PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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(-r surrender; and the difference IS, {tn3t t C iormer
, suppose hosriliti~s to continue~ the latter are calculated
to terminate or su~pend them. j In the c':..'lducl of
war, and \,-hl!st the W;;'f contihu~, tht:re i:. 11G use, or
rather no place for confidence, b-~t\\·ixt the con!~nd­
U1S parties; but in whate,",er rela.tes to the tErmili2ti:n
of \~2.J-;, _'Ie IDost religious fi,ielii.;- is ~xpccted, hecau~
,,-ithout it -,:ars could cot cease, nc:~ the \-ictors be ~ecure,
but bj~ tij~ t-uti!"e destruct1c,n of ,he vanqui~ hed.
l\lany pel;ple !n~i!lge in ~eriou:; discour~{.: a hi1bit
of fictiun and exaggeratiolJ, in the aCCOlhY}ts they gi,-e
of themsel'4"es, of-their acquainl~ce, or cf the extraordinary
things which they lu,-e s!. .. ~ or heard;
end so long as the facts they rela:c arc ln~:!f~rent,
and their narrati~es, though false, are inotteD$i,-€, !!
I!ldy seem a superstitious reg-clTd to truth, to ceruure
them merel}- f.:>r truth's sake.
r In the first piace, it is alm~4;t impossible to pn~
JUiDnce beforehaed, w:th t:~rtainty, concerJ1.ing any
lie, that it is inolle-nsi,·e. i l{;/dt irrtzv(,{ilbile; and collect:;
~omeiimes accret:cJns in its flight, ~~hich entirc-
.. ~
ljY cnange Its - Ildturc. I
t
-hI··
ma~· owe poSS1 Iy!ts rrAlS-
.chief i:!l the officiou~n~ or mi:;rep res en ration of those
who circuio!e :t; but ti;~ mischief is, nevenhele5~, in
some degree, chc.~geable u~'l}n the original editor.
(In the next place, this libei!~r ill conversation defeali
it own end.) ~-Iu1:h
of ~h~ pi~asure, an~ ~H th~
lY.:n-:!fit of c;)n\4"ers;xtIGn, depends Up'~!l c'!r 0pJDlOn ul
the spea.1cer' 5 \reracit~~; f()r \\-hich trais ru!~ !ta,·es flO
fllundanon. The faith indeed of a hear~r ffill;! be
extrc-mely perplt"xJ.~d." ~~:'ho considers tIle speaker~ {;f
believes that the ~peaker consider.; himself, as under
no obligation to adhere to truth, but accor&ng to
the panicu1ar in1portance &f \\·rlat tIe relates.
(But bt~ide and aDc.v!: both these reasons 49 ~·#1.Jile ljt:~
a!ways introduce (){hers of a darktr cor.lpl~xion. i I
h7ve sddom known anyone who d~sen~aJ truth in trjtl:
.. ~, that could be tru5tf .. d ill m3t!!·!'"~ (,f in!~ertanCt·.