Chap. VI. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 99 



CHAP. VI. 



The Importance, the Utility, and the Comprehenfivenefs of the Phihjo- 

 phy of Mind — The certainty of that Philofophy — The ivonJer- 



ful Chain in Nature by luhich the feveral Minds ar£ connecied to^e- 

 ther — The Human Mind begins ivhere that of the Brute leagues off, 

 the comparati've Faculty — This the foundation of the InleUecluai 

 Mind — By it Ideas are formed — Progrefs of that Formation — Ideas, a 



fimple Perception of the Intcllefl — But complex Perception nece/Jary 



The Nature of it, and of the Dlfcurfus Mentis — The Conclujton of 

 that Procefs, either Science or Opinion — Difference betuuixt the 

 tivo — The loft Operation of the Intelleci, that by ivhich it recogni^ 



fes itfelf 



TH E knowledge of the human mind is of the greatefl: impor- 

 tance in philofcphy ; for, if we know it, we muft of neceflity 

 know inferior minds, the powers of which are all contained in the 

 human : Nor can we attain to any knowledge oi fuperior, but by fomc 

 analogy or refemblance, which we may fuppofe they have to the high- 

 er faculties of our ?mnds : So that the ftudy of the human mind is, 

 of neceffity, previous to the Hudy of the higheft part of philofophy ; 

 I mean theology. It is a ftudy too of as great concern to us, as it is 

 of importance ; for, what can be of greater concern to wan than the 

 knowledge of himielf ? And the certainty of it is as great as the im- 

 portance and utility of it : For the knowledge of our mitids proceeds 

 from the mod certain caufc of knowledge, confcioifnefs \ by means of 

 which, our knowledge of mind is much more intimate, and much 

 more latisfadory to a philofophical inquirer, than our knowledge of 

 body. But, certain as the fcience is, it is not without its difficulties, 

 and therefore it requires much attention and accurate obfervation ; 

 nor can we expert, afier all, to have a perfect knowledge of the cf- 

 fence, even of our own minds ^ any more than of any other thing in 



N 2 « nature] 



