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| The Evidence of the Senses More Trustworthy Than that of Supernatural Vision. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter XIV.—The
Evidence of the Senses More Trustworthy Than that of Supernatural
Vision.
And Peter said: “You proposed to speak
to one point, you replied to another.1349
1349 Probably it should
be ἀπεκλίνω instead of
ἀπεκρίνω, “you
turned aside to another.” | For your proposition was, that one
is better able to know more fully, and to attain
confidence,1350
1350 The words in
italics are inserted conjecturally, to fill up a lacuna in the best
ms. | when he hears in
consequence of an apparition, than when he hears with his own ears; but
when you set about the matter, you were for persuading us that he who
hears through an apparition is surer than he who hears with his own
ears. Finally, you alleged that, on this account, you knew more
satisfactorily the doctrines of Jesus than I do, because you heard His
words through an apparition. But I shall reply to the proposition
you made at the beginning. The prophet, because he is a prophet,
having first given certain information with regard to what is
objectively1351
1351 ἐναργῶς, “with
reference to things palpable to our senses.” | said by him, is
believed with confidence; and being known beforehand to be a true
prophet, and being examined and questioned as the disciple wishes, he
replies: But he who trusts to apparition or vision and dream is
insecure. For he does not know to whom he is trusting. For
it is possible either that he may be an evil demon or a deceptive
spirit, pretending in his speeches to be what he is not. But if
any one should wish to inquire of him who he is who has appeared, he
can say to himself whatever he likes. And thus, gleaming forth
like a wicked one, and remaining as long as he likes, he is at length
extinguished, not remaining with the questioner so long as he wished
him to do for the purpose of consulting him. For any one that
sees by means of dreams cannot inquire about whatever he may
wish. For reflection is not in the special power of one who is
asleep. Hence we, desiring to have information in regard to
something in our waking hours, inquire about something else in our
dreams; or without inquiring, we hear about matters that do not concern
us, and awaking from sleep we are dispirited because we have neither
heard nor inquired about those matters which we were eager to
know.”
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