Chapter 4 (89)
Distinction
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doubts concerning Christ's death and descent into hell, when he asked through the disciples: Are you the one who is to come, or are we to await another?» As if to say: are you yourself going to descend into hell, or will you send another for these mysteries?—But some say that he did not doubt from ignorance, but from piety, that is, he showed himself to doubt not because he did not know, but because he was seized with pious devotion toward Christ, and so, with wonder, he indicated his humility.
Chapter 4 (89) 1. ON THE FAITH OF CORNELIUS. It is also usual to ask concerning Cornelius, whether he had faith in the incarnation, since he was told by the angel: Your alms have been accepted, and your prayers have been granted.' For if he did not then have faith in the incarnation, then he had justice without this faith, because of him it is written that he was just and God-fearing.' But if he had faith in the incarnation, to what end then was
Peter sent to him?
2. It may well be said that, just as he already had faith in God's unity by revelation, so he also had faith in the incarnation, but that he did not know that the Son of God had already become incarnate, and so Peter was sent to him in order to announce to him that the Son of God was already born and to confer on him the sacrament of regeneration. And so he had faith in the incarnation, but he did not know whether it had already occurred or was yet to come.—GREGORY. And so "by faith, he came to works, and by works he was made more firm in faith." For as Gregory says, "it is through faith that one comes to works. Cornelius also came to works through faith: for he believed in the one God, but did not know that his Son had become incarnate. Through faith, his works were pleasing to God, for without faith, it is impossible to please God."*"*
3. But Augustine says that "the angel said to Cornelius: Your alms have been accepted, and your prayers have been granted, before he believed in Christ; and yet he did not give alms or pray without some faith.
For how did he call on him in whom he did not believe?° But if salvation had been possible without faith in Christ, Peter, the Church's architect, would not have been sent to him."'—Note carefully how he says that 3Mt. 11, 3; Lk. 7, 19.
FAct./10, 4:
"Ach 10, 22.
Hebr. 11, 6.
'Gregory, In Ezechielem, bk 2 hom. 7 n9.
Act. 10, 4.
°Cf. Rom. 10, 14.
7Augustine, De praedestinatione sanctorum, c7 n12.