436 LOGIC : OR, THE RIGHT USE 613 REASON. new thoughts and new notions. Again, there are soine who set it high esteem upon every thing that is foreign and fur-fetch- ed ; therefore China pictures are admired, how awkward soever : ethers value things the more for being of our own native growth, invention, or manufacture, and these as much despise foreign things. Some men of letters and theology will not believe a propo- sition even concerning a sublime subject, till every thing myste- -terious, deep and difficult is cut off from it, though the scripture Asserts it never so plainly : others are so fond of a mystery, and things incomprehensible, that they would scarce believe the doc- trine of the Trinity, if it could be explained ; they incline to that foolish rant of one of the ancients, credo quia impossibile est ; "I believe it because it is impossible." To cure these mistakes, remember that neither antique nor novel, foreign nor native, mysterious nor plain, are certain cha- racters either of truth, or falsehood. I might mention various other humours of men that excite in them various prejudices, and lead them into rash and mistaken judgments : but these are sufficient for a specimen. VII. There are several other weaknesses which belong to 'human nature, whereby we are led-into mistakes, and indeed are rendered almost incapable of passing a solid judgment in mat- '(ers of great depth and difficulty. Some have a native obscurity of perception, (or shall I call it a want of natural sagacity ?) whereby they are hindered from attaining clear and distinct ideas. Their thoughts always seein to have something confused and cloudy in them, and therefore they judge in the dark. Some have a defect of memory, and then they are not capable of com- paring their present ideas with a great variety of others, in order to secure themselves from inconsistency in judgment. ;Others may have a menìory large enough, yet they are subject to the same errors from a narrowness of soul, and such a fixation and confinement of thought to a few objects, that they scarce -ever take a survey of things wide enough to judge wisely and well, and to secure themselves from all inconsistencies. Though these are natural defects and weaknesses, yet they may in some measure be relieved by labour, diligence, and a due attention to- proper rules. But among all the causes of false judgment Which are with- in Ourselves, I ought by no means to leave out that universal and original spring of error, which we are informed of by. the word of God; and that is, the sin and dejection of Our first parents; whereby all our best yiatural powers both of mind and body are immured, and renii Ìed very much inferior to what they were in a state of innocence. Our understanding is darkened, our me- Ivory contracted, our corrupt humours and passions are grown
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