PREFACE. XV11 



Such is the power of attachment to custom. 

 But resistance to reform is not the only excess of 

 this antipathy. It is always disposed, according to 

 the spirit of the times, to persecute the reformer. 

 Who can forget the fate of Phocion ; of Socrates ; of 

 Galileo, grown old, a prisoner to the inquisition, 

 or of Ridley and Latimer ? In the present times, in 

 this happy country, where the irascible passions are 

 restrained by knowledge, and the public manners 

 softened by civilization, these errors have ceased. 

 The enquirer, who does not suffer worldly distinc 

 tions to have precedence in his thoughts, has nothing 

 to fear but suspicion and reproach, upon which he 

 calculates, and, to a certain extent, approves. In 

 these reproaches it may, however, be seen that the 

 spririt, although subdued, is not destroyed. But 

 the time, if not arrived, seems fast approaching, 

 when authority will recognize the doctrine of this 

 great philosopher, that power to do good is the 

 true and lawful end of aspiring ; for good thoughts, 

 though God accept them, yet towards men are little 

 better than good dreams, except they be put in 

 act ; and that cannot be without power and place, 

 as the vantage and commanding ground :&quot; and when 

 all society will unite with him in thinking that we 

 ought not &quot; to tear and rend one another with con 

 tradictions : and, in a civil rage, to bear arms and 

 wage war against ourselves : but rather that, a peace 

 concluded we ought, with joint forces, to direct our 

 VOL. v. c 



