_Thomson_.
_I am, Sir,
_Your most humble Servant_,
A. A.
_The Pennsylvania Gazette_, March 4, 1734/5
_On a Pertinacious Obstinacy in Opinion_
As a _pertinacious Obstinacy_ in Opinion, and confident
_Self-Sufficiency_, is possibly one of the greatest Vices, as well as
Weaknesses, that the human Mind is capable of; so on the contrary a
Readiness to give up a _loved Opinion_, upon due Conviction, is as
great a Glory, as well as Happiness, as we are here capable of
attaining: For as _Solomon_ justly observes, a _wise Man_ feareth;
he, conscious of his own Imperfections, and sensible of the
numberless Mistakes and Errors we are here subject and liable to,
submits to the Dictates of Truth and Wisdom, where-ever he finds
them, and thereby avoids the Evil, and attains the Glory. But the
_Fool_, the self-sufficient Man, who proudly arrogates all Knowledge
and Science to himself, rageth at Contradiction, and will not suffer
his Knowledge to be questioned; what wonder is it then, if he _fall
into Evil_ when he is thus _confident_?
It is a just Observation, that a love of Truth and Goodness is
not more essential to an honest Man than a Readiness to change his
Mind and Practice, upon Conviction that he is in the wrong: And
indeed, these two are inseparably connected in our present fallible
Condition; possibly those who are arrived at a better State, may get
clear of all their Mistakes, as well as their ill Habits immediately,
and yet be capable of an endless Improvement in Knowledge, by having
their Minds extended still to discover further Objects and new
Relations of Things which they had no Notions of before.
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