roS ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book IL 



And this proof, of the exlftence of fuch an intelligence, is to us 

 the mod convincing that can be imagined; for it proceeds from con- 

 fcioufnefs, which to us is the moft convincing of all evidence, as 

 convincing as the evidence of our own exiflcnce, which wc know 

 in the fame way by confcioufncfs: In which way Des Cartes has 

 A'eiy properly proved his own exiftence ; for he has faid, I think, 

 therefore I avh. And in this way we know not only that we have 

 a mind which thinks, but another, as I have fliown, which moves 

 body ; fo that we perform all the offices of mind, which coniifl: of 

 thinking and moving body *'. 



The fyftem of the great world may be faid to be a ftill more con~ 

 vincing proof, as it comprehends man and every thing elfe exifting. 

 But it is a proof not fo eafily apprehended by our finite minds, as a 

 proof arifing from our own compofition, which we know by the 

 moft certain of all knowledge, as I have faid, that is confcioufncfs. — 

 We alio know, in the fame way, that moft important diftindtion be- 

 twixt mind and body, namely, that it is mind which moves, and 

 body that is moved; a diftindlion which may be faid to be the foun- 

 dation of the whole philofophy of nature. We alfo dilcover, by the 

 ftudy of ourfelves, our.progrefs in this life from the mere animal to 

 the intelledual creature ; for we begin with perceptions of fenfe, 

 v;hich are the foundation of all our knowledge here below. Of thefe 

 we form ideas in the manner 1 have already defcribedf ; which is 

 the firft operation of our intelled ; and of ideas we form fcience.. 

 And in that way recover the ufe of intellecl which we had loft by 

 our fall ; and fo become a creature not only capable of intelle'l and 

 fcience, 'as Ariftotle has very properly defined man in his natural 

 flate), but a creature of intelle£t and fcience in a^ftuality and energy. 



And thus it appears, that by pradifing the precept of the Delphic 



Ciod, 



• Vol. I. Book I. -|- Page 67. — and the paflfage quoted from Vol.. IV. 



