Influence of Common Belief. 39 



the world. The rejection of the same proof by 

 minds of the highest order, and perfectly conversant 

 with all the facts of the case, shows this. That 

 proof which now seems to us like mathematical 

 demonstration, was long years in overcoming the 



indices of the learned as well as of the vulgar, so 



any weight at all. Tyeho Brahe, with 



his eye almost continually fixed upon the heavens, 



would not believe the sun to be the centre of our 



. although daily recording observations that 



would now be received by every intelligent man as 



proof of this accepted truth. We do not accept the 



use we have greater mental power or 



than Tycho T.rahe. We accept 



the truth on the belief of the world, and then exa- 

 mine the proof of what we are read}- and willing to 

 believe on the testimony of others. The belief of 

 men who have given long and patient investigation 



my subject ought to have weight with us. The 

 world would make slow progress were it not a prin- 

 ciple in our nature to have faith in the knowledge 

 of such men. They are sometimes mistaken, and 

 their m! do mischief and prevent progress for 



me. And for this reason, while their opinions 

 are entitled to weight, we should hold ourselves 

 reject them at once when they are shown 

 to be mistaken. The men who have gone before us 

 are worth}' of our respect, and are generally entitled 

 to our confidence in the conclusions they have 

 reached ; but as they have differed on many points, 

 they are not infallible, and therefore it is that 



