་ In a nation of philofophers it might be matter of indifference whether, previously to the confideration of a system, they had believed it to be true or falfe: but it is not fo with the bulk of mankind. Let an uninformed perfon fuppofe the christian faith, or the external modification of it, professed by the fociety to which he belongs, to be indefenfible, and he will foon find; or be furnished with, plaufible objections to it. In proportion as a fubject is extensive and important, it is affailable by ridicule and sophistry, or by arguments which, though of no real moment, yet, being directed against that degree of ignorance which is inseparable from a finite understanding, cannot be fo fatisfactorily anfwered as to preclude the poffibility of farther cavil. Befides, a partial answer, however decifive of any fingle point, would be deemed infufficient by one who difbelieved the whole. To be convinced, he muft proceed regularly through U through the whole body of proof by which the fyftem is fupported; but to do this, and to appreciate its validity, is probably a task beyond his inclination, or his powers. THOSE, on the contrary, (it is still the fame clafs of people that is intended) who refolve to continue in the things that they have learned and been affured of, till they fee reason to think they have been deceived, are not therefore to be accounted flaves of prejudice. They will, indeed, feek for folutions of difficulties that are propofed to them; they will apply to persons more enlightened than themselves, and be shewn, perhaps, that objections which startled them were merely fpecious, or that by a change, which might extricate them from one difficulty, they would be involved in many: yet, where both parties are heard, truth will ultimately prevail; and, let the conteft be conducted in the fairest manner, it is no inconfiderable inconfiderable advantage on the fide of the affailant, that he chooses his point of attack, THIS Concurrence with received opinions, till fufficient caufe appears to diffent from them, is recommended with no interested views, but from a facred love of truth, and as a principle, which, previously to any experiment, and on a mere confideration of the conftitution of the human mind, feems likelieft to produce full and impartial dif cuffion. Scenes, which for fome years past have filled Europe with horror, attest but too well the tendency of a contrary procedure. Politicians, who would fain perfuade you that their diftinctive characteristic is benevolence, endeavoured to imprefs the people with a notion, which in substance, if not in words, was this; whatever is, is wrong; they forefaw, but were not deterred by, the atrocities that followed. They did not forefee that the public mind, fet fet afloat, would reft in nothing; and that the fabricks they had reared would fo fuddenly follow that which they had destroyed. They have, however, afforded a leffon to thofe, who, being fincere believers, are at the fame time enthusiastical in making profelytes to their particular fect; that while they explode and vilify, in the mafs, the particular notions which men of other perfuafions have been accuftomed to cherish, they make them liable to be toffed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, and to terminate in abfolute infidelity. FINIS |