are, after all, sincere; that they are deceived rather than deceivers;
that they do not ask others to adopt opinions which they have not
heartily accepted themselves; but apply to this reasoning the
principle that I have been endeavouring to illustrate from the life of
Watt, and we shall find, I think, that the excuse is, in most cases,
but a sorry one, if, indeed, it be any excuse at all. God has planted
within the mind of man the lights of reason and of conscience, and
without it, He has placed those of revelation and experience; and if
man wilfully extinguishes those lights, in order that, under cover of
the darkness which he has himself made, he may install in the
sanctuary of his understanding and heart, where the image of truth
alone should dwell, a vain idol, a creature of his own fond
imaginings, it will, I fear, but little avail him, more especially in
that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, if he shall
plead in extenuation of his guilt that he did not invite others to
worship the idol until he had fallen prostrate himself before it.

These, gentlemen, are truths which I think it will be well for us to
lay to heart. I address myself more particularly to you who are
entering upon the useful and honourable career of the British
merchant; for you are now standing on the lower steps of a ladder,
which, when it is mounted with diligence and circumspection, leads
always to respectability, not unfrequently to high honour and
distinction. Bear in mind, then, that the quality which ought chiefly
to distinguish those who aspire to exercise a controlling and
directing influence in any department of human action, from those who
have only a subordinate part to play, is the knowledge of principles
and general laws. A few examples will make the truth of this
proposition apparent to you. Take, for instance, the case of the
builder. The mason and carpenter must know how to hew the stone and