CHAPTER XIV; 99 tihieh yod pursue." There are a hundred things wherein we mortals in this dark and imperfect statemust be content with pro- bability, where our best, light and reasonings will reach no fur- ther. We must .balance arguments as justly as we can, and where we cannot find weight enough on either side to determine the scale with sovereign force and assurance, we must content ourselves perhaps with a small preponderation. This will give us a probable opinion, and those probabilities are sufficient for the daily determination of a thousand actions in human life, and many times even in matters of religion: It is admirably well expressed by a late writer " when there is great strength of argument set before us, if we will refuse to do what appears most fit for ds, until every littleobjec- tion is removed, we shall never take one wise resolution as long as we live." Suppose I had been honestly and long searching what reli- gion I should chuse, and yet I could not find that the arguments in defence of Christianityarose to complete certainty, but went only so far as to giveme a probable evidenceof the truth of it ; thoughmany difficulties still remained, yet I should think myself obliged to receive and practice that religion ; for the God of na- ture and reason has bound us to assent and act according to the best evidence we have, even though it be not absolute and com- plete ; and as he is our supreme judge, his abounding goodness and equity will approve and acquit the man whose conscience honestly and willingly seeks the best light, and obeys it as far as he can discover it. But in matters of great importance in reli- gion, let him join all due diligence with earnest and humble prayer for divine aid in his enquiries ; such prayer and such dili- gence as eternal concerns require, and such as he may plead with courage before the Judge of all, XV. " Endeavour to apply every speculative study, as far as possible, to some practical use," that both yourself and others may be the better for it. Enquiries even in natural philosophy should not be mere amusements, and much less in the affairs of religion. Researches into the springs of natural bodies and their motions should lead men to invent happy methods for the ease and convenience of human life ; or at least they should be improved to awaken us to admire the wondrous wisdom and contrivance of God our Creator in all the works of nature. If we pursue mathematical speculations, they will inure us to attend closely to any subject, to seek and gain clear ideas, to distinguish truth from falsehood, to judge justly, and to argue strongly ; and these studies do more directly furnish us with all the various rules of those useful arts of life, viz. measuring, building, sailing, esc. a 2
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