The Fourth Dialogue

Lod. Which are those?

Vred. You have already heard that in the previous conversation, but because you understood little of what was previously unusual for your ears to hear (for we do not easily remember as many words as things that were previously unheard of), I want to explain it more broadly; pay attention. Which do you think is the true reason that no one is allowed to be a witness in his own case?

Lod. Because they all love themselves; therefore they also always want to speak to their own advantage or at least not against themselves.

Vred. You speak correctly. If they do not want to speak against themselves, then they also do not want to hear what is against them. How much less does the truth that is against them displease them in another person’s mouth than in their own mouth?

Lod. That is so.

Vred. If they do not like to hear the truth, then they also do not like to believe it, for no one likes to believe what he does not like to hear; no one easily believes what he does not want to, and almost all people easily believe what they well want to be so. I shall say it by way of comparison: if someone said that the property of Christians ought to be communal, who would believe it more easily? The rich or the poor?

Lod. The poor.

Vred. Why?

Lod. Because they would lose nothing by it, but would win much more.

Vred. What would the rich do?

Lod. They would believe it with difficulty, indeed, they would not even believe it, for they would become poorer by it, which they themselves do not want.

Vred. What would it be if someone denied that souls are redeemed from Purgatory through Masses; who would