12. To that which is objected, that we are either bound to believe it because it is a truth seen, or because heard, or because inspired: it must be said that we are bound to it because it is a truth most pertaining to divine worship and publicly preached; and therefore a person is not excused by a defect of hearing, nor by a defect of interior light, because he can do that by the doing of which he is inspired.
From these things it is clear why sacrifices were pleasing to God in the time of the written law, and pertained to divine worship, for the reason that all of them were signs professing and prefiguring the restoration of humanity, which was accomplished through the offering of the immaculate lamb and the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ.
It is also evident why in the state of the law of grace no figurative sacrifice is offered, but Jesus Christ himself in his flesh and blood, because it is the time of worshiping God truly and perfectly: and therefore it is fitting that the truest and most perfect sacrifice be offered, which indeed is unique and sole, namely Jesus Christ himself.
It is also evident why unbelievers are justly condemned. For if he who takes away from an earthly king one small part of his kingdom greatly dishonors that king, and through this is deservedly made worthy of being expelled from the kingdom; much more does he who denies that God is the principiating principle of all things from time, or eternally principiating within, dishonor the eternal majesty and is worthy not only of being expelled from the kingdom of God, but also of being cast down into infernal punishment with the devil and his angels.
It is also evident why we worship God by faith. For by thinking of God in the manner in which the Christian faith thinks, we hold of him that he is the most high and most pious principle; and therefore he is to be feared and loved, by which two things man is called back from evil and inflamed toward every good: and this is perfect justice, which he who possesses is worthy of the eternal inheritance.