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    independent thinker must find , that there were points on which he did not exactly sympathize with any one of his acquaintance . But where an individual assumes implicitly the dogmas of a party , as he meets with none 6 f tnese difficulties , he learns none of this forbearance . His opinions , or rather prejudices , for opinions he has none , have all the same value and rest on the same evidence ; a value and an evidence derived

    exclusively from the authority of his party . Every particle of the received system he considers equally essential and equally sacred , and holds it a solemn duty to preserve the whole inviolate . His associates , instead of weakening , confirm these prepossessions ; for they are usually found amongst those who embrace the same system of faith , and who estimate his merits as he is disposed to estimate theirs , exactly in proportion to his zeal for their common cause . An esprit de corps is thus formed , and the impartial love of truth is banished .

    The history of sects furnishes the most striking examples at once of the weakness and of the strength of the human intellect , of the energy with which it pursues the sublimest truths , and of the credulity with which it embraces the most revolting absurdities . The power of great minds is nowhere more decidedly manifested than in the dominion which they have exercised on the opinions and practices of mankind , a dominion more flattering to human pride , more indicative of human power , and more entirely due to the

    unaided energies of &e individual , than the most splendid achievements of arms . To take a familiar instance from the history of philosophy , what empire can be compared in duration and extent , in the multitude and variety of its influences < 3 n human opinion and human character , with the sovereignty once possessed over the whole civilized world by the doctrines of Aristotle ? What despot eVer wielded a more uncontrolled sway over the persons and fortunes of rfieri than was f 6 r centuries exercised over their modes of speaking : and thinMhfe by this tyrant of the human intellect ? If anv thing can

    equal the feelings or ardmiration and almost of awe , with which we contemp latethis ftu ^ ndods instance of intellectual dominion , it is the mortification and sprfbw or wftnessing such an abject prostration of understanding in , the great mass of the species , and the slavish infatuation with which they rejoiced in their thraldom and struggled to perpetuate it . * The disposition of m ^ j kind to submit to authority in matters of opinion arises froni ftie of and fro dislike

    partly pusillanimous awe power , partly m a of d 0 ut > t and suspense upon topics which deeply involve the conduct and haf )| imess of moral and intelligent . beings . Rather than have no opinion on such topics , they adopt the opinions of another ; and , when to this natural consciousness of weakness and desire of certainty are added all those intense * feelings 6 t interest and anxiety which religion excites , and which render any dbctfiries preiferabie to the aching void of scepticism and no belief , ap opportunity is afforded to the founders of religious sects of acquiring an influence

    • The homage once p ^ id to the nfime of Aristotle Wa , ^ idolatrous in tne strictest sense : " II y a eu des ^ r ^ ti ques , " say ? Bayle , "^ iii v 6 n 6 roient son imag e conjoihtethent ; avec ce ^ fte de Jesus Christ . J ' ai bien lu quelque part qu ' avant la ^ leform ^ atiV ) n U y a eu ' des Eglises ten Alleiinagne , o < x Ton lisoft au peuple tous les DJmanfkes la Morale d'Aristote aii lieu de l ' Evangile . It n ' y a fcueres de marques de zele pour la 8 ^ igiw » > <| ue l ' o , o ix-ait donees pour le Peripatetisme . Paul de Foix ne volut pas voir a Ferrare , Francois Patrice , parceqn'il atiprit itiue ce savant hohnne

    enseignoit une autre philosophic que la Peripateticienue . C' ^ toit pratiquer envois te 9 ennemia d'Aristote ce que les ze"lateurs veulent qu ' on fasse a regard des H ^ i ( itiques . " Dictionaire , &c , Aristote .

    Untitled Article

    802 On the Spirit of Sects .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1828, page 802, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2567/page/2/