ON FAITH, REASON, AND SIGHT,
CONSIDERED AS THE THREE DISTINCT MEDIUMS OF HUMAN PERCEPTION.
I
There is a threefold correspondent Light
That shines to Faith, to Reason, and to Sight.
The first, Eternal,—bringing into View
Celestial Objects, if the Faith be true;
The next, Internal,—which the reas'ning Mind
Consults in Truths of an ideal Kind;
The third, External,—and perceiv'd thereby
All outward Objects that affect the Eye.
II
Each Light is good within its destin'd Sphere;
Nor with each other do they interfere.
Faith does not reason, Reason does not see,
Nor Sight extend beyond a fixt Degree;
Yet Faith in Light of a superior Kind
Cannot be call'd irrational or blind;
Because an Higher Certainty display'd
Includes the Force of all inferior Aid.
III
As Body, Soul and Spirit make a Man,
Each has the Help of its appointed Plan;
Sight, Hearing, Smell, and Taste and feeling Sense
What the corporeal Nature wants, dispense;
Thinking, Comparing, Judging, and the whole
Of reasoning Faculties, assist the Soul;
Faith, and whatever else may be exprest
By Grace Celestial, makes the Spirit blest.
IV
To heal Defect, or to avoid Excess,
The Greater Light should still correct the less,
And form within the right obedient Will
A seeing, reas'ning and believing Skill;
While Body moves as outward Sense directs,
And Soul perceives what Reason's Light reflects,
And Spirit, fill'd with Lustre from Above,
Obeys by Faith and operates by Love.
V
A sober Person, tho' his Eyes are good,
Slights not the Truths by Reason understood
Nor just Conclusions, under the Pretence
Of Contradiction to his seeing Sense.
Knowing the Limits too that Reason hath,
He does not seek to quench the Light of Faith;
But rationally grants that It may teach
What human Stretch of Reason cannot reach.
VI
As Sight to Reason in the Things that lie
Beyond the Ken of the corporeal Eye
Unhurt, uninjur'd, yields itself of course,
So well-taught Reason owns a Higher Force.
By Faith enlighten'd, it enjoys a Rest
In clearer Light to find its own supprest,—
Suff'ring no more, for want of its Display,
Than Moon and Stars in full meridian Day.
VII
To make the reas'ning Faculty of Man
Do more or less to help him than it can,
Is equally absurd; but worse to slight
Or want the Benefits of Faith than Sight.
If he who sees no outward Light be blind,
How dismal dark must be the faithless Mind!
The one is only natural Defect;
The other wilful, obstinate Neglect;—
VIII
Pretence of Reason. For it is Pretence
Foolish and fatal in the saddest Sense;
For Reason cannot alter what is true,
Or any more prevent, than Eyes can do.
Both by the Limits which they feel proclaim
The real Want of a Celestial Flame;—
How is it possible to see, in fine,
The Things of God without a Light Divine?
