98 LECTURE II. 



they would tend to produce mutual for- 

 bearance and toleration. We should per- 

 ceive how nearly impossible it must be that 

 persons should think and feel exactly alike 

 upon any subject. We should not arro- 

 gantly pride ourselves on our own virtues 

 and knowledge, nor condemn the errors 

 and weakness of others ; since they may 

 depend upon causes which we can neither 

 produce nor readily counteract. The path 

 of virtue is plain and direct, and its object 

 distinctly before us ; so that no one can 

 miss either, who has resolution enough 

 never to lose sight of them by adverting to 

 the advantages and allurements, with which 

 he may be presented on the one hand, or 

 the menacings with which he may be assail- 

 ed on the other. Yet no one, judging from 

 his own feelings and powers, can be aware 

 of the kind and degree of temptation or 

 terror, or the seeming incapacity to resist 

 them, which may have induced others to 

 deviate. Now though, from the foregoing 

 considerations, I am pleased with the spe- 

 culations of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim, I am 

 however quite incompetent to give any 



