iDli Piiilosophij of the Human Mind. [Chap. XIL 



after the labours of Mr. Locke led a large num- 

 ber, even of the literary and ingenious, to decry 

 pursuit's of this nature, and to imbibe strong pre- 

 judices against tiieiii. These prejudices have de- 

 scended thi'ouoii successive cenerations, and are 

 yet far from having lost their influence* But if 

 the m'md be our better part ^ if its powers and acti- 

 vity be all important, as every one must acknow- 

 ledge them to be ; and if some correct understand- 

 ing of these powers be intimately connected with 

 our improvement, comfort, and usefulness; then 

 to despise metaphysics is to despise one of the no- 

 blest objects of human inquiry, and to display a 

 very degrading ignorance of tlie comparative 

 worth of those studies which invite our attention. 

 It was before remarked^ that at the opening of 

 the century Mr. Locke had laid his Essay on 

 Human Understanding before the woi'ld *. The 

 publication of this great Vv'ork forms an era' in the 

 history of metaphysical science. The author was 

 the first who gave, in the English language^ an 



ICjO. It is universally known that the opinions taught by this 

 great man long hlled an immense space in the philosophical 

 world. 



* Jolin T.or]:e was born at Wringion^ near Bristol, in the 

 year lOo'i. Jfe was educated at the University of Oxford, 

 v\hich he entered in l(i51. After leaving the university he 

 studied physic, and engaged for a time in the practice of tliis 

 prolcssion. In J 004 he went to Germany, as secretary to sir 

 William Swan, envoy to the elector of Brandenburgh. In 1670 

 he began (o ibrni the plan of his Esmy on the Human Undci' 

 •^fitiidifig, which he published in lO\(p. He died in 1/04. Of 

 flie vigorous intellect, the profound and extensive views, the great 

 learning, and the excellent character, of this celebrated " master 

 builder" in science, it is unnecessary to speak. The above dates 

 arc gi^ven merely for the convenience of reference. 



