Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation: With Modifications To Obsolete Language By Monica StevensMore, Thomas, Saint
Religion
Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation: With Modifications To Obsolete Language By Monica Stevens
More, Thomas, Saint
Consolation
Now, you think that, if you should after this bid him tell you by
what way he knoweth that his intent riseth upon a true revelation
and not upon a false illusion, he in turn would bid you tell him
by what means you know that you are talking with him well awake
and not dreaming it asleep. You may answer him that for men thus
to talk together as you do and to prove and perceive that they do
so, by the moving of themselves, with putting the question unto
themselves for their pleasure, and marking and considering it, is
in waking a daily common thing that every man doth or can do when
he will, and when they do it, they do it but for pleasure. But in
sleep it happeneth very seldom that men dream that they do so, and
in the dream they never put the question except for doubt. And you
may tell him that, since this revelation is such also as happeneth
so seldom and oftener happeneth that men dream of such than have
such indeed, therefore it is more reasonable that he show you how
he knoweth, in such a rare thing and a thing more like a dream,
that he himself is not asleep, than that you, in such a common
thing among folk that are awake and so seldom happening in a
dream, should need to show him whereby you know that you be not
asleep.
Besides this, he to whom you should show it seeth himself and
perceiveth the thing that he would bid you prove. But the thing
that he would make you believe--the truth of his revelation which
you bid him prove--you see not that he knoweth it well himself.
And therefore, ere you believe it against the scripture, it would
be well consonant unto reason that he should show you how he
knoweth it for a true waking revelation and not a false dreaming
delusion.
VINCENT: Then shall he peradventure answer me that whether I
believe him or not maketh to him no matter; the thing toucheth
himself and not me, and he himself is in himself as sure that it
is a true revelation as that he can tell that he dreameth not but
talketh with me awake.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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