“I perceive that you set up the present state of your understanding as the criterion of reason and justice, and have no notion that anything can be right which you do not understand, or, in other words, that any other person can see, or that you may hereafter see, what at present you do not. This tone of mind is a perfect leveller, and a leveller of the worst sort, bringing down to your own standard everything that may happen to be above you, but certainly not equally anxious about raising those that may happen to be below you.
“The opposite tone of mind cannot be designated by
any name more properly than that of the religious feeling. It is the feeling
which pious men cultivate towards the Author of the world. It consists in the
acknowledgement that there may be something right which we do not comprehend,
and something good that we do not perfectly see to be such. It is built upon a
sober and perfect conviction of our weakness, our ignorance, and the errors to
which we are perpetually liable. It therefore cherishes in us
| THE RELIGIOUS FEELING. | 197 |
