The vanity of dogmatizing: or confidence in opinions

The Preface.

ject set at the same distance made
angles in the eye of Adam, no
wider than those it forms in
ours; yet that which we discern
not, might have been seen by
him, having more and better
spirits, and being endued with a
stronger Animadversive power of perception, according
to mine Hypothesis. For there is the
same proportion between a great
power, and a little help, or a lit-
tle Angle; which is between a small
power, and a great help, or a great
Angle.
If all this satisfy not, I beg
from the ingenious the favor
of this consideration: That some
grains must be allowed to a rhe-
torical display, which will not
bear the rigor of a critical seve-
rity. But whether this mine Hy-

pothesis stand or fall, my Discourse
is not at all concerned. And I
am not so fond of my conje-
ctures, but that I can lay them
down at the feet of a convictive
opposition a persuasive or proving argument against them.