324 FABLES. 



APPLICATION. 



HE that embarks implicitly in any scheme, may 

 be mistaken, notwithstanding the number who 

 keep him company; but he Avho keeps out till he 

 sees reason to enter, acts upon true maxims of 

 policy; and it is the quintessence of prudence not 

 to be too easy of belief: for a rash and hasty 

 credulity has been the ruin of many. Men who 

 habituate themselves to think, will profit by the 

 experience of others, as well as their own ; but 

 commonly the multitude do not reason, but stupidly 

 follo\v each other step by step; not moving out of 

 the sphere in which chance has placed them : and 

 the notions or prejudices they may have imbibed 

 in youth, remain with them to the last. There is 

 no opinion, however impious or absurd, that has 

 not its advocates in some quarter of the world. 

 Whoever, therefore, takes up his creed upon trust, 

 and grounds his principles on no better reason 

 than his being a native or inhabitant of the regions 

 wherein they prevail, becomes a disciple of Maho- 

 met in Turkey, and of Confucius in China; a Jew, 

 or a Pagan, as the accident of birth decides. 



