CHAPTER IX. 67 unless he were certainly in the right andcould well maintain and prove what he said. By this means truth itself is in danger of being betrayer4 or lost, if there be no opposition made to such a pretending talker. Now in such a case even a wise and a modest man may assume airs too, and repel insolence with its own weapons. There is a time, as Solomon the wisest of men teaches us, when a fool should be answered according to Msfolly, lest he be wise in his own conceit, and lest others too easily yield up their faith and reason to his imperious dictates. Courage and positivityare never more necessary than on such an occasion. But it is good to join some argument with them of real and convincing force, and let it be strongly pronounced too. When such a resistance is made, you shall find some of these bold talkers will draw in their horns, when their fierce and feeble pushes against truth and reason are repelled with pushing and confidence. It is pity indeed that truth should ever need such sort of defences ; but we know that a triumphant assurance bath sometimes supported gross falsehoods, and a whole company have beencaptivated to error by this means, till some man with equal assurance has rescued them. I is pity that any momentous point of doctrine should happen to fall under such reproaches, and require such a mode of vindication ; though if I happen to hear it, I ought not to turn my back and to sneak off in silence and leave the truth to lie baffled, bleeding and slain. Yet f must confess, I should be glad to have no occasion ever given me to fight with any man at this sort of weapons, even though I should be so happy as to silence his insolence, and obtain an evident victory. XVII. Be not fond of disputing every thing Pro and Con, nor indulge yourself to skew your talent of attacking and defend- ing. A logic which teaches nothing else, is little worth. This temper and practice will lead you just so far out of the way of knowledge, and divert your honest enquiry after the truth which is debated or sought. Lt set disputes, every little straw is often laid hold on to support our own cause ; every thing that can be drawn in any way to give colour to our argument is advanced, and that perhaps with vanity and ostentation. This puts the mind out of a proper posture to seek and receive the truth. XVIII. Do not bring a warns party-spirit into free conver- sation, which is designed for mutual improvement in the search of truth. Take heed of allowing yourself in those self satisfied assurances, which keep the doors of the understanding barred fast against the admission of any new sentiments. Let your soul be ever ready to hearken to further discoveries, from a constant and ruling .consciousness of our present fallible and imperfect x 2
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