The Epistle

natural Prerogative of their understandings to the Tyranny of dead Authors, and prefer Lead and Copper Jo it wear the Stamp of Authority, before the finest and noblest Metal that has not the luck to be a Coin.

But Sir, I need not fear your disapprobation on this account, whofe active Soul has long fince travers'd o're the whole Field of Truth, and whofe temper is fo unprejudic'd and even-pois'd, as to receive the most Novel Hypothesis (were it poffible for any to be fuch to you) without starting and amufement, and if true, to imbrace it, tho with the Cenfure of Singularity.

And here Opportunity tempts me to run a long Defcant upon your great Worth and the Variety of your Intellectual Accomplishments, but I confider, that should I with the Athenian Oratour imploy Ten years in a Panegyric, I could add nothing either to your Fame or to your Satisfaction, and befides I fear I shall fufficiently abuse your Patience in the following Papers, and therefore I am the more concern'd to pare your Modesty

in this.

But I forget how facred your hours are, and have perhaps already too much reafon to beg your, and the Worlds, pardon for disturbing an excellent Meditation. For which offence a speedy Conclu

fion

Dedicatory.

fion will be the best Apology. I end therefore with this humble Request, that whatever your judgement be of this Prefent as to other respects, you would not fail to think it a fincere Teftimony of that vaft efteem which you most defervedly have in the heart of

All-Souls Col

lege Mar. 31.

(SIR,)

Your most Obliged

and Humble Servant

JOHN NORRIS.

A

SERMON

Preached before the Univer fity of OXFORD, &c.

ROM. 12. Chap. v.3.

Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; But to think (oberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Faith.

T

HERE is nothing wherein men are so much divided from one another as in Opinions,and nothing wherein they unanimoully confpire than in thinking well of themselves. This is a Humour of fo Catholic a Stamp, and universal Empire, that it may feem

Α

to

to challenge a place among thofe Elements of our Conftitution, thofe Effentials of our nature which run throughout the whole Kind and are participated by every Individual. For fhould a man take the Wings of the Morning, and and travel with the Sun round the Terrestrial Globe, he would hardly find a man either of a Judgement fo difficult to be pleas'd, or of accomplishment fo little to recommend him, that was not notwithstanding sufficiently in love with himself, however he might diflike every thing else about him; And without question that arrogant and peevish Mathematician who charged the grand Architect with want of skill in the Mechanism of the World, thought he had play'd the Artist well enough in himself, and as to the Harmony of his own frame acquitted the Geometry of his Maker.

And as men are thus naturally apt to think well of themselves in general, fo there is nothing wherein they indulge this Humour more than in the Opinion they have of the Goods of the Mind, and among these there is none which. has fo great a fhare of their Partiality, as their Intellectual faculty. The Defire of Knowledge. is not more natural then the Conceit that we are already furnish'd with a confiderable Measure of it, and tho a particular Sect were Characte riz'd by that Appellation, yet all mankind are

in