[ 4*6 ] [BookX. 



BOOK X. 



GF THE HUMAN MIND. 



CHAP. I. 



OF THE STUDY OF THE HtJMAN MIND. 



Our Knowledge of Mind limited. Confufed by Metapby/ics. Plan nf 

 this Inquiry The Fir/I Part refpes the Injlruments and Modes of 

 A3ion of the Human Mind. The Second, the Springs or afti*ve 

 Powers. The Third, the mo/l important Qucjticm in Moral:, &c. 



" TT/ r NOW thyfelf," is a faying of great antiquity j 

 JA, and an author, whofe fentiments are defervedly 

 converted into maxims, has aflerted, that " the proper 

 " ftudy of mankind is man." It is, however, a cir- 

 cumftance ftifficient to mortify the pride of reafon, 

 that even on the fubjeft moft interefting to us, we muft 

 be content with a limited portion of knowledge ; we 

 muft not extend our expectations too far. Even with 

 reipecl: to our own minds, there are forne points which 

 appear to be removed beyond the reach of our re- 

 iearches, while others are, perhaps unnecefTarily, in- 

 volved in doubt and difputation. It is unfortunate, 

 indeed, that in no branch of fcience whatever the ima- 

 gination has more wantonly fported than in this ; in no 

 fcience Tiave men appeared fo defirous of deferting the 

 only fure guide, experience -, in no inftance has ir 



beeji 



