The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

28 SERMONS.ence, which, if we have either difcovered ourfeh-e&,or if w^ have got it in books only, we cannot ail atGnce depend upon it : It may feem very plaulrble ; itis- new to us, and it is entertaining ; but we hcfitateto embrace it haftiiy •, we fufpeci: it may be erroneous,lillj having confultcd our more enlightened friends,we find what is its fterhng vakie by the touch-floneof converfation. This hath often been experiencedby inquifitive perfons in the younger time of hfe.I have faid that conference is an excellent meansof attaining knowledge ; I think alfo that it puts aperfon in the faireft way to be convinced of his erroneousopinions, and to part with them. It oftentimeshappens, that, when one fbudies in folitude, he emtracethwild and fantallicai opinions -, converfationcpens his views,- and gives his faculties a vigorousplay ; it puts him upon turning his notions on everylide, and holds them up to a light which difcoversthofe miflakes that might have remained hid fromhim in tlie gloom and obfcurity of retirement. Enlightenedby debating with his friends, he is convinced,that, by a bias to which indeed ail men are liable,he had bended his opinions to fuit his inclinationshe candidly renounceth thcfe opinions, and cheerfullyfubmits to the ftriking evidence of truth.I add, that the knov/ledge acquired and improvedby conference is the moil methodical, the mod profit-?.ble, and it iticks the faftcft with us. What we getby reading, unlcfs we recollect and converfe it over,is oftentimes aimoft as foon forgotten as read *, and Ibelieve evei*y one will find, upon reflection, that thefriend, or he applied to itiT.oft valuable parts of knowledge he is pofTeiied of,have been acquired, not fo much by books as in company,or he was fet in purfuit of it by hints from fomev/ith a view to make a properfigure in company, and converfation hath convin-^eed him of its value, hath enabled him to digeft it intoorder, and of cciirfc hath made him to remember