e472 LOGIC: OR, THE RIGHT ESE OF REASON. that when persons come to years of discretion, and judge for themselves, they ought to examine the opinion's of their parents, with the greatest modesty, and with an humble deference to their superior 'character ; they ought, in matters perfectly du- bious, to give the preference to their parents' advice, and al- ways to pay them the first respect, nor ever depart from their opinions and practice, till reason and conscience make it neces- sary. But after all, it is possible that'`parents may be mistaken, and therefore reason and scripture ought to be our final rules Of determination in matters that relate to this world, and that which is to come. Sometimes a favourite author, or a writer of great name, drags a thousand followers after him into his own mistakes, merely by the authority of his name and character. The senti- ments of Aristotle were imbibed and maintained by all the schools in Europe for several centuries ; and a citation from his writings was thought a sufficient proof of any proposition. The great. Descartes had also too many implicit believers in the last age, though he himself, in his philosophy, disclaims all such influ- ence over the minds of his readers. Calvin and Luther, in the days of reformation from Popery, were learned and pious men, and there have been a succession of their disciples even to this day, who pay too much reverence to the words of their mas. tees. There are others who renounce their authority, but give themselves up in too servile a manner to the opinion and au- thority of other masters, and follow as bad or worse guides in religion. If Only learned, and wise, and good men had influence on the sentiments of others, it would be at least a more excusable sort of prejudice, and there would be some colour and shadow of reason for it ; but that riches, honours, and outward splen- dour should set up persons for dictators to all the rest of man- kind ; this is a most shameful invasion of the right of our un- derstandings on the one hand, and as shameful a slavery of the. soul on the other. The poor man, or the labourer, too often believes such a principle in politics, or in morality, and judges concerning the rights of the king and the people, just as his wealthy neighbour does. Ilalf the parish follows the opinion of the Esquire, and, the tenants of a manor fall into the sentiments Of their Lord, especially if he lives amongst them. How unrea- sonable and yet how common is this ! As for principles of religion, we frequently find how they are taken up and forsaken, changed and resumed by the influence of princes. In all nations the priests have much power also in dictating the religion of the people, but the princes dictate to them ; and where there is a great pomp and grandeur attending the priesthood in any religion whatsoever, with so much the more
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