We all pretend to this it’s true, and think our selves Injur’d if it be not believ’d that we are Disinteress’d and free from Passion, that no Humour or Private End, nothing but an honest Zeal for Truth gives warmth to our Discourses; and yet it often happens that e’re we Conclude them, we give just occasion to have it thought, that how large soever our Knowlege in other things may be, we are not well acquainted with our own Hearts. All which consider’d, how confidently soever we’re perswaded of our own Integrity, tho we think we have penetrated to the very bottom of our Hearts, it wou’d not be amiss to suspect our selves sometimes, and to fear a Bias, even at the very instant we take care to avoid one. For Truth being but One, and the Rational Faculties not differing in Kind but in Degree, tho there may be different Measures of Understanding, there could not be such Contradictions in Mens Opinions as we find there are, even in those who examin as well as in those who do not, were they acted only by the Love of Truth, and did not Self-Love perswade them that they shall find their own particular account by such an Opposition. I wou’d not be so understood as if I thought that in all Controversies one side must needs be Criminal, if not by Wilfully Opposing Truth, yet at least by an indulgence of such unmortifi’d Passions as estrange them from her. No, without doubt great allowances are to be made on the score of Education, Capacity, the Leisure, and Opportunity of Information we have had. But this we may venture to say, that had we but a Modest Opinion of our selves, believing it as possible for us as for those who contradict us to be mistaken, did we behave our selves answerable to such a belief; were we seriously convinc’d that nothing is so much our Interest as a readiness to admit of Truth, from what ever Hand it comes, greatest part of our Disputes wou’d have a better Issue than we generally find. At least if we cou’d not be to happy as to Convince one another, our Contests wou’d be manag’d with more Temper and Moderation, wou’d not conclude in such a breach of Charity, or at best in such a Coldness for each other, as they usually do.