a just view of them, we must be indebted to much deep learn- ing and critical research. And it is an evil, a very great evil, when religious people, because their eyes have been opened, and they can say, " Whereas I was blind, I now see," imagine that they can see what is really beyond the sphere of their observation.]
2. Dogmatism —
[Wherever there is conceit, there will be a proportionate degree of readiness to dictate to others. Men, conceiving themselves to be right, will of course conclude all others to be wrong ; and will lay down the law with as much confidence as if they were infallible. Persons of every different communion will do this: the Papist and the Protestant, the Churchman and Dissenter, the various classes of Dissenters, all are alike assured that they themselves are right, and that all who differ from them are wrong. Nor is it only in the forms of Church government that they will express this confidence, but also in relation to the doctrines of our holy religion ; every one being ready to make articles of faith for his neighbours, as well as for himself, and to exclude from the pale of his Church all who cannot pronounce his Shibboleth. In truth, this has been the source of almost all the divisions that are to be found in the Cliurch of God. It is this species of dictation which has driven from the Popish Church millions of holy men : and I am not sure that the Church of England also would not have done better, if she had left on neutral ground all which has no direct bearing on the spiritual welfare of her communicants. The Apostle complains of those at Corinth who insisted on points, which, if complied with, rendered men no better, or, if neglected, rendered them no worse. And had his spirit been more generally prevalent amongst every denomination of Chris- tians, there would have been more real unity amongst them than all the acts of uniformity in the world, and all the rules of every distinct body, ever did, or could, produce.]
3. Contemptuousness —
[This is nearly allied with the former. The next step to the believing that others are blind in comparison of ourselves, is, to despise them for their want of just discernment. Hence religious professors often speak of those who maintain different sentiments from themselves, as ignorant and carnal. With what contempt will a Calvinist regard an Arminian brother, as having no insight into Divine truth; whilst an Arminian will ascribe to his Calvinistic brother every sentiment that is de- grading to God, or discouraging to man. Those of their own party are wise: but all others are "fools and blind." How much of this leaven was there in the Corinthian Church ! and
VOL. XVI. o