DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18826#0014
8 on" perspective. [lECT. t.
its progress in ourselves therefore, to detect it, v. e
must endeavour to trace it in those not yet accus-
tomed to the enjoyment of their faculties. New-
born infants make little use of their organs of sight,
as the parts which compose those organs do not pos-
sess consistence sufficient to conduct the rays of light
with, certainty. By degrees, this confusion ceases,
the humors become clear, and the retina receives
the rays in their due force and order : at this period,
infants may be observed to look, and stare, and exert
their attention, but, in vain, till, after innumerable
efforts, they discover the just situations of bodies,—•
first of luminous bodies, whose rays issue in a com-
pact order, and are most impressive on the Eye j—*
afterwards of objects in general.
As infants cannot relate the progress of their ac-
quisitions, we are obliged to infer that progress; we
therefore seek information 6n this subject, from
those, who at yea^s of maturity hct^t received the
invaluable faculty of seeing. With whai rations
must the minds of such persons be overwhelmed !
sensations of unutterable delight ! especially, if die
transition from darkness to light, were momenta! \\
and miraculous. In general, however, the Eye ft
unable to bear a transition so sudden; but requires
time, wherein to be strengthened by use. Here
indulge the remark, how happily the Evangelist
Luke expresses at once the liberality of our Lord's
manner of giving, and the importance of his gift;
to those who were blind—he f resented sight," a
present worthy of, and alone in the power of, him,
wliOjC
its progress in ourselves therefore, to detect it, v. e
must endeavour to trace it in those not yet accus-
tomed to the enjoyment of their faculties. New-
born infants make little use of their organs of sight,
as the parts which compose those organs do not pos-
sess consistence sufficient to conduct the rays of light
with, certainty. By degrees, this confusion ceases,
the humors become clear, and the retina receives
the rays in their due force and order : at this period,
infants may be observed to look, and stare, and exert
their attention, but, in vain, till, after innumerable
efforts, they discover the just situations of bodies,—•
first of luminous bodies, whose rays issue in a com-
pact order, and are most impressive on the Eye j—*
afterwards of objects in general.
As infants cannot relate the progress of their ac-
quisitions, we are obliged to infer that progress; we
therefore seek information 6n this subject, from
those, who at yea^s of maturity hct^t received the
invaluable faculty of seeing. With whai rations
must the minds of such persons be overwhelmed !
sensations of unutterable delight ! especially, if die
transition from darkness to light, were momenta! \\
and miraculous. In general, however, the Eye ft
unable to bear a transition so sudden; but requires
time, wherein to be strengthened by use. Here
indulge the remark, how happily the Evangelist
Luke expresses at once the liberality of our Lord's
manner of giving, and the importance of his gift;
to those who were blind—he f resented sight," a
present worthy of, and alone in the power of, him,
wliOjC