14 THE IMPROVEMENT OP THE MIND. stupidity among their brethren : They cast the imputation of heresy and nonsense plentifully upon their antagonists ; and int matters of sacred importance, they deal out their anathemas in abundance uponChristians better than themselves : they denounce damnation upon their neighbours without either justiceor mercy, and when they pronounce sentences of divine wrath against sup- posed heretics, they add their own human fire and indignation: A dogmatist in religion is not a great way off from a bigot, and is in high danger of growing up to be a bloody persecutor. XI. Thoughcaution and slow assent will guard you against frequent mistakes and retractions, yet you should get humility and courage enough to retract any mistake, and confess an error: frequent changes are tokens of levity, in our first determinati- ons ; yet you should never be too proud to change your opinion, nor frighted at the name of changeling. Learn to scorn. those vulgar bugbearswhich confirm foolish man in his own mistakes, for fear of being charged with inconstancy. I confess it is better not to judge, than to judge falsely ; and it is wiser to withhold our assent till we see complete evidence ; but if we have too sud- denly given our assent, as the wisest man does sometimes, if we have professed what we find afterwards to be false, we should never be ashamed nor afraid to renounce a mistake. That is a noble essay that is found among the Occasional Papers, to en- courage the world to practise retractions ; and I would recom- mend it to the perusal of every scholar and every Christian. XII. He that would raise his judgment above the vulgar rank of mankind, and learn to pass a just sentence on persons and things, must take heed of a fanciful temper of mind, and a humourous conduct in his affairs. Fancy and humour early and constantly indulged, may expect an old age over-run with follies,. The notion of humourist is, one that is greatly pleased or greatly displeased with little things, who sets his heart much upon matters of very small importance, who has his will deter- mined every day by trifles, his actions seldom directed by the, reason and nature of things, and his passions frequently raised` by things of little moment. Where this practice is allowed, it will insensibly warp the judgment to pronounce little things great, and tempt you to lay agreat weight upon them. In short this temper will incline you to pass an unjust valueon almost every thing that occurs ; and every step that you take in this path is just so far out of the way to wisdom. XIII. For the same reason have a care of trfiing with things important and momentous, or of sporting with things awful and sacred : do not indulge a spirit of ridicule, as some witty men do on all occasions and subjects. This will as unhap- pily bias the judgment on the other side, and incline you to pass a low esteem on the most valuable objects. Whatsoever evil
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