CHAPTER XIII. flg emulation and anger ; it carries away the mind from that cal= and sedate temper which is so necessary to contemplate truth. XVII. It is evident also, that by frequent exercises of this sort,, wherein opiçzions true andfalse are argued, supported and refuted on both sides ; the mind of man is led by insensible de grees to an uncertain and fluctuating temper, and falls into dan- ger of a sceptical humour, which never comes to an establishment in any doctrines. Many persons by this means become much more ready to oppose whatsoever is offered in searching out truth ; they hardly wait till they have read or heard the senti- ment of any person, before their heads are busily employed to seek out arguments against it. They grow naturally sharp in finding out difñeulties : and by indulging this humour, they con- versewith the dark and doubtful parts of a subject so long, till they almost render themselves incapable of receiving the full evidence of a proposition, and acknowledging the light of truth. It has some tendency to make a youth a carping critic, rather than a judicious man. XVIII. I would add yet further, that in these disputations the respondent is generally appointed to maintain the supposed truth, that is, the tutor's opinion. But all theopponents are busy and warmly engaged in finding arguments against the truth. Now if a sprightly young genius happens to manage his argu- ment so well as to puzzle and gravel the respondent, and perhaps to perplex the moderator a little too, he is soon tempted to sup- pose hisargument unanswerable, and the truth entirely to lie on his side. The pleasure which he takes in having found a sophism which has great appearance of reason, and which he himself has managed with such success, becomes perhaps a strong prejudice to engage his inward sentiments in favour of his argument, and its opposition to the supposed truth. XIX. Yet perhaps it may be possible to reduce scholastic disputations under such a guard, as may in some measure prevent most of these abuses of them, and the unhappy events that too often attend them : for it is pity that an exercise which has some valuable benefits attending it, should be utterly thrown away, if it be possible to secure yòung minds against the abuse of it ; for which purpose some of these directions may seem proper. XX. as General directions for scholastic disputes." I. Never dispute upon mere tries, things that are utterly useless to be known, under a vain pretence of sharpening the wit : for the same advantage may be derived from solid and useful subjects, and thus two happy ends may be attained at once. Or if such disputations are always thought dangerous in important matters, let them be utterly abandoned. Q Do not tnulce infinite and unsearchable things the matter of dispute, nor such propositions as ate made up or mere words
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