276 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book IV. 



dom, commonly known by the name of Inftind ; and then, no 

 doubt, a reafon might be given for every appearance in his Phanta- 

 fia. And accordingly, I am perfuaded, that, in the Mind of the 

 Brute, at leafl of fuch of them as are in the natural ftate, there is 

 no Phantafm which has not a diredt tendency, either to the prefer- 

 vation of the Individual, or the continuation of the race. Again, in 

 the pcrfedl man, his Phantafia, as well as his Intellect, is governed 

 by perfe£l Reafon ; his Theorems of Science are without error, and 

 upon the moft important fubjedls ; and his Imagination, both fleep- 

 ing and waking, is full of the faireft forms, and the fineft fcenes, of 

 Nature and of Man. Nor do thefe Phantafms axife in the Mind at 

 random, but are called up by the governing Power, regularly, and 

 in order, for certain purpofes. On the other hand, the Phantafia 

 of a vulgar man is influenced by a bad habit of Body, and is go- 

 verned by falfe opinions, and unruly paflions, and therefore his 

 Phantafms are the caufe of much diforder and mifery in his life ; nor 

 do they arife with any order or regularity ; and, though there may- 

 be fome connedlion among them, it is not worth inquiring about, or 

 finding out. Such, therefore, being the influence of our Phantafia 

 upon human Life, it was an excellent prayer to the Gods, of fome 

 philofopher whofe name I have forgot, ' To give him good Phan- 

 ' tafms :' But it is a vain prayer, unlefs we live a virtuous and or- 

 derly life, and cidtivate good affedions and difpofitions. 



From this account that I have given of Dreams, it appears that I 

 differ from Mr Baxter, who derives all Dreams of every kind from 

 the operations of other Spirits upon our Spirits. But, though I be- 

 lieve, as he does, that there are above, below, and round about us, 

 multitudes of other Minds, tnillions, as Milton fays *; yet, as Nature 

 does nothing but for fome purpofe, I cannot believe that any of 

 thofe Minds are fo idly employed as to infpire our trifling Dreams. 



And 



* Paradife Loft, Book iv. v. (578. 



