Chap. IV. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. ^ 



he recommends the fcience of Geometry; the fubje<fl of which is 

 Lines and Figures, abftraded from body, but not conceived to exift 

 without body like the fubjecls of Metaphyfics or Theology. The 

 demonftrations, however, concerning them are not confidered as of 

 any particular Lines or Figures, but of Lines and Figures in general 

 abflraded from all body. And what makes this fcience much more 

 eafily underftood than any metaphyseal fcience, is, that the fubjedls 

 of its demonftrations are reprefented to the mind by figures upoa 

 paper : So that we learn this fcience not by words only, but by the 

 very things themfelves reprefented to our eyes. And, therefore, I 

 think geometry is a very proper tranUticn from natural philofophy, 

 which confiders mind only in bodies, to fubjefts of intelledt which 

 neceffadly exift in body, but are abftra<3:ed from it and confidered 

 as pure intelle£tual fubftances ; for the demonftrations in geometry 

 muft not be applied to the line or figure upon the paper, but to 

 every Line or Figure of the lame kind; fo that the fubjedls of ge- 

 ometry may be confidered as immaterial fubftances, not exifting ia 

 any matter. 



Vol. VL E CHAP. 



