I mentioned Jeremy Taylor’s using, in his forms of prayer, ’I am the chief of sinners,’ and other such self-condemning expressions[903].  ’Now, (said I) this cannot be said with truth by every man, and therefore is improper for a general printed form.  I myself cannot say that I am the worst of men; I will not say so.’  JOHNSON.  ’A man may know, that physically, that is, in the real state of things, he is not the worst man; but that morally he may be so.  Law observes that “Every man knows something worse of himself, than he is sure of in others[904].”  You may not have committed such crimes as some men have done; but you do not know against what degree of light they have sinned.  Besides, Sir, “the chief of sinners” is a mode of expression for “I am a great sinner.”  So St. Paul, speaking of our SAVIOUR’S having died to save sinners, says, “of whom I am the chief[905];” yet he certainly did not think himself so bad as Judas Iscariot.’  BOSWELL.  ’But, Sir, Taylor means it literally, for he founds a conceit upon it.  When praying for the conversion of sinners, and of himself in particular, he says, “LORD, thou wilt not leave thy chief work undone.”  JOHNSON.  ’I do not approve of figurative expressions in addressing the Supreme Being; and I never use them[906].  Taylor gives a very good advice:  “Never lie in your prayers; never confess more than you really believe; never promise more than you mean to perform[907].”  I recollected this precept in his Golden Grove; but his example for prayer contradicts his precept.’

Dr. Johnson and I went in Dr. Adams’s coach to dine with Dr. Nowell, Principal of St. Mary Hall, at his beautiful villa at Iffley, on the banks of the Isis, about two miles from Oxford.  While we were upon the road, I had the resolution to ask Johnson whether he thought that the roughness of his manner had been an advantage or not, and if he would not have done more good if he had been more gentle.  I proceeded to answer myself thus:  ’Perhaps it has been of advantage, as it has given weight to what you said:  you could not, perhaps, have talked with such authority without it.’  JOHNSON.  ’No, Sir; I have done more good as I am.  Obscenity and Impiety have always been repressed in my company[908].’  BOSWELL.  ’True, Sir; and that is more than can be said of every Bishop.  Greater liberties have been taken in the presence of a Bishop, though a very good man, from his being milder, and therefore not commanding such awe.  Yet, Sir, many people who might have been benefited by your conversation, have been frightened away.  A worthy friend of ours[909] has told me, that he has often been afraid to talk to you.’  JOHNSON.  ’Sir, he need not have been afraid, if he had any thing rational to say.  If he had not, it was better he did not talk[910].