1817 Sept. 18

Not Paul

Ch. Paul’s Vision

Visions explained

Trances

Meantime in speaking / what has been said / of a vision the word trance

JB marginal note: ‘Græcé εκστασις’.

will sometimes have / has here and there / occurred: the sort of relation which seems in idea at least to have had place between a vision

JB marginal note: ‘Græcé οραμα’.

and a trance, seems therefore to present a demand / some call for a few words of / explanation.

To judge from the account / reports / a trance is a mode of being a state of mind, in which a vision may be seen: between the one and the other between neither however and the other does the connection seem a necessary one: a vision may have place without a trance: a trance may also have place without a vision: although if it have not a vision in it / without a vision in it /, it seems not easy to say to what purpose it can have been got up, nor what can have been the use of it.

If at the time when it is requisite or proper to have a vision, you have / happen to be / the convenience of being alone―free from the intrusion of prying eyes, there is no harm indeed in being in a trance, but neither does there seem to be any very particular use from it.

But / On the other hand / if in / at / the time in question / required / you can not avoid being in company, the trance if not matter of necessity is at any rate matter of no small convenience. While Standing, sitting / standing / or walking, and speaking or not speaking, you continue visible to the company―to the whole of the company or so much as to any one member of it, whatever visions it may happen to you to be favoured with, it may not be altogether easy to get credit / obtain credence / for them. In that case, the best way at least, if not the only way, is to fall down flat upon your face, you are then in a trance: you are then in a trance: and so long as it is convenient and agreable to you to continue in it / that state / you may whatsoever visions you stand in need of / have a demand for /, and you have so much time for considering what they shall be.