Detached Thoughts and Apophthegms: Extracted from Some of the Writings of Archbishop Whately ...

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Introduction

In presenting to the Public a collection of detached thoughts from the writings of Archbishop Whately, the Compiler would desire to remind the Reader, that the Author, from whose works this selection is made, is not one of those fragmentary writers who deal in insulated passages of wisdom and of wit, and resemble, as has been remarked, " Chinese painters, who represent each single object admirably, but have no perspective." His works, on the contrary, are all complete treatises, of which any short extracts can be but the mere shreds and parings ; and consequently, it is only too obvious,

VI INTRODUCTION.

that as an exposition of his views, this, or any, collection of detached passages, must necessarily be altogether imperfect. Yet these treatises, though all specimens of close and consecutive reasoning, are so rich in comprehensive and suggestive maxims, in calm and lucid statements ^of great principles, arid in the varied illustration of them by familiar examples, that the Compiler cannot but anticipate a favourable reception for a selection the design of which is to present in a small compass, and thus render more generally accessible, some of those pregnant principles and suggestive thoughts. Indeed, the Compiler cannot but feel, that whatever apology may be required for the work, is due not to the Public, but to the Author, whose thoughts, presented in this detached form, must be more or less injuriously affected by separation from the context.

This needed apology is now respectfully offered to him, together with grateful thanks for

INTRODUCTION. Vll

the characteristic liberality with which permission to make a selection from his writings has been accorded. As the Author has no connexion with the publication, or even knowledge of the mode in which his permission has been made use of, the Compiler is alone responsible for all beyond that permission.

It remains only to add, that while the second series of the work consists of miscellaneous thoughts on a very great variety of subjects, the first division has been devoted to that most important of all subjects, the " Love of Truth in Religious Inquiry ;" and the passages bearing upon it have been selected in very earnest hope that some of them might serve, under the influence of the Divine Spirit, to implant the precious germs of that desire for truth, for its own sake, which gives singleness of eye to perceive, and singleness of purpose to pursue it.

November 1st, 1854.

TABLE OF CONTENTS,

PAOK

Introduction v

II. On some obstacles to the attainment of Truth, and to its

progress in the World 9

I. Indifference about Truth ib.

II. Dread of the Progress of Truth 17

III. Bias of Judgment 22

IV. Aversion to Doubt, and unnecessary Delay

in Decision 31

V. Desire of a supposed Happy Medium 41

VI. The Love of System 43

VII. Dread of the Character of Inconsistency .... 47

VIII. Suppression of the Exercise of Reason .... 50

IX. Abuse of Reason 57

X. Superstition 64

XI. The Love of Novelty 70

• •

Xll CONTENDS.

PAGE

XII. The Dread of Innovation 76

XIII. Undue Deference to Human Authority .... 82

XIV. The Love of Approbation and the Dread of

Censure 99

XV. Mistaken Regard to Unity 102

XVI. Party-Spirit 113

XVII. The Spirit of Persecution 117

XVIII. Regard to Seeming Expediency 127

1. Pious Frauds id.

The True alone the Expedient 176