The vanity of dogmatizing: or confidence in opinions

The Epistle

fortuitous, unplanned, and incomplete work; and an unintended result of a very different goal: For having written a Discourse, which I previously told you about, concerning the Immortality of the Soul: I planned a preface to it, as a Correction of Enthusiasm here meaning religious fanaticism or irrationality, in a Vindication of the use of Reason in matters of Religion: and my thoughts on that Subject, which I thought would have taken only one sheet, grew so large as to fill fourteen: which, being too much for a Preface; I was advised to print separately. And therefore taking up my Pen again, to add some expansions to the beginning; where I had been most brief and sparse: my thoughts ran out into this Discourse, which now begs your support: while the two former works were sent back into the obscu-

Dedicatory.

rity of my private Papers: The latter being made less necessary by his Majesty’s King Charles II much desired, and timely arrival; and the former by the more mature works of the accomplished Dr. H. More Henry More, a famous Cambridge Platonist philosopher.

I have no apology to make for my mistakes, but what would need a new one. To say they are the Errata's printing or writing errors of one who has not yet reached his fourth Climacterical a period of seven years; he means he is not yet twenty-eight years old, would excuse indeed the weakness of my judgment, but would make the boldness of this letter a crime. Nor can I avoid this latter accusation, except by being even more criminal: and to avoid this respectful boldness, I must go against my own gratitude. Since therefore your kindness has made my fault my duty; I hope the same goodness that caused my crime will forgive it. By this you will further en-