Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Doc.259.1 509
REV
. T. HARTLEY’S TESTIMONY.
philosopher, but the Athenians that were mad.* In like
manner, the wise in every city and country are the smaller
part, and therefore must be content to suffer the reproachful
name that in truth belongs to the majority. This has been
the case of all extraordinary messengers for good to mankind,
and the world is not altered in this respect.
18. "But it may be said, that though it be thus with the
ignorant and profane, yet men of education and learning will
form a more righteous judgment of the matter, and be determined
impartially according to the nature of the evidence : and it
would be well if it were so; and therefore we find, that in all
ages such among the learned as devoted themselves to support
the credit and interest of their particular professions, were
always the most violent persecutors of the truth : for though
truth has its conveyance through the intellectual part in man,
yet it never gains its effect, or operates as a principle, till it
be received into the affection and will ; and so man is said
in Scripture to be of an understanding heart. So that know
ledge is productive of the greatest good, or the greatest evil,
according to the ground or disposition in which it resides ;
when joined with piety and humility, it adds both lustre and
force to truth; when joined with the corrupt passions of our
nature, it is the most violent persecutor of it: this was the
case with the scribes and Pharisees and doctors of the law;
no greater enemies to Christ than they; the pride of reputation
for learning, and the authority of public teachers, unfitted
them for becoming learners at the feet of the lowly Jesus ;
and therefore to them were directed those words of our Lord :
’
How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and
seek not the honour that cometh of God only’ (John v, 44) ;
giving us hereby to understand, that the dominion of any
wrong passion over the mind, will prove a certain hindrance
in our way to Divine Truth.
19. "We are not unprepared for the opposition that may
be expected to any fresh discoveries of truth, especially, as
has been observed before [no. 18], where the credit or interest
* One of the editors of "Heaven and Hell" says, "The story of
Democritus and the citizens of Abdera seems to be that here alluded to."
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
