Phantastes and the Apology of Aristides

Wow, it has been a LONG time since I posted anything here. This is just a quick note to point out an interesting parallel that I just found between my favorite line in George MacDonald's novel Phantastes and the Apology of Aristides, an early 1st-century defense of the Gospel. In Phantastes, chapter 7, a woman says "I must believe my senses, as he cannot believe beyond his." I've mentioned this quote before in this Blog. I've just finished reading the Apology of Aristides for the first time (translated from the Syriac version), and found this interesting quote, in section XVI: "But the rest of the nations err and cause error in wallowing before the elements of the world [by worshipping elements of Creation instead of the Creator], since beyond these [elements] their mental vision will not pass." I.e. they cannot believe beyond their senses, in contrast to Christians (according to Aristides), who "recognize [and know] the truth".