1. On the first publication of this volume, a Correspondent did me the favour of marking for me a list of passages in Chillingworth’s celebrated work, besides that which I had myself quoted, in which the argument was more or less brought forward, on which I have animadverted in ch. vii. § 2, p. 226. He did this with the purpose of showing, that Chillingworth’s meaning, when carefully inquired into, would be found to be in substantial agreement with the distinction I had myself made between infallibility and certitude; those inaccuracies of language into which he fell, being necessarily involved in the argumentum ad hominem, which he was urging upon his opponent, or being the accidental result of the peculiar character of his intellect, which, while full of ideas, was wanting in the calmness and caution which are conspicuous in Bishop Butler. Others more familiar with Chillingworth than I am must decide on this point; but I can have no indisposition to accept an explanation, which deprives controversialists of this day of the authority of a vigorous and acute mind in their use of an argument, which is certainly founded on a great confusion of thought.
I subjoin the references with which my Correspondent has supplied me:—
(1.) Passages tending to show an agreement of Chillingworth’s opinion on the distinction between certitude and infallibility with that laid down in the foregoing essay:—
1. “Religion of Protestants,” ch. ii. § 121 (vol. i. p. 243, Oxf. ed. 1838), “For may not a private man,” &c.
2. Ibid. § 152 (p. 265). The last sentence, however, after “when they thought they dreamt,” is a fall into the error which he had been exposing.
3. Ibid. § 160 (p. 275).
4. Ch. iii. § 26 (p. 332), “Neither is your argument,” &c.
5. Ibid. § 36 (p. 346).
6. Ibid. § 50 (p. 363), “That Abraham,” &c.
7. Ch. v. § 63 (vol ii. p. 215).