A TREATISE 



the conceptions of colours, of founds, and the like) if wee but re- 

 flect upon that aft in us, wi.ich makcth it; and then compare it 

 with the others : for we (hall find, that all they do confift *, or of 

 certain refpefts betwixt two things; whereas this of Being, is an 

 abfolute and fimple conception of it felf, without any relation to 

 ought it elk; and cannot be defcribed or exprefled with other 

 words, or by comparing it to any other thing : only wee are fure, 

 we undtrftand and know what it is. 



But to make this point the clearer,it will not beamiffc,to fhew 

 more particularly, wherin the other forts ofapprehenfions are dif- 

 ferent from this of Being and how they confift in certaine re- 

 fpecls between different things,and areknowne only by thofe rc- 

 fpefts : whereas this knowne only in it felf ; abftrafting from all 

 other things whatfocver. An example will doe it beft: when I 

 apprehend the whitexefe in the wall , I may confider how that 

 white, is a thing which maketh luch an impreflion upon my fan- 

 tafy; and fo accordingly, I know or expreffe the nature of white, 

 by a refpcct or proportion of the walljto work upon my fantafy. 

 I n like mancrjf we take a notion that arifeth out of what entrcth 

 immediately by our fenfes,(for by joyning fuch alfo to the notion 

 ftff/fljTjWe make ordinary apprehenfions) we fhallfind the fame 

 nature : as when I confider how this white wall, is like to ano- 

 ther white wall, the apprehenfionof Hkeneffe that I have in my 

 mind, is nothing elle, but a notion arifing out of the impreflion, 

 which both thofe walles together, do make upon my fantafy ; fo 

 that, this apprehcnfion is as the former , a certain kind of refpecl: 

 or proportion of the two walles to my imagination : not as they 

 make their imprefiions immediatdyupon it,but as another notion 

 arifeth, out of comparing the feverallimprefilons, which thofe 

 two white walks made in it. 



Let us proceed a little further, and examine what kind of thing 

 * or re- t ^ iat IS > which wecall rejpett or proportion, and where it refideth. 

 lation hath net We ftial find, that there is a very great difference, between what 

 really any for- ft j s j n ft fdff, or in its owne eflence, and what it is in the things 

 o^l ^n"! '^ that arc re ^P e<a ^ ve ; f r in them > i{ ^ nothing elfe but the things, 

 apprehcnfion bciag plainly and bluntly what they are really in thernfelves : as 

 fman. for example, two white walls to be like, is in them nothing elfc, 

 bat each of them to be white : and two quantities to be halfc and 

 whole,is in thcnothing elfe,but each quantity to be jaftwhat it is. 



But 



