SERVI. XXI. TRUTH,' SINCERPTY, &C. S5g declaring their own sentiments of the most difficult sub- ject, it is always as clear to them as the light, they are al- ways as positive as if it were divinely revealed, and writ- ten in the most express words ofscripture. Now such sort of speakers will often find they have been mistaken ; and if they have modesty enough to re- tract their words, it is well : but for the most part they refuse conviction, and often persist to maintain their own error, even almost against their own consciences. In short, it appears to me, that a man who dares fre- quently to assert doubtful matters with the most positive air of assurance, has not so much tenderness about his heart; and such a religious fear of lying, as a good christian ought to have. There are others again that affect to tell you nothing that is common, but would always surprize the company with strange things and prodigies, and all this out of the pride of their hearts, and an ambition to have their own stories applauded and admired by all that hear them. This sort of affectation oftentimes betrays a person into falsehood, and secretly and insensibly allures him to say things that are neither credible nor true. Sailors and tra- vellers should set a special guard upon themselves in this respect. - There are a third sort of talkers, that when they dis- course of common things, are ever expressing them in exalted and superlative language. If they speak of any thing small, it is prodigiously small ; if they speak of any thing great, it is incomparably great. If they name a man of wisdom, he is the wisest man in the world ; or a woman of piety, she is the only saint in the nation. An imprudent man with them is the greatest fool in nature ; and a little disappointing accident in life, is an intolera- blevexation. If they happen tohear a good sermon, the preacher was inspired, not an angel could exceed him : If it was a mean discourse, the wretch had not agrain of 'sense or learning. Every opinion they hold is divine and fundamental: All their own sentiments, even in lesser matters, are the very sense of Christ and his apostles, and all that oppose them are guilty of heresy or nonsense. Now persons who have accustomed their tongues to this language in ,common discourse, seem to want that due caution which the strict rules of godliness may seem to 2 A4
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