have this knowledge in act, from the divine revelation of the act alone.

It is PROVED secondly, that it is known with theological certainty. Whoever has a pious affect for believing the things that are of faith, knows that he assents to them from above. The faithful man experiences in himself this pious affect: Therefore. The major is certain, because that affect is the supernatural principle of the assent, as I showed 1. 2. Tract. 5. disp. 1. question 6. The minor is granted by Mastrius num. 373. conseq. recta. It is the argument of S. Bonaventure loc. cit. Observe the fallacy of Mastrius and Scotus, who infer that evidence cannot be had of the direct act and habit of faith by a reflected act; because the direct act is incuidens from its object, as I shall say presently.

It is PROVED thirdly from D. Bonaventure in his answer; for the faithful Christian knows that he believes in his mind the articles of the true faith; otherwise he could doubt whether he is a Christian.

Mastrius answers that one can know with certainty that he has faith objectively, that is, that he believes true things; but not that he formally elicits an act of faith.

CONTRA, from D. Bonaventure serm. 9. Hexaemeron. For the firmness of faith, from our attending, and indeed, with the object known from which the act is elicited, the act too is known to be natural or supernatural, because acts are specified, or known, through objects. This S. Doctor shows from that 2. Peter 1.: Having the more firm prophetic word: to which you do well to attend, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the morning star arise in your hearts. The Apostle wills the same 2. Cor. last chapter. Try your own selves, whether you are in the faith: prove yourselves.

Mastrius answers with Becanus that the faithful can be certain of the truth of the object through the assent of faith: but that he cannot be certain of the certainty of the assent except through a reflected act, which is fallacious. Contra, because although the direct act is obscure, since it is about the object of faith; nevertheless the reflected act, which bears upon its own present act, through which the habit becomes known with certainty, is not doubtfully recognized, as Mastrius admits, but in some way even evident, much less merely certain, as Scotus indicates loc. cit., as the Arretine thought disp. 23. question unica. art. 12.

It is confirmed by Mastrius himself num. 368. from experience. For we know that we are not moved to the assent of faith by the evidence of the object, since it plainly stands to us that it is in itself inevident, and that we believe from authority alone, namely divine revelation, by which I sense that I am moved to assent, as Mastrius says num. 367., which the following num. denies, discordant with himself, as I said.

You will OBJECT, that it is not certain that the habit of faith is given.

It is ANSWERED, that it is certain with theological certainty, even if some deny it. Therefore one knows it with a certainty somehow evident in experience, as Mastrius admits num. 375., saying this is commonly accepted among Scholastics.