CHAPTER VII. should so far comply with him, as to resolve upon -a- just consider- ation of the matter, and try and examine it thoroughly with an honest heart, before he presume to determine against him. And then it should be done with great modesty, with an humble jealousy of himself; and apparent unwillingness to differ from his tutor, if the force of argument and truth did not constrain him. VIII. It is a frequent and growing folly in our age, that pert young disciples soon fancy themselves wiser than those who teach them : at the first view, orupon a very little thought, they can discern the insignificancy, weakness, and mistake of what their teacher asserts. The youth of our day, by an early petulancy, and pretended liberty of thinking for themselves, dare reject at once, and that with a sort of scorn, all those sentiments and doc- trines which their teachers have determined, perhaps after long and repeated consideration, after years of mature study, careful observation, and much prudent experience. IX. It is true, teachers and masters are not infallible, nor are they always in the right ; and it must be acknowledged, it is a matter of some difficulty for younger minds to maintain a just and solemn veneration for the authority and advice of their pa- rents, and the instructions oftheir tutors, and yet at the same time to secure to themselves a just freedom in their own thoughts. We are sometimes too ready to imbibe all their sentiments with- out examination, if we reverence and love them ; or, on the other hand, if we take all freedom to contest their opinions, we are sometimes tempted to cast off that love and reverence to their persons which God and nature dictate. Youth is ever indanger of these two extremes. X. But I think I may safely conclude thus : though the authority of a teacher mustt not absolutely determine the judg- ment of his pupil, yet young and raw and unexperienced learners should pay all proper deference that can be, to the instructions of their parents and teachers, short of absolute submission to their dictates. Yet still we must maintain this, that they shouldnever receive any opinion into their assent, whether it be conformable or contrary to the tutor's mind, without sufficient evidence of it first given to their own reasoning powers. CHAP. VII. Of learning a Language. THE first thing required in reading an author, or in hear- ing lectures of a tutor is, that you well understand the language in which they write or speak. Living languages, or suds as are the native tongue of any nation in the present age, are more easily learnt and taught by a few rules, and much familiar con- verse, joined to the reading some proper authors. The dead D 2
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