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    How far these states of mind are $ ubject to out control , is considered in a subsequent part of the Essay , The next object is tp ascertain in what circumstances the duty of investigation is incumbent , and to examine some objections which may be alleged against itf The : great majority of manljhid cannot be expeeted to devote much attention to tl&e pursuit of truth . The smaller number on whom the

    obligation presses is divided into three classes ; namely , those whose professed deject it i& to tejaqfe others , those who voluntarily undertake to instruct others , and those who ) aaye the means and opportunity of inquiry on subjects which bave an important bea ; rir > g pa thek moral actions or conduct in soci * ety . Qn all the $ e plashes tfes duty of investigation lies . " When the circumstances here described are combined , when , It is a man ' s

    office to instruct others , and to instruct them on subjects having an important bearing- ofl the common welfare , the duty of inquiry is raised to its highest pitch . , " On all persons wl ^ o come under tbese three classes it may be stated to be incumbent to pursue their inquiries till they can clearly trace satisfactory conclusions from undeniable premises , No one ought , to be satisfied with his opinions on any subject of importance , much less ought be to inculcate them on others , unless lie can trace their connexion with self-evident principles . It is not easy to imagine how this plain statement can be controverted or denied ,

    yet there are frequent cases in actual life where the duty of inquiry , if not positively rejected , is really evaded . There are several pretexts employed on these occasions : inquiry might lead to doubt or perplexity ; to become acquainted with opposite arguments might shake the settled convictions of the understanding ; to read the writings of adversaries might conXaJuWte the mind with false views /'—Pp . 27 , 28 .

    For the admirable exposure of the unsoundness of these pretexts we must refer our readers to tjjie Essay itself , and also fpr the examination pf certain / prejudices adyerse to inquiry , " Some , indeed , appear to have imagined , " says the writer , " that inquiry might conduct us to forbidden truths . As there are secret transactions amongst our superiors in society , or even our associates , which we should be culpable in prying into $ sealed documents circulating in the world , sacred to those whose names they bear , and not to be scrutinized with honour by any of the intermediate agents through whose hands they pass ; records of private affairs , kept solely for the use of the individuals concerned in them ,, ana which we are

    not to come upon by stealth , and rifle of their information ; and as to infringe tUe privacy oi these matters would be stigmatized as indelicate , meddling , presTOiptUOtts ; so it seems to be supposed that there are dosed documents in nature into which we are forbidden , to look , private processes going on mto which we hme no right to intrude , truths existing wbteh are not to be profaned by our scrutiny , and to attempt to make ourselves acquainted with these is uejitstifrad > le audacity and presumption . If this prejudice does not often assiMBje the cle&aite form here ascribed to it , it may frequeirtly be found exerting an influence without a distinct consciousness in the miad over which it prevails . A more striking instance of a completely false analogy couM not be adduced * There is not a single point of resemblance throughout the whole field' of knowledge to these little secrets , th « offspring of human weakness , or the indispensable resources of human imperfection * - " -P * 37 .

    If there had not been a single point of resemblance , we do not see how the ajoalogy w « Id have keen < &awk . We agree , however , with our author in deeming it false a » d injwious . The prejudice baa in part arisen ,, doubtless ,, fwm a conviction , at % st well founded ± and afterwards exaggerated , of thp danger of aUejaopUng tQ pry into subjects removed beyond the limits oi

    Untitled Article

    Jgswpv m the Pmsitit qf TmiX * 547

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1829, page 547, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2575/page/27/