tion of truth. This spirit of investigation for the truth should be, in the fine wording of Tennyson, "Strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
ful analysis, is not likely to abandon it to suit every breeze of opinion. It appropri ates it. It takes it into the memory as a part of its own knowledge. To be sup ported by a great authority affords satisfac Experience has shown that men of the tion, it is true; but without this, the mind is past were liable to error, like the men of to contented and fixed from a consciousness of day. It is in truth a part of our nature. It the truth of its conclusion. Very different is then a good maxim in the conduct of the is it with the proposition that has been understanding to adopt no opinions how im barely taken into the memory without the posing soever the names that support them, conviction of its certainty. The mind until one is satisfied of their correctness. scarcely cherishes it as its own. It is un Nor is this calculated, as some suppose, to stable. It is subject to all the whims and unsettle opinions. Judge Story was wont caprices of the fancy — at one time produc to ascribe the tendency to infidelity, in re ing doubt, at another creating rash pre gard to scientific and religious matters, to a sumption. The mark of uncertainty is want of proper respect to great authorities. stamped on its very nature. It was gov But cannot this spirit which the learned erned yesterday upon the authority of Plato; Judge deplored be ascribed to a cause the to-day it is cast upon the dictum of Aristo exact reverse of that urged by him? Is tle. From this sort of procedure there can not the true reason of any general unbelief be no knowledge except by chance. Doubt and unfixedness of opinion to be found in and uncertainty will always attend such the superficialness among us; the want of information; and it is ever ready to be proper inquiry into the various subjects that abandoned in conscious ignorance at the interest the public mind? The dogmas of first assault of ingenious sophistry or auda great men are received upon mere faith, up cious effrontery. on naked belief, without any search into the Before adopting the opinions, then, even reasonableness of them, and consequently of the greatest authorities, we should in without a con sciousness of their correctness; quire into their reasonableness; nor look and as these dogmas often prove fallacious, upon them as authority until satisfied of the slightly reflecting mind hastily con their truth. This reasoning does not con cludes all notions may be equally so. flict with the maxim, " oportet descentan ere Many, who arc too impatient or too indolent dere," but shows the importance of joining to investigate, reason no better than this. with it another, " oportet edoctum judicare." Some of the opinions of some of the great Nor does it detract from great authorities est and best men of the past have been the merit justly due them. It only points proved to be wrong; all their opinions, to the honest inquirer after truth the proper therefore, may be wrong. While, therefore, method to pursue. It only urges upon so much uncertainty exists, it is useless, they him to withhold his assent until his judg reason, to fix belief. Hence a habit of ment is instructed. To pursue this course doubt and unbelief is formed which, if not is but assuming the proper dignity of our checked in some way, is sure to lead to gen nature. It is but shaking off a servile de eral infidelity. pendency upon others in matters touching To guard against this, we should adopt the highest estate of man, and asserting the the opinions of others with proper care and proud prerogative of individual freedom. The slavery of the mind is the worst form reflection. The mind that has satisfied it of servility. It divests man of all the no self of the truth of a proposition after care
