Chap. I. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 315 



ences, to carry on any inveftigation properly : For, without this know- 

 ledge, we cannot dirtinguiili beiwixt that method of inveftigating by 

 which we begin with the higheft genus, to which the thing we want 

 to know the nature of belongs, and continue dividing it into feveral 

 fubordinate fpeciefes, till, at laft, we find the thing we are feeking for. 

 This is called the method of divifion^ of which Plato has given us fome 

 fine examples in his SophiJIa a.nd Polilicus : And Mr Harris has given 

 us a very beautiful one in his Dialogue upon Art. The other me- 

 thod, called the Method of Andy ft s^ is the reverfe of this ; for, inftead 

 oi dejcending from what is more general to what is lefs, wq afcend 

 from what is lefs general to what is more ; a method of inveftlgation 

 which undoubtedly has been the method of difcovery in all fciences, 

 becaufe it begins where human knowledge begins, that is, with parti- 

 culars and individuals ; and, therefore, is the only method that can 

 be pradifed when the thing is entirely unknown. But, to be able to 

 diftinguifli thofe two methods, and to pradife either of them that is 

 moft proper, it is abfolutely neceflary to have fome knowledge at lead 

 of that art^ which Cicero fays is the greateft of all arts, ' Quae docet 

 * rem univerfam tribuere in partes, latentem explitare deiiniendo,'&c.* 



Thofe philofophers, I know, who deny the exiftence of generals, and 

 fay that we have nothing but fenlations, ftronger or weaker, will laugh 

 at thefe divifions into genus, fpecies, &c. ; but fuch philofophers arc 

 mere materialifts, and-muft, in confequence of thefe principles, deny 

 the exiftence of mind altogether, and, particularly, as I have fliown, 

 the exiftence of the Supreme Mind, which it is impoffible to conceive 

 without ideas. And, if he be the Author of the univerfe, there muft 

 of neceffity be an intelledual world, as well as a material. Secondly^ If 

 there be only fenfations, and no ideas, it is impoffible there can be any 

 fcience, which cannot be without generals, and an order too and fubor- 

 dination of generals, one rifing above another, till we come to univer- 



R r 2 falj 



* Brutusy five de claris Oratoribus, cap. 41. 



