第10部分(第1/7 頁)

paltry　few　thousand　years？　Oh；　the　supercilious　doubters！　They　ever

strive　to　clip　the　upward　daring　wings　of　the　spirit。

A　person　deprived　of　one　or　more　senses　is　not；　as　many　seem　to　think；

turned　out　into　a　trackless　wilderness　without　landmark　or　guide。　The

blind　man　carries　with　him　into　his　dark　environment　all　the　faculties

essential　to　the　apprehension　of　the　visible　world　whose　door　is　closed

behind　him。　He　finds　his　surroundings　everywhere　homogeneous　with　those

of　the　sunlit　world；　for　there　is　an　inexhaustible　ocean　of　likenesses

between　the　world　within；　and　the　world　without；　and　these　likenesses；

these　correspondences；　he　finds　equal　to　every　exigency　his　life　offers。

The　necessity　of　some　such　thing　as　correspondence　or　symbolism　appears

more　and　more　urgent　as　we　consider　the　duties　that　religion　and

philosophy　enjoin　upon　us。

The　blind　are　expected　to　read　the　Bible　as　a　means　of　attaining

spiritual　happiness。　Now；　the　Bible　is　filled　throughout　with　references

to　clouds；　stars；　colours；　and　beauty；　and　often　the　mention　of　these　is

essential　to　the　meaning　of　the　parable　or　the　message　in　which　they

occur。　Here　one　must　needs　see　the　inconsistency　of　people　who　believe

in　the　Bible；　and　yet　deny　us　a　right　to　talk　about　what　we　do　not　see；

and　for　that　matter　what　_they_　do　not　see；　either。　Who　shall　forbid　my

heart　to　sing：　〃Yea；　he　did　fly　upon　the　wings　of　the　wind。　He　made

darkness　his　secret　place；　his　pavilion　round　about　him　were　dark　waters

and　thick　clouds　of　the　skies〃？

Philosophy　constantly　points　out　the　untrustworthiness　of　the　five

senses　and　the　important　work　of　rea