A dream of liberty
It is not surprising if one in such circumstances as these, made drowsy with the opiates of flattery and sin, should imagine, among his other waking dreams, that he walks in great liberty. How easily he may persuade himself that he is at liberty from all vulgar errors, and from the prejudice of education, judging exactly right, and keeping clear of all extremes.
I am free, he may say, from all the enthusiasm of weak and narrow souls, from superstition, the disease of fools and cowards, always righteous over much, and from bigotry, which continually falls on those who do not have a free and generous way of thinking. And too sure it is that he is altogether free from the wisdom which comes from above, from holiness, from the religion of the heart, from the whole mind which was in Christ.
1771 text
6. It is not surprizing, if one in such circumstances as these, dozed with the opiates of flattery and sin, should imagine; among his other waking dreams, that he walks in great liberty. How easily may he persuade himself, that he is at liberty from all vulgar errors, and from the prejudice of education, judging exactly right, and keeping clear of all extremes. “I am free (may he say) from all the enthusiasm of weak and narrow souls: from superstition, the disease of fools and cowards, always righteous over much; and from bigotry, continually incident to those who have not a free and generous way of thinking.” And too sure it is, that he is altogether free, from the wisdom which cometh from above, from holiness, from the religion of the heart, from the whole mind which was in Christ.