- priety; for, perhaps, there has seldom been any great and
lasting strife in the world, of which envy was not either the original motive, or the most forcible incentive. The ravages of religious enthusiasts, and the wars kindled by difference of opinions, may, perhaps, be considered as calamities, which cannot properly be imputed to envy; yet even these may often be justly suspected of arising from no higher or nobler causes. A man convinced of the truth of his own tenets, wishing the happiness of others, and considering happiness as the certain consequence of truth, is necessarily prompted to extend his opinions, and to fill the world with proselytes. But surely pure zeal cannot carry him beyond warm dispute, and earnest exhortation; because by dispute and exhortation alone can real proselytes be made. Violence may extort confession from the tongue, but the mind must remain unchanged. Opinion, whether false or true, whether founded on evidence, or raised by prejudice, stands equally unshaken in the tempests of commotion, and sets at defiance the flames of hostility, and the sword of persecution.
No man, whose reason is not darkened by some inordinate perturbation of mind, can possibly judge so absurdly of beings, partakers of the same nature with himself, as to imagine that any opinion can be recommended by cruelty and mischief, or that he, who cannot perceive the force of argument, will be more efficaciously instructed by penalties and tortures. The power of punishment is to silence, not to confute. It, therefore, can never serve for the effectual propagation, or obstruction, of doctrines. It may, indeed, sometimes hinder the dissemination of falsehood, and check the progress of errour, but can never promote the reception of truth.
Whenever, therefore, we find the teacher jealous of the honour of his sect, and apparently more solicitous to see his opinions established than approved, we may conclude that he has added envy to his zeal; and that he feels more pain from the want of victory, than pleasure from the enjoyment of truth.
