And the admission of the truth on this point, will _not_ destroy our
confidence in them on others. We may believe that the Apostles were
fallible on matters of little moment, and have the fullest assurance
possible that they were right on matters of great importance.
The Apostles themselves were sufficiently assured of the truth of those
impressions which they had received about Christ through their eyes and
ears; yet neither the eyes nor the ears of man are always or absolutely
infallible. I have myself mistaken blue for green, and yellow for white;
and I recollect two occasions on which coal or jet, seemed, at a
distance, in the sunlight, as white as snow. And I have often thought
things to be moving, which were at rest; and things to be at rest, which
were moving. Yet I have the fullest confidence in my eyes. I have
sometimes been mistaken with regard to sounds. I have thought a sound to
be near, when it was far off; and I have thought a sound to be far off,
when it was near. And I have often mistaken one sound for another. Yet I
have all the confidence I need to have in my ears. Both eyes and ears
may need the help of the mind at times; but the mind is always at hand
with its help. In short, I know that all my senses are fallible; yet on
every point of moment I have all the assurance, with regard to things
sensible, that is needful to my welfare.
Pages:
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409