Upon this
Supposition they may receive continual Additions to their Store, and
yet have no Occasion to change their former Sentiments, because they
were right as far as they went: But I am sure in this Life we find
frequent Reason _to give up mistaken Opinions_, as well as to take in
additional Light. We cannot but perceive ourselves liable to
innumerable Errors, even when we are most careful to avoid them,
either from our Ignorance in the Nature of Things, or in the Use and
Meaning of Words. We take up Opinions, or engage in Parties, thro'
the influence of Education, Friendship, and Alliances, or in the Heat
of Opposition and Prejudice, which cannot be maintained upon more
exact Enquiries, or in cool impartial Thoughts. _Prevailing
Opinions_ insensibly gain the Possession of our Minds, and have
commonly the Advantage of being Firstcomers: and yet are very often
no better than _prevailing Falshoods_, directly the Reverse of Truth.
We are all apt to be misled, where the Safety of our Interest, or
Peace with our Neighbours appear to depend upon a particular Sett of
Principles, or upon falling in with a Party. A Man can hardly
forbear wishing those Things to be true and right, which he
apprehends would be for his Conveniency to find so: And many
Perswasions, when they are looked into, plainly appear to have no
better a Foundation.
It must therefore be highly reasonable, to examine our
Sentiments, and always to _lie open to Conviction_ and farther Light
upon better Consideration of a Case, and to be willing to profit by
the Diligence and Enquiries, as well of other Men, as ourselves.
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