THE TEST OF TRUTH 



shall we attribute to such propositions as cannot 

 themselves be conceived? Let us illustrate the 

 matter by a quotation from Cardinal Newman s 

 Grammar of Assent, where he says, &quot;A mystery is 

 a proposition conveying incompatible notions, or 

 is a statement of the inconceivable.&quot; No one 

 can call to mind any of the familiar dogmas of 

 theology without appreciating the adequacy and 

 accuracy of Newman s definition. The belief in 

 an omnipotent Deity whom a man may defy (the 

 quibble about the delegation of power from the 

 Creator to the creature is not worth noticing) ; the 

 belief in an omnipotent and benevolent Deity ; the 

 dogma of the Trinity such are some theological 

 mysteries, or &quot;statements of the inconceivable.&quot; 

 Now an inconceivable statement is one the nega 

 tion of which is conceivable ; but it is more, it is a 

 statement the negation of which is a truth of the 

 highest certainty, since ITS negation is inconceivable. 

 Let us take an instance. The dogma that there is 

 one personal God, but that He is three persons, 

 is a &quot;mystery&quot; &quot;a statement of the inconceiv 

 able.&quot; Its negation i.e., the denial of it, is a 

 truth of the highest certainty, since its negation 

 i.e., the assertion of the dogma, is inconceivable. 

 A theological mystery is, therefore, a statement the 

 denial or untruth of which is a truth of the highest 

 certainty. 



There is no rational escape from this ; but there 

 is the familiar argument that these mysteries are 

 not for the reason, but must be accepted by faith. 

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