Chap. VII. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 123 



the contrary, we perceive, in different objeds, or in the parts of the 

 fame objedt, nothing but incongruity or diforder, we have the idea 

 of Deformity ; and, as there is the fame knowledge of contraries, fo 

 that we cannot know any thing, without knowing at the fame time 

 its contrary, we muft have the idea of Beauty, at the fame time that 

 we perceive deformity in any thing. 



As foon as our intelledtual mind perceives, in any objed or num- 

 ber of objects, a congruity or uniformity, or, in fliort, any thing 

 like a fyftem, it has immediately the idea of the Beautiful^ as readi- 

 ly as our animal mind has the perceptions of fenfe, by the operations 

 of external objeds upon our organs of fenfe; and, therefore, I think, 

 2i feiife of Beauty is not an improper expreflion, if we do not under- 

 lland by it that Beauty is perceived by our fenfes, and is not the ob- 

 ject of intelled. 



And here we may obferve, that Providence has given us two 

 fenfes, both neceffary for acquiring knowledge ; firft^ That corpore- 

 al fenfe, by which, through the miniflry of our bodily organs, we 

 perceive corporeal objeds ; with which all our knowledge, in this 

 flate of our exiilence, muft begin. But thefe we perceive as they 

 are in themfelves, without relation to any thing elfe, and, though they 

 confift of parts, without confidering the relation that thefe parts have to 

 one another. Secondly^ That intelledual fenfe, by which we not only 

 perceive things as they exift by themfelves, but as they are conneded 

 with other things, and if the fame thing have parts, we confider the 

 relation of thofe parts to one another. It is by this lenfe that 

 we perceive Beauty in different objeds that have a relation to one 

 another, or in the parts of the fame objed united together, fo as to 

 make one of the whole. And this fenfe not only perceives Beauty 

 in corporeal objeds, but in charaders and fentiments, and the works 

 from thefe proceeding : And the pleafure, which this fenfe ^ives, is 



0^2 what 



