of the soul considered. 365

that is said in the last paragraph would fol-low ; we could never be wrong in affirming

any

to think, no man ever set up to be a cool Doubter butWith the view of being a warm Zealot . This is an artfulWay to prepossess the minds of men: a n Enemy to creduli-ty and vulgar schemes is always supposed to have a secretfund of better knowledge. But let the passage I havejust now quoted bear witness, how we are rescued fromsuperstition and popular errors. Let me seriously ass, Issuperstition overcome by believing contradictions ? Onthe contrary, if once we admit these, we are then fit toreceive any creed in philosophy.

We may go farther and observe, whatever the Pyr-rbonijl, Sceptic, or Academic , may pretend, the solici-tous mind of man hates to be in suspense, and will be-lieve something, or frame something to be believed. Acertain great Author banters us for taking part, and com-pares us to drowning men, who catch at any thing t&keep themselves above water: and yet the same personframes a party, and takes it, to keep himself from beingswallowed up in the depth of bottomless doubting ; hetells us that there are Enthusiasts on all sides, and Mr.Bayle has observed that there have been Martyrs for in-fidelity. So impossible is it to believe nothing ; or notto believe something with vehemence! Now, since it iscertain that the rational mind (as such) hates to remainin suspense, and goes into some conclusion or other; thisconsequence plainly follows, That we should be as cau-tious in doubting as in dogmatizing: It is easy to hoist oursails, but uncertain whither the winds and waves maycarry us. The direct contrary of this conclusion hath

been