SECT. iv.] TN REGARD TO OURSELVES. 491 no criterions of truth: Nor are theyalways the result of a sincere and unbiassed examination, but the fruit of our own conceit and ofthe high esteem of our own understand- ings : We are sure we have been in the right even from our early years, or at least from the day of manhood, and we desire to be no wiser, nor can any man make us so. It is granted there may be some subjects that we have searched to the bottom, we have seen them through and through and by much labour and argument we are able to pronounce upon them with just assurance. This may be allowed sometimes even to a wise and a modest speaker : But what is it, my friends, that emboldens the bulk ofmankind, to talk with such a decisive air upon all planner of themes as they do, when they have read or studied almost nothing of the matter ? Hast thou found out, O man, every truth in the heights and the depths, and known every secret thing so well as to be incapable of mistaking ? What inspires thee to dictate as though thou only'wert the man of knowledge, and wisdom must die with thee ? What is it but vanity and fulness of self that gives any man such assuming airs, and such an over- bearing manner in conversation, that others must not be suffered to speak, while he must be heard with silenceand attention? Nor is silence and attention enough without a submissive faith. If you dare to doubt of what the tongue of pride pronounces, you dare to be impudent in his opinion, and he is ready to tell you so to your face, What is it else but this inward arrogance that casts a scornful eye on any one in the company who dares to offer at an argument against his positions ? And a con- temptuous scoff is thought sufficient to refute the noblest reasoning.. What is it but pride and a domineering spi- rit that tempts any man to oblige others to bind their understandings and their consciences for ever down to every punctilio of his own opinions, and reverence every sentence as though the pen of divine truth had written them.? Happy had it been for the -uhristian world if this assuming and imposing spirit had never been found, but only and always on the heretical side ! Then we should have had a more evident and distinguished token, where to seek for truth, _that is, where this pride and tyranny of souls had no place. But alas, this is a vain and a fruit- less wish ! Every nation ofchristendom has felt the infer- 5
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