120 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book IL 



for different purpofes ; the fubjed of the one being altogether gene* 

 rah and theorems of mere fpeculation ; whereas, the fubje<3: of the 

 other is both general truths and particular things ; for, it is in parti-- 

 cularsy and not in generalsy that practice confifts. 



It may be objeded, ihdii generals ov ideas are the only objects of 

 the tJitelkfty and that particular things are the perceptions of ihtfenfe 

 alone ; and that, therefore, thefe things cannot be confidered by the 

 intelkcl. But this confequence does not follow : For, though the in- 

 telle^l does not perceive things corporeal, yet, when thefe perceptions 

 are brought into the mind by the Jenfes^ the intellect can review and 

 confider them. And, it is by fuch a review, as we have faid above, 

 that the intelleB forms to itfelf its proper obje(Sl:, ideas ^ comparing to- 

 gether the perceptions of fenfe^ and difcovering in what they agree, 

 and in what they are different : For, it is the privilege of this fupe- 

 rior faculty of the niindy to make ufe of the materials imported by the 

 other gnomic faculty, viz. the72'«y^, not only for the purpofe of crea- 

 ting new materials for hfelf, but for any other purpofe it thinks pro- 

 per. In this cafe, it applies its theorems and general propofitions to 

 particular things, in order to regulate the condud of ii/c, or, in any 

 other refpedt, to dired the adions of men. 



From this account of practical intelle^^ it is eafy to perceive, that 

 the virtue we call prudence belongs to it. This virtue is mofl juiily 

 fet at the head of all the virtues, as being that, without which, tiiere 

 can be no other virtue ; for every adlion, though it proceed from the 

 beft natural difpofition, if it be not the refult of previous deliberation, 

 and determined choice, is not a virtuous adion, nor, indeed, proper- 

 ly fpeaking, a human adion, but the adion of the mere animal ; 

 fome of whom, we fee, perform adions which may be called goody 

 as they produce a great deal of good ; fuch, for example, as the care 

 of the offspring, being abfolutely neccffary for the prefervation of the 



fpecies; 



