2. But, say they, those things
which are in the mind, in that we can by the mind itself discern
them, we have no need to know through the eyes of the body; but
those things, which you say unto us that we should believe, you
neither point to without, that through the eyes of the body we may
know them; nor are they within, in our own mind, that by exercising
thought we may see them. And these things they so say, as though
any one would be bidden to believe, if that, which is believed, he
could already see set before him. Therefore certainly ought we to
believe certain temporal things also, which we see not, that we may
merit1653
to see
eternal things also, which we believe. But, whosoever thou art who
wilt not believe
save what thou seest, lo, bodies that are present
thou seest with the
eyes of the body, wills and thoughts of thine
own that are present, because they are in thine own
mind, thou
seest by the
mind itself; tell me, I
pray thee, thy
friend’s will
towards thee by what
eyes seest thou? For no will can be seen by
the
eyes of the body. What? see you in your own
mind this
also which is going on in the
mind of another? But if you see
it not, how do you
repay in turn the good will of your
friend, if
what you cannot see, you believe not? Will you haply say that you
see the will of another through his works? Therefore you will see
acts, and hear words, but concerning your
friend’s will, that
which cannot be seen and heard you will believe. For that will is
not color or figure, so as to be thrown upon the
eyes; or sound or
strain, so as to glide into the
ears; nor indeed is it your own, so
as to be perceived by the motion
1654
of your own
heart. It remains
therefore that, being neither seen, nor heard, nor beheld within
thyself, it be believed, that thy
life be not left deserted without
any
friendship, or affection bestowed upon thee be not repaid by
thee in return. Where then is that which thou saidest, that thou
oughtest not to believe,
save what thou sawest either outwardly in
the body, or inwardly in the
heart? Lo, out of thine own
heart,
thou believest an
heart not thine own; and lendest thy
faith, where
thou dost not direct the glance of thy body or of thy
mind. Thy
friend’s face thou discernest by thy own body, thy own
faith thou
discernest by thine own
mind; but thy
friend’s
faith is not
loved
by thee, unless there be in thee in return that faith, whereby thou
mayest believe that which in him thou seest not. Although a man may
also deceive by feigning good will, and hiding malice: or, if he
have no thought to do harm, yet by expecting some benefit from
thee, feigns, because he has not, love.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
