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    such particular , we are ignorant : our dependence is ^ an acknowledgment of our ignorance . > Tis going too far too say 4 we see with other ^ people ' s eyesj for we really do not f see at all .

    ^ * ' 2 . All ?> therefore , that any one , who relies on authority , or takes things on trust , " can pretend to is only to £ arry in his memory and to v epe&t : 'certain words ar ^ l sounds , which contain the propositions-of other people ' s knowledge . If he , upon authority , affirm or deny any thing wherein he perceives not the connection of ideas , he has really no more knowledge , and is ijfe wiser ; thougli he repeat thomands of such proposi - tions , he is but like an echo to a

    philosopher . a 3 >^ j s granted the unlearned mu ^ t take many things on trust , or rather , must be content " to be

    ignorant of them ; which is true of all questions ^ to the resolution of which learning as necessary . * Ti . s supposed they cannot understand such 4 . nd such things without learning ; learning tl > ey have not , therefore they cannot understand them at alU But then , —

    " 4 . In all these instanccfc no assent , no knowledge is required . Where they cannot understand , for that very reaspn , because they cannot , they are not obliged to understand ;

    much . less to profess , and own for truth what they neither do nor can understand * : — ' But they may understand it by their teachers '—I answer ^ if their teachers can

    help them to understand it , it is well : that ' s their proper office , and for that purpose the unlearned should apply to them . But if the meaning be , that they

    must depend on the . authority of their * teachers , though they have - ¦ ., ¦ . " ¦ • . ¦ ¦ .. ¦ ¦ A ,. „ - ¦ ¦ ¦ - ^ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ Or . - ¦ ¦'¦

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    no other evidence , that they can jildge . of but the teachers' word , this is > no understanding at all . \ * ' But what must the unlearned do in such cases ? It may as well

    be asked T what must a man do to fly that has no wings ? It is plain , h « is not bound to fly ^ t all ; because he is not provided with wings * u Bat it is alleged * it is in some instances necessary that ordinary Christians be determined by

    authority as to the sense of difficult place ^ of scripture ; as concerning the words this is my bod y ^ this is my blood . I answer , 1 . if . the unlearned cannot understand these

    words either by his own reasoning , or by the help of the learned r authority can do nothing for him ; but leaves , him as he w&s before he had recQurce to it , in ignorance . Un * less he can judge of their reasoning and thereupon take in their evidence ; he still knows not tlje meaning of the propositjo ^ .:. All that he learns is merely a piece of history , concerning what other men

    know , or say they know . 2- Au * thority is so various and contra * dictory , that he will be utterly at a loss which to depend upon * Some determine the sen ^ e for transubstantmtion , others ^ fpr consubstantiation , some , for mere signs ,

    others for seals ; some say it is his body sacramentally , others ^ spiritually , " Dr . Bret , 46 That the bread and wine are made Christ ' s Body and blood by the Holy Ghost , and that it may properly be calUd

    Christ ' s body , because of the efficacious life-giving virtu . e of Christ ' s bod y , joined with .- tj ^ e bread and wiue by grace and the mystical benediction ! " Now , what must tfie unlearned do in this variety * of authority ? 4 C It is supposed they cannot judge who reasons best ( fo ^

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    156 On Believing without Ideas *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1811, page 156, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2414/page/28/