3. The ill consequence of this, if our former judgments were not rightly made.
I cannot but own, that men's
sticking to their past judgment, and adhering firmly to conclusions formerly made, is often the cause of great
obstinacy in error and mistake. But the fault is not that they rely on their memories for what they have before well
judged, but because they judged before they had well examined. May we not find a great number (not to say the
greatest part) of men that think they have formed right judgments of several matters; and that for no other reason,
but because they never thought otherwise? that imagine themselves to have judged right, only because they never
questioned, never examined, their own opinions? Which is indeed to think they judged right, because they never
judged at all. And yet these, of all men, hold their opinions with the greatest stiffness; those being generally the
most fierce and firm in their tenets, who have least examined them. What we once know, we are certain is so: and
we may be secure, that there are no latent proofs undiscovered, which may overturn our knowledge, or bring it in
doubt. But, in matters of probability, it is not in every case we can be sure that we have all the particulars before
us, that any way concern the question; and that there is no evidence behind, and yet unseen, which may cast the
probability on the other side, and outweigh all that at present seems to preponderate with us. Who almost is there
that hath the leisure, patience, and means to collect together all the proofs concerning most of the opinions he has,
so as safely to conclude that he hath a clear and full view; and that there is no more to be alleged for his better
information? And yet we are forced to determine ourselves on the one side or other. The conduct of our lives, and
the management of our great concerns, will not bear delay: for those depend, for the most part, on the
determination of our judgment in points wherein we are not capable of certain and demonstrative knowledge, and
wherein it is necessary for us to embrace the one side or the other.